Iraqi Inquiry Says Blackwater Shooting Was Unprovoked

New York Times:

A completed Iraqi government inquiry found that employees of the American security company Blackwater USA shot unprovoked at Iraqi civilians at a downtown traffic circle three weeks ago, an episode that killed 17 people and wounded more than 20 others, a government spokesman said

The four-vehicle Blackwater convoy, which had stopped at Nisoor Square on Sept. 16 to seal off traffic for another convoy carrying State Department officials, "wasn't even hit by a stone," much less hostile gunfire when Blackwater guards began shooting at unarmed civilians, government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[neogejo]

This company is paid to protect "our" officials in Iraq. They claim that they have never lost a soul.
Well, the image that they convey to the world in Iraq is very damaging to America. They need to be reigned in.
If our soldiers are made to be responsible for killing civilians, so should these mercenaries in Blackwater. They should not have a carte blanche in Iraq.
Everything that is done in Iraq in the name of America, is a reflection on America.

[BlueStateMan]

god help us

[kevenseven]

Get over it.

According to Bush, Iraqis do not have souls.

[RedRooster]

Apparantly, the war mongers and the profiteers needed something in return for their support of the neocon puppet known as George W Bush. They needed truly gargantuan no-bid reconstruction contracts...they needed petroleum sharing agreements...and after 40,000 dead and wounded American lives, they're STILL pushing for whatever economic gain they can garner at the cost of additional American and Iraqi blood and treasure.

Blackwater is just another transfer of taxpayer wealth in the ongoing fraudulent and immoral occupation of Iraq for the benefit of psychopathic corporatists who have no remorse for their actions and no loyalty to our Constitution. The paid murderers in that particular enterprise have little in common with the American people other than the US Dollar for which they kill.

[Firaxis]

NYT repeats a canard by the hacks in Iraq and liberals automatically believe the worst about Americans. Anybody surprised?

Just like Haditha, the "I support the troops but not the mission" liberals, led by Pennsylvania "Judge", Jack Murtha declare the Marines guilty before the jury is even picked.
Now one by one, the cases against the Marines are being dropped.

Liberals, who can trust them?

[BlueStateMan]

...so, you SUPPORT the concept of a private army.

[lornejl]

He won't answer that question, I asked the dip shit weeks ago, typical cowardly repig blowhard chicken shit boy.

[Firaxis]

In the case of Blackwater and the lack of a larger combat force, yes.

That clear it up for you?

Answer, if you could kill Islamists for $200,000 a year, wouldn't you take the job.

Makes me wish I was a better shot with my Kimber
45 cal 1911.

[kevenseven]

"The hacks in Iraq" are the government that Bush is 'trusting" to bring the nation to gether...

What are you saying, furry?

That Bush does not have one fucking clue as to what is going on in Iraq?

Trator!

[getoffmedz]

And these contractors will eventually return home to move in next to your house?

[MajorKong]

Only if you live in South Africa, because that's where a lot of them are from.

[Ramirez]

General Contract Requirements:
Must be willing and able to deploy for 6 months.
Must be a U.S. Citizen, proof of citizenship is required.
Weight must be proportionate to height.
Must maintain a neat and clean appearance.
Must be in good health and pass a physical test.
Most positions require ability to obtain/maintain a secret or higher clearance.
No history of major illness or mental disorder.
Must have an Honorable Discharge and DD-214.
No felony, violent crimes, spouse or child abuse convictions(NO WAIVERS)
No personal bankruptcy or significant credit problems with past seven (7) years.
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/employment/contract.asp

[getoffmedz]

MajorKong - good point. Although most come from the U.S., military contractors attract scum from the entire planet.

[kevenseven]

Seriously?

[HumeSkeptic]

God Bless America
----------------

Here they go again,
The Yanks in their armoured parade
Chanting their ballads of joy
As they gallop across the big world
Praising America's God.
The gutters are clogged with the dead
The ones who couldn't join in
The others refusing to sing
The ones who are losing their voice
The ones who've forgotten the tune.
The riders have whips which cut.
Your head rolls onto the sand
Your head is a pool in the dirt
Your head is a stain in the dust
Your eyes have gone out and your nose
Sniffs only the pong of the dead
And all the dead air is alive
With the smell of America's God.


