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Today's Must Read
The State Department's "first blush" investigation into the September 16 shootings at Baghdad's Nisour Square, which left 11 Iraqi civilians dead at the hands of Blackwater security contractors, largely absolves Blackwater of blame for the incident.
According to the initial account by the Baghdad office of State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, a car bomb detonated 25 yards away from a Blackwater detail accompanying a U.S. diplomatic convoy leaving a "financial compound" and heading for the Green Zone. Two other teams were dispatched from the Green Zone to assist in the diplomat's extraction. As the third team approached Nisour Square, it came under fire from between eight to ten assailants, who "fired from multiple nearby locations, with some aggressors dressed in civilian apparel and others in Iraqi police uniforms," the report states, as provided to The Washington Post.
The chaos did not stop there.
Separately, a U.S. official familiar with the investigation said that participants in the shooting have reported that at least one of the Blackwater guards drew a weapon on his colleagues and screamed for them to "stop shooting." This account suggested that there was some effort to curb the shooting, with at least one Blackwater guard believing it had spiraled out of control. "Stop shooting -- those are the words that we're hearing were used," the official said.
The BDS report is dated the day of the incident -- September 16. It is entirely separate from an ongoing joint U.S.-Iraqi investigation into Nisour Square, an event that has galvanized Iraqi opinion so greatly and so negatively that one senior U.S. military official warned it could be "worse than Abu Ghraib." The report helps explain why State Department officials, including Secretary Rice, have backed Blackwater as strongly as they have. Rice and other U.S. diplomats successfully got the Iraqi government to withdraw its initial demand that Blackwater be expelled from Iraq.
But the account presented in the September 16 BDS report contrasts sharply with that of a later report issued by the Iraqi Interior Ministry and bolstered by video evidence from a nearby national-police command headquarters. In that report, Blackwater fired at a white car -- carrying a man, a woman and their baby -- that did not heed a traffic officer's warning to stop.
Sarhan Thiab, a traffic policeman who was in the circle at the time, said Iraqi police did not fire on Blackwater. "Not a single bullet. They were the only ones shooting," said Thiab, who said he and other traffic officers fled to nearby bushes once the shooting began."All the vehicles were shooting. They were shooting in every direction," said a senior Iraqi police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigations. "They used a rocket launcher or grenade launcher to hit the car. They were supported by two helicopters who were shooting from the air."
In the BDS account, when the second Blackwater team was ordered to Nisour Square to assist the one ostensibly under attack, Iraqi police and Army units on-scene pointed machine guns at the Blackwater guards, possibly in confusion. Blackwater called for air support from its fleet of Little Bird helicopters. Eventually a U.S. Army quick-reaction force arrived and "mediated" an end to the violence.
Even assuming the BDS account is correct and the Interior Ministry's is wrong, it puts a question mark around Blackwater's procedures for when its convoys face danger.
Some U.S. officials have questioned why the Blackwater team decided to evacuate the principal and return to the Green Zone, rather than remaining inside the compound. "It doesn't make sense," said one U.S. official. "Why would they go back out there when they were already safe?"
Comments (30)
moondancer wrote on September 28, 2007 9:40 AM:The official story is always a lie. I've lived by those words for decades and have yet to be let down.
VL wrote on September 28, 2007 9:47 AM:I think the fierce cover for Blackwater is because it is in reality a GOP militia. They are marketing in the US right now to state governments for emergency law enforcement contracts. These guys are really bad news. Imagine the Michigan militia being validated by the DOJ as an adjunct law enforcement group and you get the picture.
What makes these guys so attractive to fascists is twofold. One, virtually no accountability. Spin rules when there is no JAG or Internal Affairs. Second, corruption. Lots of taxdollars flying around with no audit. Plenty of chances for graft from an industry that is not only republican, but fanatically fascist wing GOP.
Remember, besides State Dept security, these are the black ops guys, the Abu Ghraib guys, etc..
If the US protects and covers for Blackwater in Iraq, just imagine how accommodating they'll be once Blackwater starts operating here in America. Perhaps Nisoor Square was a test run to see how well Blackwater could be rinsed clean.
ARG in Chicago wrote on September 28, 2007 9:48 AM:"The State Department's "first blush" investigation ... largely absolves Blackwater of blame for the incident."
Huh. Imagine that.
-- ARG
Fred M. wrote on September 28, 2007 9:54 AM:A little background on Blackwater:
Jolly Ranchero wrote on September 28, 2007 9:55 AM:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqM4tKPDlR8
Well that settles everything. So the State Department is calling the video evidence fraudulent?
