Iraqis to review security companies

[SgtGumby311 0]

Iraqis to review security companies

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The Iraqi government said Tuesday it would review the status of private security companies as anger over the alleged involvement of Blackwater USA in a fatal shooting of civilians threatened to spread to other firms providing protection for dignitaries and Westerners on Iraq's chaotic streets.

Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for all contracts of foreign securities firms to be annulled and blamed the government for failing to protect Iraqis, noting the shootings occurred on a busy square filled with Iraqi troops.

"This aggression wouldn't have happened had it not been for the presence of the occupiers who brought these companies," al-Sadr's political committee said in a statement issued by his office in the holy city of Najaf.

It also called for a speedy investigation, the referral of those involved to the Iraqi justice system and compensation for families of the victims.

A series of bombings, meanwhile, ripped through Baghdad, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens, police said.

The developments came a day after the government announced it was ordering Blackwater, the North Carolina-based security firm that protects U.S. diplomats, to leave the country after what it said was the fatal shooting of eight Iraqi civilians following a car bomb attack against a State Department convoy.

Amid allegations that the foreign security contractors operate with impunity, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the Cabinet held a meeting Tuesday and confirmed that "it is necessary to review the status of local and foreign private security companies working in Iraq according to what is suitable with Iraqi laws."

Al-Dabbagh also said the Cabinet supported the Interior Ministry's decision to withdraw Blackwater's license, expedite an investigation and ensure all those who attacked civilians were held accountable.

"The company should respect Iraqi laws and the dignity of the citizens," al-Dabbagh said in a statement released by his office.

Order No. 17, a law issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq before the Iraqis regained sovereignty in June 2004, gave the companies immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

Hassan al-Rubaie, a member of the parliament's Security and Defense Committee, said an investigative committee has been formed and members would consider abolishing the immunity law.

"There are reports that they were subjected to fire but this does not give them the right to kill innocent civilians," he said.

Blackwater said the company had not been formally notified of any expulsion.

"Blackwater's independent contractors acted lawfully and appropriately in response to a hostile attack in Baghdad on Sunday," spokeswoman Anne E. Tyrrell said in a statement late Monday.

"The `civilians' reportedly fired upon by Blackwater professionals were in fact armed enemies and Blackwater personnel returned defensive fire," she said. "Blackwater regrets any loss of life but this convoy was violently attacked by armed insurgents, not civilians, and our people did their job to defend human life."

But Sunday's shooting has touched a nerve among Iraqis already angered over the presence of so many visible, aggressive Western security contractors, whom many consider part of a mercenary force that runs roughshod over people in their own country.

It was the latest in a series of incidents in which Blackwater and other foreign contractors have been accused of shooting to death Iraqi citizens. None has faced charges or prosecution.

The events in Mansour also illustrate the challenge of trying to protect U.S. officials in a city where car bombs can explode at any time, and where gunmen blend in with the civilian population.

In one of the most horrific attacks of the war, four Blackwater employees were ambushed and killed in Fallujah in 2004 and their charred bodies hung from a bridge over the Euphrates River.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned al-Maliki late Monday and the two agreed to conduct a fair and transparent investigation.

The U.S. clearly hoped the Iraqis would be satisfied with an investigation, a finding of responsibility and compensation to the victims' families - and not insist on expelling a company that the Americans cannot operate here without.

Details of Sunday's incident were unclear.

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said eight civilians were killed and 13 were wounded when contractors believed to be working for Blackwater USA opened fire on civilians in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Mansour in western Baghdad.

"We have canceled the license of Blackwater and prevented them from working all over Iraqi territory. We will also refer those involved to Iraqi judicial authorities," Khalaf said.

He said witness reports pointed to Blackwater involvement but added that the shooting was still under investigation. One witness, Hussein Abdul-Abbas, said the explosion was followed by about 20 minutes of heavy gunfire and "everybody in the street started to flee immediately."

U.S. officials said the motorcade was traveling through Nisoor Square on the way back to the Green Zone when the car bomb exploded, followed by volleys of small-arms fire that disabled one of the vehicles but caused no American casualties.

American officials refused to explain the legal authority under which Blackwater operates in Iraq or say whether the company was complying with the order. It also was unclear whether the contractors involved in the shooting were still in Iraq.

The deadliest attack on Tuesday was a car bombing that occurred in a parking lot near the Health Ministry and a medical complex in central Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding 23.

Another parked car bomb targeted a police patrol in Palestine Street, killing two civilians and wounding six.

A parked car bomb also struck a busy market in northern Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 26.

Maitham Mustafa, 27, who has a kiosk about 150 yards away from the blast, was wounded by broken glass.