Harold Pinter, Recipient of the 2005 Nobel Prize for literature

-------------

[BlueStateMan]

Pinter is one of my favorite playwrights.

[Firaxis]

Oh, that is so wonderful. So, tell me, what do you think of Walt Whitman?

[HumeSkeptic]

He's super.

[HumeSkeptic]

Here's another short one:

The Bombs
---------

There are no more words to be said
All we have left are the bombs
Which burst out of our head
All that is left are the bombs
Which suck out the last of our blood
All we have left are the bombs
Which polish the skulls of the dead


Harold Pinter

[wndrwrthg]

These cowboys are MERCENARIES pure and simple, not contractors. They are slay for pay, fuck anyone who gets in the way hired guns. They have become the modern Praetorian Guard. Their next area of operations is going to be the good ol' U.S of A. They are here to stay and if you think the dems are going to do anything about them then I have some wmds that you may want.

[bushmocker]

Erik Prince,CEO of Blackwater,multimillionaire rightwing fundamentalist Christian got his money from his dad Edgar Prince,a billionaire in the auto parts industry.Edgar Prince interned at the first Bush White House,his sister was chair of the Michigan Republican party in the 90's(her husband is co-founder of Amway).When is somebody going to start connecting the dots,this whole scenario stinks and it's hard for me to believe all these connections are coincidental to Erik Prince being in the right place at the right time with just the kind of business required by Bush2.

[JackSlappyNotYourPappy]

"Iraqi Inquiry Says Blackwater Shooting Was Unprovoked"
_______________________________

Hummmmmmmm

"You talkin to me ... you talkin to me??

[HumeSkeptic]

Looks like our paid killers finally got caught in the act.

Shouldn't our government also be held responsible for hiring these goons?

What the fuck has happened to our country? I'm ashamed. Truly ashamed.

Hiring thugs to turture, rape, and kill people?

Is that who we are?

[Arethirtypercentinsane]

I honestly don't know what has happened to our country but I am embarrassed beyond belief.

[SouthpawSass]

I'm beyond embarrassed...

[lornejl]

I know God blesses the troops, but does he bless the Mercs too ?

[HumeSkeptic]

Yes. And also the phony troops. But that's America's God, as in Pinter's poem "God Bless America" that I posted above.

[ajax2]

Sorry Iraq, as in Alice In Wonderland, the sentence comes before the trial, $92 million in new contracts. That will teach them a thing or two.

[factanonverba]

And Blackwater USA will say otherwise muttering up whatever illogical rules of engagement that they play by. And the "perpetraitor's" version of events will be officially sanctioned. After all this Administration doesn't lie, it doesn't kidnap off the streets of Europe, it doesn't torture, it doesn't tap phones or read emails, it doesn't hold people without a writ of habeaus corpus awaiting trial indefinitely only on the whim of the Chief Executive without any judicial review or access to legal representation. It's time Americans wake to the reality on the ground. We are headed for an authoritarian fascist state.

[anangryamerican]

undoubtedly! When i ask my son's 21-26 yrd friends about Blackwater (and their lawless behavior)...they are glad to send THEM....but then there is no national sacrifice,no tax increase, just war for profit, and we can obsess about Brittany and Bradjolina....this is WRONG!!!!!! So WRONG!

[HumeSkeptic]

Why should there be a "national sacrifice" for a fraud? Why should there be a "tax increase", except for the ones benefiting from this fraud?

Iraq "war" has never been a war. It has always been a fraud perpetrated by Bush and Cheney for the benefit of oil corporations and defense contractors.

As for Blackwater, they are our hired killers and rapists and torturers.

[SeconLine]

GOD BLESS OUR TAXPAYER FUNDED MERCENARIES!!!!

[Honeybun]

And especially those from South Africa and Columbia. Yes, indeed.

[loki]

Technically, Bush invaded Iraq unprovoked, so this is not an issue with the white house.

[TLV]

The president of my church, John Thomas of The United Church of Christ, is traveling to Washington this week. There, he will deliver a petition filled with thousands of names to demand an immediate end to the Iraq War.

Thomas will demand that an audience with Congress and then one with Bush be granted him.

Wish him well and hope that the grace of God's goodness - or whatever loving entity you believe in - keeps him safe.

[SouthpawSass]

Will do TLV... think they'll give him any time?

[grainger5]

Blackwater, Whitewater, get it?

[getoffmedz]

No.