Larry A. wrote on September 28, 2007 10:01 AM:What did the "first blush" investigations of the Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman incidents reveal?
Fred M. wrote on September 28, 2007 10:06 AM:Here's another clip that should give everybody a warm, fuzzy feeling about Erik Prince and Blackwater:
Platypus wrote on September 28, 2007 10:17 AM:http://iraqforsale.org/video_erik.php
It should be noted that, according to the Post story, the leaked State Dept report is based solely on interviews of Blackwater personnel. Given the nature of the report, it's not surprising that Blackwater is portrayed as acting in self defence.
J Bentley in Chicago wrote on September 28, 2007 10:29 AM:When a private security firm can blast away 8 or 10 civilians and get away with it, something's dreadfully wrong. No matter what.
TheraP wrote on September 28, 2007 10:34 AM:"Cognitive Dissonance" says that if you buy something, you believe in it, believe in your choice... in spite of disconfirming evidence.
Thus, cognitive dissonance would suggest that the administration will do all sorts of mental contortions to believe Blackwater, the rightness of the war itself, the wisdom of the surge, privatizing everything, insane tax cuts. You name it! If they chose it, no matter how badly it's going, they believe in it! That's cognitive dissonance at work!
Organized crime at the highest levels of government. And all we have to fear is that Blackwater becomes the contractor that enforces a declaration of martial law.
Something has got to be done!
Mike wrote on September 28, 2007 10:57 AM:Standard Clinton Admin operating procedure: "When charged or accused, just deny it." Make the accuser prove it.
Standart Bush Admin operating procedure: "When charged or accused, assert that the exact opposite is in fact true". Put the accuser on the defensive.
Molly, NYC wrote on September 28, 2007 10:57 AM:Aside from everything else, does it strike anyone else as weird-beyond-the-telling-of-it that the DOD of the United States hired civilians, not to cook, not to do laundry, but to fight? It's like Meryl Streep hiring someone to do her acting for her.
anon wrote on September 28, 2007 11:03 AM:Whew, so Blackwater's clean. That's good. They won't have review Blackwater's part in those 15 billion bucks worth of War on Drugs contracts that Naomi Klein's been prattling on about. And, hey, if they start up full fledged War on Drugs operations in the US, you don't want drug dealers to think Blackwater isn't filled with hard bodies do you?
Anonymous wrote on September 28, 2007 11:07 AM:"Two other teams were dispatched from the Green Zone to assist in the diplomat's extraction. As the third team approached Nisour Square, it came under fire from between eight to ten assailants, who 'fired from multiple nearby locations, with some aggressors dressed in civilian apparel and others in Iraqi police uniforms,' the report states, as provided to The Washington Post."
So, did those "eight to ten assailants" include the women with the baby? And the baby?
Fred M. wrote on September 28, 2007 11:16 AM:I have a question for anybody more familiar with Blackwater and other mercenary groups operating in Iraq and elsewhere. What happens when these guys get wounded? I doubt they have their own medical units so they must be receiving care from our military units. If so, are they being charged for these services? Secondly, if there have been 800 killed, there must be thousands who have been wounded, so where do they get their long term medical care? I assume the VA since it sounds like almost all of them are veterans.
It sure sounds like the privatization policy of the Bush administration only goes so far. Pay exhorbant costs thu no-bid contracts to your political supporters and then dump the medical costs back on our military and VA!
Also, has anybody seen any of these mercenaries who happen to be black? Something tells me that these guys have to be more than just "loyal Bushies," but complete right-wing nutjobs! I suspect most of these guys have the same political views you would find in militia and white supremacy groups.
Fred M. wrote on September 28, 2007 11:17 AM:I have a question for anybody more familiar with Blackwater and other mercenary groups operating in Iraq and elsewhere. What happens when these guys get wounded? I doubt they have their own medical units so they must be receiving care from our military units. If so, are they being charged for these services? Secondly, if there have been 800 killed, there must be thousands who have been wounded, so where do they get their long term medical care? I assume the VA since it sounds like almost all of them are veterans.
It sure sounds like the privatization policy of the Bush administration only goes so far. Pay exhorbant costs thu no-bid contracts to your political supporters and then dump the medical costs back on our military and VA!
Also, has anybody seen any of these mercenaries who happen to be black? Something tells me that these guys have to be more than just "loyal Bushies," but complete right-wing nutjobs! I suspect most of these guys have the same political views you would find in militia and white supremacy groups.
