World News | Forum | UK News | USA News | Global News | Political News | Sci-Tech News | War & Terrorism News | Sports News | Multimedia | Set Homepage
Forum
Latest News
RINF Forum
Translate: Translate to EnglishÜbersetzen Sie zum Deutsch/GermanПереведите к русскому/RussianΜεταφράστε στα ελληνικά/GreekVertaal aan het Nederlands/Dutchترجمة الى العربية/Arabic中文翻译/Chinese Traditional中文翻译/Chinese Simplified한국어에게 번역하십시오/Korean日本語に翻訳しなさい /JapaneseTraduza ao Português/PortugueseTraduca ad Italiano/ItalianTraduisez au Français/FrenchTraduzca al Español/Spanish

Blackwater guards face prosecution over killing of 17 Iraqi civilians

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008

Six Blackwater Worldwide security guards have been notified that they could face prosecution in America for shooting dead 17 civilians in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square in an infamous incident that provoked fury in Iraq.

The Blackwater employees have reportedly been sent “target letters” by US prosecutors telling them that they could face charges for opening fire at the crowded intersection on September 16 last year.

The move was welcomed by human rights activists, who have long complained about US private security in Iraq.

“It’s incredibly important that these incidents are not beyond the law. It certainly would be a step in the right direction if the US would go ahead and bring charges,” said Jennifer Daskal, of Human Rights Watch, who has interviewed the traffic policeman on duty in Nisoor Square at the time of the shooting. “This is definitely the most high-profile case of contractor abuse in Iraq, but it’s certainly not the only one.”

The shootings sparked a crisis in relations between the US and the Iraqi Government, which threatened to expel Blackwater. In negotiations on a new bilateral security agreement, the Iraqis have pressed for all foreign personnel to be subject to Iraqi law.

Washington has agreed to place contractors under Iraqi jurisdiction, but is still refusing to allow Iraq to put US troops or officials on trial. Blackwater, based in North Carolina, has announced that it is moving out of private security and will concentrate on training, aviation and logistics.

The Blackwater guards, all former US servicemen on contract to protect US State Department personnel, opened fire after their motorcade entered Nisoor Square. US officials initially said that the motorcade was travelling to the heavily guarded Green Zone when a car bomb exploded, followed by volleys of small-arms fire that disabled one of the vehicles.

In remarks prepared for a congressional hearing but never delivered because of the investigation, Erik Prince, the chairman of Blackwater, claimed that the guards had “returned fire at threatening targets”, including “men with AK47s firing on the convoy” and “approaching vehicles that appeared to be suicide car bombers”.

Witnesses said that the four-car convoy, protected by two helicopters, did a U-turn and started going the wrong way round the square before stopping in the middle and opening fire without provocation.

Earlier reports suggested that the FBI was focusing on three Blackwater guards. The Washington Post reported that six had been sent “target letters” - a prelude to possible prosecution.

The US employs 190,000 contractors in Iraq, including 25,000 to 30,000 private security guards. Although heavily armed, the private security contractors enjoy immunity from Iraqi law under a decree issued by Paul Bremer the day before he stepped down as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in June 2004.

Contractors hired by the US Defence Department can be prosecuted in US courts for crimes committed overseas under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000. That law was expanded in 2004 to include contractors working “in support” of the Pentagon.

A federal grand jury has heard testimony from three dozen people, but a decision about whether to indict the Blackwater guards may not be made until October, the newspaper said. Experts compare the case to a police shooting where an officer is accused of using excessive force, but say it will be even harder to prove in a US court.

The victims’ families have been offered $10,000 (about £5,400) compensation for each person killed, but most have refused what one called “blood money”. The families are suing Blackwater in the US courts.

Anne Tyrell, a Blackwater spokeswoman, said: “If it is determined that an individual acted improperly, Blackwater would support holding that person accountable. But at this stage, without being able to review evidence collected in an ongoing investigation, we will not prejudge the actions of any individual.”

