House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (majority staff memorandum):
Blackwater Shootíng Incídents. Incident reports compiled by Blackwater reveal that Blackwater has been involved in at least 195 “escalation of force” incidents in Iraq since 2005 that involved the firing of shots by Blackwater forces. This is an average of 1.4 shooting incidents per week. Blackwater’s contract to provide protective services to the State Department provides that Blackwater can engage in only defensive use of force. In over 80% of the shooting incidents, however, Blackwater reports that its forces fired the first shots.
In the vast majority of instances in which Blackwater fires shots, Blackwater is firing from a moving vehicle and does not remain at the scene to determine if the shots resulted in casualties. Even so, Blackwater’s own incident reports document 16 Iraqi casualties and 162 incidents with property damage, primarily to vehicles owned by lraqis. In over 80% of the escalation of force incidents since 2005, Blackwater’s own reports document either casualties or property damage.
The reports describe multiple Blackwater incidents involving Iraqi casualties that have not previously been reported. In one of these incidents, Blackwater forces shot a civilian bystander in the head. In another, State Department officials report that Blackwater sought to cover up a shooting that killed an apparently innocent bystander. In a third, Blackwater provided no assistance after a traffic accident caused by its “counter-flow” driving left an Iraqi vehicle in “a ball of flames.” Blackwater also reports engaging in tactical military operations with U.S. forces.
In addition to Blackwater, two other private military contractors, DynCorp International and Triple Canopy, provide protective services to the State Department. Blackwater reports more shooting incidents than the other two contractors combined. Blackwater also has the highest incidence of shooting first, although all three companies shoot first in more than half of all escalation of forces incidents.
State Department Responses. Documents provided by the State Department raise serious questions about how State Department officials responded to reports of Blackwater killings of Iraqis. In a high-profile incident in December 2006, a drunken Blackwater contractor killed the guard of Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi. Within 36 hours after the shooting, the State Department had allowed Blackwater to transport the Blackwater contractor out of Iraq. The State Department Charge d’Affaires recommended that Blackwater make a “sizeable payment” and an “apology” to avoid this whole thing becoming even worse.” The Charge d’Affaires suggested a $250,000 payment to the guard’s family, but the Department’s Diplomatic Security Service said this was too much and could cause Iraqis to “try to get killed.” In the end, the State Department and Blackwater agreed on a $15,000 payment. One State Department official wrote:
“We would like to help them resolve this so we can continue with our protective mission.”
The State Department took a similar approach upon receiving reports that Blackwater shooters killed an innocent Iraqi, except that in this case, the State Department requested only a $5,000 payment to “put this unfortunate matter behind us quickly.”
There is no evidence in the documents that the Committee has reviewed that the State Department sought to restrain Blackwater’s actions, raised concems about the number of shooting incidents involving Blackwater or the company’s high rate of shooting first, or detained Blackwater contractors for investigation provides that Blackwater can engage in only defensive use of force. In over 80% of the shooting incidents, however, Blackwater reports that its forces fired the first shots.
Costs to Taxpayers. Using Blackwater instead of U.S. troops to protect embassy officials is expensive. Blackwater charges the government $1,222 per day for the services of a private military contractor. This is equivalent to $445,000 per year, over six times more than the cost of an equivalent U.S. soldier. In total, Blackwater has received over $1 billion in federal contracts from 2001 through 2006, including more than $832 million under two contracts with the State Department to provide protective services in Iraq.
Read the entire report here (opens .PDF file).
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By None Of Them Knew (They Were Robots), December 18, 2007 at 3:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
To Ben Ryan,
I never want to hear the words “private military” next to each other like that again. Ever hear of the Paetorian Guard? They were largely responsible for the end of democracy in ancient Rome. Welcome to the theocracy or dictatorship of your worst nightmares my poorly educated American friend.
Report this(I don’t care what you studied or at what university: your schools and colleges are regarded around the world as a laughing stock)
By driving bear, October 3, 2007 at 10:49 am Link to this comment
to #104292 by cyrena on 10/03 at 2:54 am
The problem is that blackwater does not have the benefit of your divine wisdom. How the hell does blackwater supposed to know what weapons the Iraqis does or does not have. As for the Iraqi being a threat to the chopper, go to the video store and rent “black hawk down”
Report thisBy cyrena, October 3, 2007 at 3:54 am Link to this comment
#104266 by driving bear on 10/02 at 11:50 pm
what do you expect blackwater guys to do. Do you expect them to wait til fired upon to return fire.
Here the truth of combat. He who shoots first lives and the one who waits for the other guy to shoot first then return fire usually end up DEAD.
If I were in a Blackwater guys place you can be damm sure I would fire first.
We’re glad you’re not a blackshit driving rock.
Would you SHOOT from your airplane, splaying bullets over the crowd of people on the ground, (who obviously do not have such superior weapons to reach you up there in your airplane) AS DID the “blackshirts” in this latest incident, one of only MULTIPLE death squad operations that blackwater has “accomplished” since they’ve been in Iraq?
