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              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
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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