"The explosion was so powerful. It took place a few minutes before midday prayers," he said, his clothes soaked with blood as he helped evacuate victims. "We rushed to the site and we saw a car on fire, pieces of flesh were scattered and there were pools of blood on the street."

Two roadside bombs also killed a policeman and two civilians and wounded eight other people in separate attacks in predominantly Shiite areas of eastern Baghdad. The violence was reported by police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

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[Oswegowind 17]

Let's not worry about our own people doing bad things, but take the focus to another spectrum, private security firms run by non-Iraqis. If they don't care that they are blowing each other up, then why should we? It is just like here...people kill each other, maim each other, rob each other, mug each other...you get the picture, but the focus is not on them, but the Police when they stop them and someone feels they are mistreated, make all the headlines, and everyone wants to discuss what should be done...It is just plain ridiculous! We need to start worrying about the real criminals and helping the police to do something about it, cause it is only going to get worse. As for blackwater USA, if they saw a threat and proceeded to eliminate that threat, than good for them...

And is every city in Iraq "holy", I don't think they take our religions into consideration, why are we taking theirs?

[Guest partyrock]

We pull the same crap in this country. When things are bad and the people are pissed find an easy target and attack. Now you're addressing an an issue and getting results which calms the public. Then who cares if the real problem is fixed, we all feel better because something was done.

[Guest]

"It was the latest in a series of incidents in which Blackwater and other foreign contractors have been accused of shooting to death Iraqi citizens. None has faced charges or prosecution."

I thought this was a move in the right direction. If the Blackwater employees are found guilty of killing civilians and they are punished for it, then isn't that addressing the problem and not just calming the public?

Edited September 18, 2007 by AndrewT

[dadbo46 50]

I thought this was a move in the right direction.

What ?

[Guest]

What ?

Sorry, had to edit my post, but check it now for a better explanation

[Guest partyrock]

Who is killing more citizens? Arab terrorists or foreign contractors? A hint...contractors aren't blowing up mosques, markets, or gov't facilities.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

OK.

The press runs a story based on the comments of a cleric who couldn't say 1 second of the crap he's been running his mouth about if we didn't give him the freedom to do so. Not to mention the sour grapes he has for the U.S. from when his father was murdered by Sadaam Hussein for being a key leader in an attempted uprising against him just after the first gulf war. This guys militia has killed more of his own "Iraqis" then Blackwater has probably come close to and as collateral damage. They do not look at things the way we do. They are not "Iraqi's" in the truest sense. They look at each other by sect...Sunni, Shiite etc. The equivalent of Catholics fighting and killing Baptists and those 2 killing Methodist.

The only thing I can say about Blackwater is that I'm glad they've finally stopped emailing and calling after numerous request. Thanks D.O.D. for letting out many of our personal info for recruiting lists.

There are no facts to back any of this, no understanding that no matter what you do when your enemy fights like a coward there will be civilian collateral. Or as a man once said..."anyone who runs is a terrorist...anyone who stays is a well disciplined terrorist."

If anything the normal people of this country and the world should respect as many of us veterans do, the level of restraint our personnel are conducting themselves under in frustrating tactical circumstances.

[Guest partyrock]

ALS, I think I knew that guy. He also mentioned something about not leading them as much.

You hit the nail right on the head. These men and women are hamstrung by so many rules that one buddy joked you can only start shooting after they have shot you and shown their terrorist decoder ring.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Party..since we are on the same wavelength...and perhaps ate some simliar dirt and sand...

Stupid persons often ask..."What do you feel when you shoot someone, Marine?"

Wise man answers.... "Recoil."

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Well Blackwater can't technically be brought up on any charges by the Iraqis, since they are immune to Iraqi law (read about it, can't remember where for the life of me.) However the Dept. of State could not move their diplomats in Iraq by land for the past few days because of the ban on Blackwater, so they have been let back for "limited duties." DoD hired the company, let them do their jobs without hassling them. They are mercenaries, they are SUPPOSED TO KILL PEOPLE!

[Guest alsfirefighter]

They are mercenaries

Actually, no they are not. They were not contracted for any direct combat services. They were hired for dignatary protection and for security at sensitive locations. It just so happens that many of those sensitive locations have come under direct threat or indirect threat during military operations in the area that were going on.

[Monty 35]

I'm not as close to this as many of you but .... there is certainly the impression that these guys are cowboys and don't answer to anyone. As mentioned, they aren't accountable to the Iraqi government, apparently there was some statement about them now being held to the Uniform Military Justice code - but apparently that is still fuzzy.

Now, I'm being slightly biased by what I read in the papers - but I'm sure Iraqi's don't really care if it's a Blackwater employee or DOD Employee (Marine /Army) - they just see it as a US soldier. I believe that hurts our image over there and makes it harder for all the military out there.