Blackwater sours United States-Iraqi political relations
Dan Keenan
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Opinion
It seemed that up until this past week all we could hear about from the majority of lawmakers in the federal government and some military personnel was how unorganized the government of the Republic of Iraq's (the updated name for the country) Prime Minister and Parliament are.
However, on Monday, that same government, of the United States' protégé nation, through quite the curve ball to President Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when they revoked the license of one of the biggest private security firms in the United States, Blackwater USA.
Heads turned in the west as they asked themselves, "Did they really just so that?"
The decision stemmed from an incident the previous day, Sunday, Sept. 16, in which, according to CNN, private security contractors from Blackwater were escorting their clients in SUVs in West Baghdad to their destination, when a car bomb exploded outside of their end point. Shooting ensued between Blackwater's men and eight to 10 unidentified shooters.
The shooters were said to have been wearing civilian clothing as well as Iraqi police uniforms.
When it was all over, there were eight Iraqis dead and 14 wounded. And most of these were civilians.
According to the State Department, one or more of the vehicles were disabled.
And when push came to shove, the ex-Navy SEALs that were contracted did what they do best.
As of Friday, Blackwater resumed normal operations, but are now the target of a federal investigation for the killing of the civilians.
But there was nothing new about this scenario.
Private security firms have been in Iraq protecting government contractors and diplomats since the United States successfully invaded Iraq.
So then why is the U.S. government taking what happened in Western Baghdad and the subsequent Iraqi government ruling so seriously?
It is because the clients Blackwater was escorting were members of the State Department.
However, on Monday, that same government, of the United States' protégé nation, through quite the curve ball to President Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when they revoked the license of one of the biggest private security firms in the United States, Blackwater USA.
Heads turned in the west as they asked themselves, "Did they really just so that?"
The decision stemmed from an incident the previous day, Sunday, Sept. 16, in which, according to CNN, private security contractors from Blackwater were escorting their clients in SUVs in West Baghdad to their destination, when a car bomb exploded outside of their end point. Shooting ensued between Blackwater's men and eight to 10 unidentified shooters.
The shooters were said to have been wearing civilian clothing as well as Iraqi police uniforms.
When it was all over, there were eight Iraqis dead and 14 wounded. And most of these were civilians.
According to the State Department, one or more of the vehicles were disabled.
And when push came to shove, the ex-Navy SEALs that were contracted did what they do best.
As of Friday, Blackwater resumed normal operations, but are now the target of a federal investigation for the killing of the civilians.
But there was nothing new about this scenario.
Private security firms have been in Iraq protecting government contractors and diplomats since the United States successfully invaded Iraq.
So then why is the U.S. government taking what happened in Western Baghdad and the subsequent Iraqi government ruling so seriously?
It is because the clients Blackwater was escorting were members of the State Department.
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