Controversial company

1997 Blackwater founded by former US Navy Seal Erik Prince

March 2004: Four employees killed and mutilated in Fallujah

June 2004: Security firms granted immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law

September 2007: Blackwater guards open fire in Nisoor Square in Baghdad, killing 17 Iraqis and wounding two dozen

October 2007: US House passes Bill to make contractors in Iraq subject to prosecution in US courts. Iraq demands that the US end its association with Blackwater and approves draft law revoking their immunity

November 2007: FBI investigation concludes that at least 14 of the September shootings were unjustified

April 2008: Iraqi Government upset by news that the US State Department is renewing Blackwater’s contract to protect its embassy staff

August 2008: US prosecutors send letters to six Blackwater security guards in a move that could lead to groundbreaking criminal indictments. The Iraqi Government emphasises its own right to prosecute the company




Have Your Say: Blackwater guards face prosecution over killing of 17 Iraqi civilians
Please read our posting guidelines before posting.
Alternatively you can discuss this report here.

2 Responses to “Blackwater guards face prosecution over killing of 17 Iraqi civilians”

  1. Nidhal Al-Nakkash
    Posted: Aug 20th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Blackwater , other security agenceny and all other USA agencies working in Iraq —have got all the rights ti kill , slaughter and kidnap whoever they want and no one at all has the slightest right to utter a word, raise a finger or write a sentence concerning their acts ,,,,I am not writing this out of the blue ,,,,This is the real situation we are living in now in Iraq ,,,as Iraqis — we should be blind, dumb and deaf …the Americans have been here for more than 5 years now and they have turned this country into a destruction ,,,a wasteland,,,,a graveyard,,,, a prison ,,,a place contaminated with all kinds of infectious diseases …. not even in the dark ages wherein plague ,,,,ifectious diseases ,,, oppression …torture ,,,,whatever kind of suffering that those people faced ,,,now we the Iraqis are facing worse ,,,Do you know why ? Because we are now living at a time wherein thw whole world is developed ,,,democracy rules,,,human rights ,,,,freedom ,,,,BUT these values ,,, concepts ,,,doctrines ,,,are ONLY to be applied there ,,,not here ,,,not in Iraq ,,,,BECAUSE Bush has appointed himself as the OWNER of IRAQ ,,,the east ,,,and whichever country he likes to rob and wherein lies the the richest wealths and best treasures ,,, as for the people ,,,he consideres them as NOTHING ,,,,Now if Blackwater is going to be punished ,,,,,that is a JOKE ,,,,,they can simply employ the law and twist the facts in any way they like to make them innocent ,,,,and hell with each innocent Iraqi……..
    This is the LAW of the USA
    ONLY the AMERICANS enjoy the application of anything they do ….
    No law is applied to them in case they commit a crime …
    All other nations should die …as a sacrifice for the bold Americans ,,,
    Th eAmericans are the elite so they should live ,,,kill ,,,dominate the world
    In short ,,,it is the Iraqis who were at the wrong place at the wrong time not Blackwater
    So let it be ,,, it is their destiny …
    Let them die

    Dr. Nidhal Al-Nakkash

    Reply | Quote selected text | Link to this

  2. Robert Egan
    Posted: Aug 21st, 2008 at 5:27 am

    BlackWater has a domestic contract,’in case of civil disturbance”! Is our government afraid we might have had enough?

    Anyone want to bet on the outcome of this trial?

    Reply | Quote selected text | Link to this

RSS TrackBack URL


Related News

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 11:52 am and is filed under War & Terrorism News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Crude Oil Rises as Slump Strengthens OPEC Resolve to Cut Output Last post by Unregistered @ 12:49 PM

HEY HUMAN! - YES you! - You do not have to be livestock - SO WAKE UP! Last post by Unregistered @ 12:07 PM

Barack Obama 1961 birth announcement from Honolulu Advertiser Last post by Unregistered @ 12:00 PM

A Cop's Eye View Of The Drug War Last post by Unregistered @ 10:24 AM

Bush's Parting 'F*CK YOU' to America Last post by Unregistered @ 10:21 AM

O'Reilly: Dangerous 'Far-Left Loons' Nixed Torture Last post by Unregistered @ 10:12 AM

