"The scandal of Blackwater" by Jeremy Scahill

[in_cog_ni_to]

The scandal of Blackwater
1 hour ago

The only punishment doled out to US security men involved in deadly shootings is a jet home

Jeremy Scahill
Saturday October 6, 2007
The Guardian

<snip>
But the investigative process so far has hardly been impartial. Just hours before Prince's testimony, CNN reported that the state department's initial report on the shooting was drafted by a Blackwater contractor, Darren Hanner. The next day came the news that the FBI team assigned to look into the incident in Baghdad had a contract with Blackwater itself to provide security for their investigation.

At the hearing Prince boldly declared that in Iraq his men have acted "appropriately at all times" and appeared to deny that the company had ever killed innocent civilians, only acknowledging that some may have died as a result of "ricochets" and "traffic accidents". This assertion is simply unbelievable. According to a report prepared by Waxman's staff, since 2005 Blackwater operatives in Iraq have opened fire on at least 195 occasions. In more than 80% of these instances, the Blackwater agents fired first.

Not surprisingly, Prince said he supported the continuation of Order 17 in Iraq, the Bremer-era decree giving organisations such as Blackwater immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts. Prince said Blackwater operatives who "don't hold to the standard, they have one decision to make: window or aisle" on their flight home. In all, Blackwater has sacked more than 120 of its operatives in Iraq. Given that being fired and sent home have been the only disciplinary consequences faced by Blackwater employees, it is worth asking: what did they do to earn this punishment?<snip>

<snip>
According to the committee report, after the killing the state department chargé d'affaires recommended that Blackwater make a "sizable payment" to the bodyguard's family. The official suggested $250,000, but the department's diplomatic security service said this was too much and could cause Iraqis to "try to get killed". In the end, the state department and Blackwater are said to have agreed on a $15,000 payment.

A pattern is emerging from the Congressional investigation into Blackwater: the state department urging the company to pay what amounts to hush money to victims' families while facilitating the return of contractors involved in deadly incidents for which not a single one has faced prosecution.

· Jeremy Scahill, a contributing writer for the Nation, is the author of Blackwater: the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2184932,00.html

[kurth]

1. Blackwater shooter just went home like nothing had happened and bought himself a $273,000 house

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Blackwater_Seattle.html

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. That's disgusting. I wonder how many of our soldiers can come home and buy a $273,000 home?

My guess would be NOT MANY, if any.:(

[mark414]

3. what i really want to know is why are we paying these guys multiple times what soldiers are paid?

don't you think that if we used that money for our actual military we'd have more soldiers with more and better equipment?

oh that's right...they don't care about them

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. But...but...but, their Mothers can hold BAKE SALES to earn money for their equipment!

You're asking an awful lot of your Government....sheesh. They're busy padding the pockets of all their rich cronies...leave 'em alone!:eyes:

Can you imagine how the soldiers in Iraq feel knowing how much Blackwater mercenaries are paid compared to what they're paid? They must DETEST them.

[mark414]

5. some of em barely make over $1000 a MONTH

Army spouses having to collect welfare checks to feed their kids while mom or dad is away at war...it's atrocious

I have a few friends who are/have been over in Iraq or Afghanistan and yes...a lot of them aren't big fans of Blackwater, to put it lightly