Blackwater Is Soaked
An arrogant attitude only adds fuel to the criticism.

Oct. 15, 2007 issue - The colonel was furious. "Can you believe it? They actually drew their weapons on U.S. soldiers." He was describing a 2006 car accident, in which an SUV full of Blackwater operatives had crashed into a U.S. Army Humvee on a street in Baghdad's Green Zone. The colonel, who was involved in a follow-up investigation and spoke on the condition he not be named, said the Blackwater guards disarmed the U.S. Army soldiers and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle the SUV. His account was confirmed by the head of another private security company. Asked to address this and other allegations in this story, Blackwater spokesperson Anne Tyrrell said, "This type of gossip has led to many soap operas in the press."
Whatever else Blackwater is or isn't guilty of—a topic of intense interest in Washington—it has a well-earned reputation in Iraq for arrogance and high-handedness. Iraqis naturally have the most serious complaints; dozens have been killed by Blackwater operatives since the beginning of the war. But many American civilian and military officials in Iraq also have little sympathy for the private security company and its highly paid employees. With an uproar growing in Congress over Blackwater's alleged excesses, the North Carolina-based company is finding few supporters.

Responsible for guarding top U.S. officials in Iraq, Blackwater operatives are often accused of playing by their own rules. Unlike nearly everyone else who enters the Green Zone, said an American soldier who guards a gate, Blackwater gunmen refuse to stop and clear their weapons of live ammunition once inside. One military contractor, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution in his industry, recounted the story of a Blackwater operative who answered a Marine officer's order to put his pistol on safety when entering a base post office by saying, "This is my safety," and wiggling his trigger finger in the air. "Their attitude was, 'We're f---ing security; we don't have to answer to anybody'."

Congress disagrees. Until now, private security contractors working for the State Department, as Blackwater does, have effectively not been covered by either U.S. or Iraqi law, or military regulations. A bill that overwhelmingly passed the House last week would close that loophole. But the law would also require the FBI to establish a large-scale presence in Iraq in order to investigate accusations against private contractors. Law-enforcement officials worry that this would draw valuable resources away from FBI efforts to combat terrorism in the United States. Also, whenever FBI agents venture into Iraq now they are guarded by ... Blackwater operatives. The bureau has sent a team to Baghdad to investigate the Sept. 16 shooting in Nasoor Square, in which Blackwater guards are accused of killing as many as 17 Iraqi civilians. In order to avoid "even the appearance of any conflict [of interest]," according to an FBI spokesman, the agents will be defended by U.S. government personnel.

It is not an idle concern. Blackwater's staunchest defenders tend to be found among those whom they guard. U.S. officials prefer Blackwater and other private security bodyguards because they regard them as more highly trained than military guards, who are often reservists from MP units. A U.S. Embassy staffer, who did not have permission to speak on the record, said, "It's a few bad eggs that seem to be spoiling the bunch." Late last week the State Department announced that it would increase oversight of Blackwater in particular, installing cameras in its vehicles and having a Diplomatic Security Service officer ride along on every convoy. But another State Department official, also speaking anonymously, says that DSS agents in Baghdad have not been eager to rein in the contractors in the past: "These guys tend to close ranks. It's like the blue wall."

Testifying before Congress last week, 38-year-old Blackwater chief Erik Prince vigorously defended his company's "dedicated security professionals" who "risk their lives to protect Americans in harm's way overseas." Prince probably had no reason to be as smug as he seemed to many observers. In deflecting questions about a drunken Blackwater operative who allegedly shot and killed a bodyguard for Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi in the Green Zone on Christmas Eve last year, Prince said that the employee, later identified as Andrew Moonen, had been fined and fired. But on Friday House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Henry Waxman released a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recounting evidence that Moonen was able to return to Iraq and worked there for another company. Moonen's attorney, Stewart Riley, told NEWSWEEK his client denies wrongdoing and is not facing criminal charges. Blackwater is no doubt in for further fire fights.

With Larry Kaplow in Baghdad and Michael Hastings in Washington

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21163806/site/newsweek/

______
If true that these mercenaries have disarmed our own troops is completely outrageous dont you think?...What a freaking mess this war is...on many levels...Imagine Blackwater being used in America....oops...maybe that already happened in New Orleans...the criminals are in charge people...

Blackwater is basically composed of individuals of questionable at best mental stability, who live by the motto,"Shoot first, last, and always, and screw asking questions". These are guys who think Rambo was based on a true story. They're there to kill, and at this point, they don't particularly give a damn WHO they take out.

Once again, America suffers at the hands of idiots. I guess this mentality is easily explained when one looks at the excuse for leadership in Washington .

got that right knox....

Blackwater are mostly X- seals, delta force and rangers that are either "too old" to serve in regular military or just want to make the "big" money. And yes, most are very "aggressive" in their use of force, but when you guard important Iraqi diplomats that the terrorists would love to take out, you have to be. One other note that isn't mentioned much, Blackwater has lost over 1000 personnel in Iraq (over 1/4 the amount of regular army deaths), it is a very dangerous job and that is why they are "compensated" so much.

Serchin writes:

"One other note that isn't mentioned much, Blackwater has lost over 1000 personnel in Iraq (over 1/4 the amount of regular army deaths), it is a very dangerous job and that is why they are "compensated" so much. "

Sources please? A Congressional investigation found that the company had to fire 122 of their operatives in Iraq because of drug/alcohol/conduct problems, and that number was said to be 1/7 of their total 'workforce' in Iraq. Ergo, 7 times 122 = 854.


-Kerry O.

Blackwater's stats speak for themselves. It is a dangerous game they play. I know of several former police officers that have gone over and returned,luckily. They have some hair raising stories to tell.

It appears that their leadership leaves lots of room for improvement. Accountability, drug tests and discipline, would be amongst the first things to improve. Those are the type of issues that will get you killed. They cover up so much dirt, it makes one wonder.

they are not toast, sorry.

they have the backing of many government big wigs, and kick back a lot of money to the republican party. those trigger happy yahoos will stay in iraq till the end.

using my crystal ball I see television ads in the future for Blackwater..
much like the recruiting ads for the military....and you will probably see
a Blackwater video game soon also...

and let me see if I have this right...Blackwater is under contract with the
US government for 100's of thousands of $$ per employee...and in their
spare time they supply protection for other dignitaries from other countries
as they visit world hot spots...so in effect the american tax payer is paying
security costs for Polish politicians as they visit war zones....Did anyone ask
us if we want to spend our money that way?...

Blackwater makes the U.S. look bad! We have so many other (military) agencies that can do what Blackwater is supposed to be doing(the initial mission)and with more tact.

I tend to stay away from this type of talk, as I am not in their shoes. I can say that they need to be aware the world will demand accountability.I would not want to think everyone associate with Blackwater is all bad, after all some of these guys at one time, wanted to save the world. They have families to support.

Blackwater is heading for problems, "War Crimes" I can see it coming and our government is willing to use them as the fall guys.

They better bloody well be the "Fall Guys"..

Support for America has dwindled, and these
"Rambo' types are not helping..

Everyone Should and MUST be held accountable for their actions..
Why should Iraqis respect those who show no respect?

Put the blame where it belongs,

On Friday, Sanchez, who was coalition commander in 2003 and 2004, called the Iraq war "a nightmare with no end in sight." He said the Bush administration, the State Department and Congress all share blame.

Speaking with military reporters in Virginia, Sanchez also said such dereliction of duty by a military officer would mean immediate dismissal or court martial, but the politicians have not been held accountable.

Hold The Current Administration accountable for their own actions!