Blackwater Incident "Worse Than Abu Ghraib"

Washington Post:

A confrontation between the U.S. military and the State Department is unfolding over the involvement of Blackwater USA in the shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians in a Baghdad square Sept. 16, bringing to the surface long-simmering tensions between the military and private security companies in Iraq, according to U.S. military and government officials.

In high-level meetings over the past several days, U.S. military officials have pressed State Department officials to assert more control over Blackwater, which operates under the department's authority, said a U.S. government official with knowledge of the discussions. "The military is very sensitive to its relationship that they've built with the Iraqis being altered or even severely degraded by actions such as this event," the official said.

"This is a nightmare," said a senior U.S. military official. "We had guys who saw the aftermath, and it was very bad. This is going to hurt us badly. It may be worse than Abu Ghraib, and it comes at a time when we're trying to have an impact for the long term." The official was referring to the prison scandal that emerged in 2004 in which U.S. soldiers tortured and abused Iraqis.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Tom95134]

Here's a solution to the Blackwater issue. The U.S. Military treats them the same as an group of insurgents and starts taking action against the MERCINARIES.

That should make for good television news. I can see the headline now, "U.S. vs. Blackwater... Another Bush War".

[Maila]

The troops aren't much better than the mercenaries. The troops were responsible for AG after all.

[progressivegreg]

Betsy "Prince" DeVos was quoted some years ago as saying workers in Michigan were too well paid. Boy that sure has changed I guess she got her way!!

[Qbear]

Democrats drag this G*D DAMN Prince into Congress under oath and question him in FULL VIEW of American Citizens. I want every dirty secret revealed, and how far it goes up the food chain....NOW!

[bookish]

Well, yeah, me too, but it's not gonna happen. They're armed, remember? We've let the snakes loose. They'll bite us too.

[Tom95134]

It seems to me that Senator Waxman or some other Senate Committee chair should be dragging the SecState in front of Congress. After all, this MERCINARY ARMY from Blackwater (quite calling them "security") is under contract to the Department Of State and they can be held accountable by Congress.

[RabidRightRebel]

When this story broke last week I said that this was more important than anything that the Dems could do to stop the war. If the Iraqi government ignores it they are painted as U.S. puppets, if they don't the Iraqi people will quickly realize that they can tell all Americans to leave. Either way it was a watershed momment that represents the beginning of the end of our involvment in Iraq.

[Captain EdwardGraham]

09/26/07 AP: US soldier faces court-martial in Iraq
Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval, of Laredo, Texas, has been charged with premeditated murder, wrongfully placing weapons with the remains of the Iraqis and obstructing justice. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

[Captain EdwardGraham]

IRAQ: Travel restrictions considered as cholera spreads
AlertNet - 2 hours, 33 minutes agoSource: IRIN The Iraqi government will impose travel restrictions in the country if more cases of cholera are confirmed after a warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the disease was spreading in Iraq.

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The real criminals are the US Army Chemical and Biological Corps who delibrately are spreading Cholera and Depleted Uranium Dust


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http://youtube.com/watch?v=W_7p1dMC1n8 VA "Using Depleted Uranium as a Weapon"(3-3)

http://www.apfn.org/apfn/DU.htm DU Testing for our Iraq War Vets.

[Podewumun]

As opposed to placing weapons in the hands of living Iraqis?