Anonymous wrote on September 28, 2007 11:20 AM:"at least one of the Blackwater guards drew a weapon on his colleagues and screamed for them to "stop shooting""
To that fella and every one like him, I say "bravo", you should be in command.
"Tweakers gone wild."
How often does a Sargent have to draw his weapon on his lieutenants?
Thes guys are mercenaries, here's more proof of it.
How many US Soldiers have died cleaning up one of Blackwater's mercenary messes?
Those are the numbers we would like to see. And no doubt, the ones they will never track.
If the American public knew how profanely our troops are being killed, they would end this war tomorrow.
JEP wrote on September 28, 2007 11:23 AM:"at least one of the Blackwater guards drew a weapon on his colleagues and screamed for them to "stop shooting""
To that fella and every one like him, I say "bravo", you should be in command.
This tiny grain of reason glows amidst the darkness, that there are some people working for Blackwater who know the difference between murder and war.
"Tweakers gone wild."
How often does a Sargent have to draw his weapon on his lieutenants?
These guys are mercenaries, here's more proof of it.
How many US Soldiers have died cleaning up one of Blackwater's mercenary messes?
Those are the numbers we would like to see. And no doubt, the ones they will never track.
If the American public knew how profanely our troops are being killed, they would end this war tomorrow.
TheraP wrote on September 28, 2007 11:39 AM:Fred M. Some guesses to try and answer your questions.
First of all Blackwater employs "independent contractors" who are thereby in effect "small businesses." That means they are responsible for themselves! How nice... The military could bill them for medical care, I suppose, and I'm not sure if their vet status helps them in Iraq. However, the VA no longer serves all Vets. I believe the rules were changed recently (not sure if under bush or before that) so that a recent Vet must have service-related problems to qualify for care. I believe that's correct.
Actually Blackwater employs these gangster types and simply leaves them to care for themselves. that's the American way, right??? (the American way of death care)
Blackwater has it all arranged so they get their profits immediately and there is no long term care or support provided. They also don't pay for people to be trained, since they obviously wait for the military to do that for them.
Also, by making their people "independent contractors" that makes sure that Blackwater itself can never really be held responsible for their behavior. They can claim they just sub-contracted.
It's all so sickening! We are in grave danger from these hired thugs!
JEP wrote on September 28, 2007 11:48 AM:"Also, by making their people "independent contractors" that makes sure that Blackwater itself can never really be held responsible for their behavior."
That doesn't apply to the Hague, only US corporate laws. ANYONE who hires and utilizes mercenary forces is subject to the world court.
And by claiming their "civilian" status, they essentially fit the legal definition of "mercenary" which IS ruled over by The Hague.
Why do you think Cheney wanted us to detatch from those obligations?
TheraP wrote on September 28, 2007 11:59 AM:Thanks for that clarification, JEP. I was referring to them protecting themselves from lawsuits here.
Yes, let them all be hauled before the Hague World Court!!!
Blackwater apparently makes their folks sign something so that if the person dies or is injured/whatever and the family tries to sue Blackwater, Blackwater can automatically collect a quarter million dollar indemnity - for the suit!
I've actually wondered if some of these special forces people realize all the hidden clauses that they will be subject to, when they leave the military and sign on with Blackwater. I bet not!
anon wrote on September 28, 2007 12:34 PM:I'm sure Blackwater would be delighted to have, say, a 1000 guys show up for Congressional hearings to discuss the terms of their employment and the rules of engagement. And if there's not quite enough room in the cloak room to hold a couple tons of heavy personal armourments and munitions, well, I'm sure the Blackwater guys can tuck that stuff gently under their seats or just hold it in their laps.
Court Jester wrote on September 28, 2007 12:50 PM:The article on MSNBC (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21022798/) adds some important details to this report:
The report "details the events as described by Blackwater guards". The MSNBC article quotes an unnamed embassy official who says the report "reflected only what embassy officers were told by the Blackwater guards immediately after the incident".
Of course the embassy wants to put a good spin on events; Blackwater is the State departments own private militia. And State is trying to claim that Blackwater doesn't have to answer question from the US Congress. If there's one thing the Bush administration does well, it's information management.
Elsewhere in the MSNBC article, "Blackwater has claimed that its guards returned fire only after they were shot at." Yeah, that fits in with their SOP for the last 4 years. Blackwater has cultivated a reputation of being the most "in-your-face" of all the mercenary firms in Iraq.