The Feast of the Vampires Last post by Arthur Silber @ 10:08 AM

The Last US Enemy Combatant Last post by Unregistered @ 10:06 AM

Obama-Cola The Great National Temperance Beverage Last post by JMM @ 10:05 AM

Commons raid police 'knew they needed authorities' consent' Last post by Unregistered @ 10:01 AM

Go to Forum | Latest Topics

Forum

Network This Report

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Slashdot
  • Reddit
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Fark
  • Netscape
  • Furl

Email This Page To A Friend
Latest Headlines

RINF Advertising Archive
TOP NEWS DISCUSSIONS
LATEST NEWS DISCUSSIONS
LATEST FORUM TOPICS
Pentagon to deploy 20,000 troops on domestic "anti-terror" mission

Anti-ID Card Protesters Arrested

CCTV Judges Your Behaviour

Noam Chomsky and the Innate Humanity in the Human Brain

George W. Bush Belongs in Prison

Kristol Calls On Bush To Pardon Torturers And Wiretappers, Reward Them With Medal Of Freedom

'Historic' UK climate laws ushered in

Taking liberties with information

Venezuelan Elections: The Media Response

Stuart Alan Becker commented on:
Noam Chomsky and the Innate Humanity in the Human Brain
I agree totally with everything in this Chomsky posting. Noam Chomsky is...
Continue Reading & Reply

Allen Rees commented on:
NewScientist: Packs of robots will hunt down uncooperative humans
George, I won’t hesitate to point out that “robot...
Continue Reading & Reply

BIlly Joe Bob Jumpback commented on:
Pentagon to deploy 20,000 troops on domestic “anti-terror” mission
You are insane. Nuff said
Continue Reading & Reply

Mike commented on:
Lindsey Williams Videos on the Oil/Energy ‘Crisis’
What Lindsey Williams is saying is true! Bottom Line is that the elete, the...
Continue Reading & Reply

Activism & Protest News | Business News | Civil & Human Rights News | Environmental News | Media News | Globalisation News | Web Development News
ADVERTISEMENTS
SITE MAPS
Web Desing & Hosting UK , USA, Europe

WOWEB - Web Design

FAST GATEWAY - Web Hosting

INFOTX - Web Hosting Guides and Resources


ASHLEY GUEST HOUSE - Morecambe Guest House


Skin up marijuana cannabis weed forum
Linux Web Hosting

Never Be Lied To Again!

Subliminal Secrets Exposed

Holographic Creation: Your Own Reality


Masonic Secrets Revealed


What You Aren't Supposed To Know


Conspiracy DVDs Cheap DVDs
Debt Consolidation
7/7 Activism News Afghanistan Alternative-Energy Art Barack Obama BBC Big-Brother Bilderberg Biometrics Bush CCTV Censorship CIA Climate-Change Cover-Up Cults Culture Database-State David-Hicks David-Ray-Griffin Debt Democrats Demos Drugs Education Entertainment Environmental News EU False-Flag FBI Fraud Free-Speech Freemasons G8 Global-News Global-News Globalization Guantanamo Health-News History ID-Cards Internet Iran Iraq Israel John McCain Law Marches Media News MI5 MI6 Microsoft Military MoD Money Music NASA Neocons New World Order NSA Oil Pakistan Podcast Police-State Political News Propaganda Reviews RFID RINF Rumsfeld Science Science & Technology News Secrecy Security Slavery Space Sports Spy Spying Stephen-Lendman Technology Terrorism Tony-Blair Torture TV UK-News UN USA- USA-News Video Voting war War & Terrorism News Warfare Web Development News White-House Wolfowitz World_News Yahoo
2003 - 2005 Archives | 2005 - 2007 Archives | 2007 - 2008 Archives | Current Archives | Past Version
About | DVD Store | Opinion | Reviews | Special Guests | Webmasters
The views expressed in the RINF news wire and newsletter are the sole responsibility of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the webmaster.
RINF.COM: Breaking News & Alternative Media is Copyleft - Copy & Distribute Freely. News Forum