Blackwater in Baghdad: "It was a horror movie" - Exclusive testimony from witnesses and victims

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/12/14/blackwater/

Exclusive testimony from witnesses and victims provides the most in-depth, harrowing account to date of the U.S. security firm's deadly rampage in Iraq.

By Jennifer Daskal

Dec. 14, 2007 | For Khalaf, a 38-year-old Iraqi, Sept. 16 started like many other sunny summer workdays. He donned his police uniform -- a white shirt, navy trousers and hat -- and headed to Baghdad's busy Nissour Square. By 7 a.m. he was out in the street, directing the flow of traffic coming from the multi-laned Yarmouk access road into the square. When he spotted four large all-terrain vehicles with guns mounted on top, he did what he always did. He stopped traffic and cleared the area for what he knew, from the tell-tale sign of the two accompanying helicopters, to be a security firm's convoy.

At first, this seemed completely normal for the totally abnormal world of Baghdad in September 2007. "Convoys are common," explained Khalaf. But this convoy made an unexpected U-turn, drove the wrong way around the one-way square, stopped in the middle of it and started shooting. Fifteen minutes later, 17 Iraqi civilians were dead, dozens more wounded, and a white sedan that had been engulfed in flames contained two bodies charred beyond recognition.

"It was a horror movie," said Khalaf, describing the aftermath of the now notorious Blackwater shootings.

I interviewed Khalaf on Nov. 30, in a small conference room inside a hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. In one of the most in-depth collection of testimonials to date regarding Blackwater, Khalaf was among five witnesses and victims flown from Baghdad to meet with Susan Burke, William O'Neil and their team of lawyers and investigators. The team is suing Blackwater on behalf of the victims of the Sept. 16 shooting.

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[peacetalksforall]

2. With money stolen from you and me. They took our money to do this;.

Just where is the GSA and all the accountability people, including Congress oversight?

It is something like this that is out of control in this country that gives me no hope for Democrats on some days.

Only a portion of Dems gave their approval to Dick Cheney through George.

This is what they got for us.

Which House is going to get Blackwater, if either.

[Nostradammit]

3. I wish to apologize to Khalaf

We here are horrified by their actions as well.

The people of Potrero are horrified by their actions.

All decent people are horrified by their actions.

Those who are not horrified by their actions should be cut off from human contact.

[Pastiche423]

4. Then the mother was shot dead before his eyes

Our taxes paid for that.

My mind is numb.

[Disturbed]

5. Ms Rice said that she is ultimately responsible for

Black Water. Does that have any meaning?

[Pastiche423]

6. Nope, no meaning at all

Blackwater can not be held responsible for anything it does, thus condi has no responsibility.

This is a fucked up world.

[malaise]

7. Of course not

Lock up these war criminals

[Usrename]

8. Bush is far worse than Saddam Hussein ever was.

He is the one who should be held to account.

[shance]

11. I think it is actually who Bush is posing to represent.

Whoever is behind that proverbial curtain.

[countryjake]

9. Everyone should read that article! n/t

[shance]

10. "I tried to help the young man, but his mother was holding him so tight,"

"Then the mother was shot dead before his eyes."

[Orwellian_Ghost]

12. Kick n/t

[spanone]

13. winning hearts and minds.....they will be killing americans for a long, long time