Just curious. Like I said, we’re all real glad you aren’t there. Especially those remaining Iraqis that the others haven’t got to yet. Might give ‘em another few days of survival.
Report thisBy driving bear, October 3, 2007 at 12:50 am Link to this comment
what do you expect blackwater guys to do. Do you expect them to wait til fired upon to return fire.
Report thisHere the truth of combat. He who shoots first lives and the one who waits for the other guy to shoot first then return fire usually end up DEAD.
If I were in a Blackwater guys place you can be damm sure I would fire first.
By Kevin James, October 2, 2007 at 12:02 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Does Sturmabteilung, Camicie Nere or Basij ring a bell?!
Report thisBy Eric L Prentis, October 2, 2007 at 10:15 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Mr. Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater USA, of course absolves his companys employees of any wrongdoing. This mercenary organization, giving huge donations to Republicans from its $1 billion dollar no-bid government contracts, is not accustomed to being questioned and their cover-up is assured. This is an example of the Republicans feeding off of the US taxpayers for their own self-interest with Blackwaters killing falling on the innocent resulting in a black-eye for America. This is the wrong use of taxpayer dollars and should be stopped now!
Report thisBy Mariam Russell, October 2, 2007 at 9:38 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Lipstick and a tutu do not make a ballet dancer of a pig.
Highly trained, elite, and other adjectives do not change the fact that Navy Seals, Delta Force, Rangers, Green Berets, etc, are trained, specialized KILLERS. IT IS TRUE IN THIS ARMY AND HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE ARMIES WERE STARTED. It just makes it more blatant that they are a private army, which is certainly nothing new. Read Ward Churchill’s account of the Pinkertons.
When the correct language is used, it tends to change ones perspective.
Report thisBy Brian S, Phoenix, AZ, October 2, 2007 at 9:30 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What this article doesnt address is the cat-and-mouse game our great friend Nuri has been playing with the Prodigy Condi ever since the convenient advent of this latest atrocity. What Nuri - who apparently cant quite grasp that hes dealing with perfect dullards - is trying to communicate is: Lets sit down and have a little chat about this concept of applying pressure, shall we, Condie?
Report thisBy QuyTran, October 2, 2007 at 9:03 am Link to this comment
They’are real aggressors !
Report thisBy msgmi, October 2, 2007 at 8:43 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Blackwater’s Capone style security SOP is a tactic that drives the average Iraqi against cooperating with ‘coalition’ forces. When an organization has no oversight and is unaccountable for its actions, it will have incidents of depravity. The real enemies of Iraq have become al-Qaeda and Blackwater, and the latter is sponsored by the U.S. gov’t. From an Iraqi’s perception, which enemy do you trust?
Report thisBy Hammo, October 2, 2007 at 7:36 am Link to this comment
Former Navy SEALs who founded and are employees of Blackwater might want to consider using more advanced methods in their operations.
For example, one former SEAL officer conducted research on advanced psychological and intelligence-gathering techniques commonly referred to as remote viewing.
More on this in the article Navy SEAL officers report on remote viewing urges transcendent intelligence at:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=18354
Report thisBy mary, October 2, 2007 at 7:13 am Link to this comment
The whole Blackwater situation is very confusing, and since I am very sceptical about ANYTHING I read or hear in the NEWS, it’s hard to sort out the truth. One thing is for sure, the American People want us out and the Iraqies want us out. Again how much clearer can we get. If the mercenaries working for Blackwater are former hero soldiers, why not stay in the US military if they infact are there for “the cause”. Another question for our so-called representatives, “why are you allowing the State Dept to hire and pay these guys so much money when so many Iraqies are unemployed.” I especially loved the comment regarding soldier benefits, yeah what benefits. Just wait when the true impact of these broken men and women surfaces, our gov support won’t be there, they never are. Everytime I think we can’t get more ridiculous, we do….....
Report thisBy cyrena, October 2, 2007 at 1:44 am Link to this comment
#103925 by Outraged
Outraged,
Thanks for posting this. (I think) Pretty disgusting huh? And it just keeps getting worse. Every time we think we might be getting some truth to the light, to counter-act these lies, there are just more. Talk about a never-ending war. The war on truth, that keeps Americans stupidly attached to group-think. (though I guess we see why, since this is the only stuff they hear or read the lies) That was the excuse.
Anyway, here is a follow-up from Newsweek, (obviously the International Edition) on how the Iraqis saw this latest Blackwater massacre go down. There have been SOOOO many of these incidents, that never make it to the press theyve counted 56 incidents (killing innocent civilians) since that Death Squad arrived in Iraq. This link includes a video clip as well, of this latest massacre that they couldnt cover up. Its edited from its full 9 minutes. Its enough.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100107A.shtml
Report thisYa know, it’s pretty gut-wrenching to hear the lies about the media “accepting Iraq’s version of anything”. Since when have they EVER done that?