It'll be interesting to see if the Iraqi police video ever gets released.
JEP wrote on September 28, 2007 12:54 PM:TheraP;
I sure hope anon at 12:34 is snarkin' us, because the suggestion that Congress might be intimidated by a thousand Glock-weilding thugs is laughable.
Considering there's at least a million of us right now who would show up with our own "tools" to protect our beloved Congresspeople, I mean that from the bottom of my heart) those numbers aren't remotely intimidating.
Bullies always learn the hard way that everyday citizens eventually refuse to be puched around, and the bullies end up out-manned, out-gunned and out-meaned by BULLIES-FOR-A-DAY.
Mary wrote on September 28, 2007 1:26 PM:Compare and contrast with the reporting and investigating job done by McClatchy:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/20047.html
If you follow through, in addition to real names, real stories, real people who were killed (one less doctor for Iraq - good thing they don't need any) you find out that right before all of this there had been a Blackwater convoy where a vehicle was blown up by an ied and two Blackwater employees died.
So now you have the issue(s) of a) panic when they heard another bomb (although it seems the 25 yards thing has been pretty much disputed by almost everyone other than Blackwater) and b) desire for some payback.
I think the rise of Blackwater, and the mercenary profession in general, has been a bad thing, but I have to wonder why the assumption is that this would be better if done by US troops. From civilians and children flattened in Afghanistan to Haditha - if US troops had more and more of the security concerns detailed out (and we don't have the troops for it anyway - but assuming we did) how do we know things would be done much differently?
And when the US troops do go so far that they are even found to have conspired to commit murder and to have murdered civilians, it is no de rigeur to just have court martials, with no Iraqis testifying and where presiding officers make advance statements to the effect that we can't actually expect soldiers not to kill civilians bc everyone (except 'us') looks alike, and where despite findings of murder sentences include nothing more than reductions in rank or a very loudly expressed "tsk" and any real sentences negotiated are quietly commuted.
I'm sure Gen. Mattis can accomodate Blackwater with a stack of pre-commuted sentences if they do try to make the new law providing for application of military "justice" to contractors.
And as an additional note - look at the composition of the US military. What do we call non-US citizens who have been enticed to join? Or even US citizens who have joined only because of signing bonuses? Where do you draw the mercenary line?
And having heard Casey and other talk about the need to grow the US miliary, even if I agreed I have to wonder - - how? Who is out there, desparate to join the US military and serve under its stellar and stalwart chain of command, but held back merely because the military hadn't 'decided' to grow until now?
Lots of questions, not many good answers.
Court Jester wrote on September 28, 2007 1:30 PM:The behavior of Blackwater and all the other private security firms is one of the reasons that the Iraqi population feels overwhelmingly that it's okay to shoot at/attack US soldiers.
The Iraqis see the mercenaries as US-controlled militias. They don't differentiate between the private and the public armies. They're all seen as "American". Every bad act perpetrated by the mercenaries directly impacts the way the "real" US armed forces are seen and are treated.
It's impossible to prove, but IMHO the behavior of the various mercenary forces has resulted in increased casualties for the "real" US personnel.
moondancer wrote on September 28, 2007 1:46 PM:That independent contractor stuff is just another layer of protection for the evil ones. Early this morning on NPR someone in the discussion of Blackwater dropped a bomb that there is scurrying in the cloakroom of GOP caucus to retro fit these hired thugs with GI type benefits. I went to the site to quote but it doesn't get posted til 4pm EDT.
Court Jester wrote on September 28, 2007 2:11 PM:The other thing mentioned is the DOD is getting pissed off because the elite are leaving to make bigger bucks w/these merc groups. Also the standards are getting looser. Lots of true hired guns from fun places like sub-Saharan Africa.
This is an absurd extension of privatization.
It's not much of a stretch to imagine someone, say in the VP's office, saying that this new illegal idea we came up with is simple if we just farm it out to our buddies at Blackwater. Lots of deniability, hard to investigate.
Sorry if this comes across as a rant, but the image of those Blackwater thugs with shotguns and deputy badges in New Orleans after Katrina has never left me.
Someone in another forum pointed out that besides all the obvious reasons for privatizing military functions, it is also a great way to get free campaign contributions! By overpaying for services (using public money), the GOP can get kickbacks in the form of campaign contributions from the mercenary companies.
The GOP likes to call the Democrats the party of "tax-and-spend". Meanwhile, the GOP is becoming the party of "tax-and-steal".
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