Iraqi official: Blackwater staying on 'is bad news'

[spanone]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department's renewal of Blackwater's contract to provide security in Iraq "is bad news," an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 people, including women and children, last September, prompting an outcry and protest from Iraqi officials.

"This is bad news," al-Maliki adviser Sami al-Askari said. "I personally am not happy with this, especially because they have committed acts of aggression, killed Iraqis, and this has not been resolved yet positively for families of victims."

About 25,000 private contractors from three companies protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials in Iraq. Under a provision put into place in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq,

security contractors have immunity from Iraqi law.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/05/iraq.blackwater/index.html

[NC_Nurse]

1. No shit. Did Penn help them keep their jobs?

:puke:

[Bandit]

3. Seems to me Obama is happy with Blackwater and is chomping at the bit

to bomb Pakistan..

[NC_Nurse]

4. Really? That's not what I've heard him say.

[Lerkfish]

6. ok, its OPPOSITE DAY

Mark Penn, lobbyist for Blackwater is the consultant for the CLINTON campaign.

get your head out of your ass.

[C_U_L8R]

2. What does Hillary have to say about that?

And will she keep Blackwater's PR Meister as her top campaign strategist?

[goforit]

5. Do you get the idea that US employees have to behave themselves w/ Blackwater

hanging around their backs?

You probably can't even be free to go to the bathroom alone.