By Outraged, October 1, 2007 at 9:31 pm Link to this comment
cont from post below,
Instead of depleting our armed forces, security contractors allow the government to recapture its investment in these men during wartime and avoid the extraordinary expense of training new recruits. In short, they’re already trained and experienced—and cost money only when they’re needed.
Another common myth is that contractors are above the law. True, the June 2004 Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17 exempts contractors (and other diplomatic personnel) from local prosecution. But that doesn’t mean that contractors have been granted blanket immunity from prosecution. In fact, the order clearly states that this immunity is limited only to acts necessary to fulfill contracts. Indiscriminate attacks on civilians—as alleged in last month’s incident—are not covered.
Contractors are also subject to numerous U.S. statutes and regulations, as well as international treaties. Just last year, Congress amended the Uniform Code of Military Justice to include contractors. Contractors can also be prosecuted under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000, which permits charges to be brought in federal court for crimes abroad.
Like soldiers, security contractors are sometimes forced to make split-second decisions with enormous consequences. They must be—and are—accountable to our government for their actions. But the people I worked with in Iraq, including veterans working for Blackwater, were hardly rogue cowboys. I did, however, meet some trigger-happy journalists over there.
Mr. Ryan is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer who spent time in Iraq as an employee of Triple Canopy, a private security firm.”
I was going to link to the article but it didn’t allow me access to the whole article, but when I went through Google News it did.
Maybe, ol’ Ben here needs to read the report to congress. I’d say you had brown lips Ben but it looks like you found a way to get your whole head up there where the sun don’t shine.
Report thisBy Outraged, October 1, 2007 at 9:30 pm Link to this comment
A truly stupifying rendition of this story can be found in the Washington Post editorial by Ben Ryan, called Trigger-Happy Journalists. The article in its entirety, check it out.
“Trigger-Happy Journalists
By BEN RYAN
October 1, 2007; Page A22
“They are immature shooters and have very quick trigger fingers,” says an anonymous lieutenant colonel.
“Why are we creating new vulnerabilities by relying on what are essentially mercenary forces?” asks a nameless intelligence officer. “They often act like cowboys over here,” says an unidentified commander.
Ever since a recent shootout in downtown Baghdad, newspapers have been ablaze with charges that private security contractors in Iraq are trigger-happy.
This rush to pass judgment is hardly surprising. Frequently derided as “mercenaries” and “rent-a-cops,” security contractors make an easy target for war opponents.
As a former employee of a major Blackwater competitor, I find this categorical smearing of contractors to be starkly at odds with my experience. I served as an officer in the Navy SEALs for six years. After I left, I joined a private security firm and was promptly sent to Iraq.
Contrary to the popular belief that Blackwater contractors are “thugs for hire,” most are highly professional and well trained. Blackwater operates the world’s largest private military training facility. Its 1,000 contractors working in Iraq are drawn from the ranks of former military and law enforcement officials. Many of its workers are former SEALs or veterans of other special-operations units.
The risks these workers assume are underscored by the infamous 2004 ambush in Fallujah, in which four Blackwater contractors were murdered and mutilated. To date, Blackwater has lost 30 contractors. For all anyone knows, last month’s incident could have turned into another Fallujah had Blackwater’s contractors reacted differently. The details are still terribly unclear.
The contractors—and the U.S. diplomats they were escorting—claim they were ambushed. Yet Iraq’s Ministry of Interior almost immediately issued a report declaring that the contractors were “100% guilty.” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has charged that the operators killed “in cold blood.”
With conflicting reports, condemnations should not be made until the joint Iraqi-U.S. investigation is completed. The media, however, has accepted the Ministry of Interior’s version of events, all but writing off the accounts of both Blackwater and the State Department.
This follows a long-established pattern of unfounded claims in the press about security contractors. For instance, numerous reports reference contractors making over $1,000 a day—far more than active-duty soldiers. Some point to the more than $700 million Blackwater has received in State Department contracts in order to denounce security firms as war profiteers.
The truth, however, is that contractors are cost-effective. Blackwater contractors, for example, are generally paid $450-$650 a day. More important, unlike U.S. servicemen, they usually receive no benefits and are paid only for the days they work. Security contractors at the better firms have typically retired from active duty or left the military on their own accord after extended service. They are honorable veterans who have chosen to risk their lives to protect American diplomats in a war zone.
cont,
Report thisBy John, October 1, 2007 at 8:46 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Blackwater can no longer be trusted. They ought to be removed from Iraq immediately. It’s crazy that they are immune to procecution. They just pay off families and move onto the next shooting spree. It’s getting sadder everyday for Iraq. We need to stay long enough to help rebuild what we destroyed in Iraq and come home.
Report thisBy Hammo, October 1, 2007 at 8:42 pm Link to this comment
Blackwater was founded by and is staffed by former Navy SEALs. SEALs are considered an elite force. Are Blackwater employees following the standards of behavior expected of SEALs?
Food for thought in the article ... “Navy SEALs, Marines use positive human traits and virtues for success”
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=19773
Report this