No more excuses: Iraqi official says video shows Blackwater guards firing on civilians

[babylonsister]

Iraqi official says video shows Blackwater guards firing on civilians


BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in an incident last week in which 11 people died, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case had been referred to the Iraqi judiciary.

Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shiite militias. The demand adds new strains to U.S.-Iraqi relations only days before a meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said Iraqi authorities had completed an investigation into Thursday's shooting in Nisoor Square in western Baghdad and concluded that Blackwater guards were responsible for the deaths.

He told The Associated Press that the conclusion was based on witness statements as well as videotape shot by cameras at the nearby headquarters of the national police command. He said eight people were killed at the scene and three of the 15 wounded died in hospitals. Video Watch survivors describe the incident »

Blackwater, which provides most of the security for U.S. diplomats and civilian officials in Iraq, has insisted that its guards came under fire from armed insurgents and shot back only to defend themselves.

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/22/iraq.blackwater.ap/index.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Murderers. And, they should be tried as such in an Iraqi court.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Oh damn. They have proof on video tape!

:rofl::rofl: GOOD one Maj. General Abdul-Karim Khalaf! That's the ONLY way they will ever pay for their crimes. That is the ONLY way you will get them out of your country! You must be able to prove it on video. That's the only way.....

I do hope there is more than ONE copy of that tape and that copies have been sent to safe places?

[saltpoint]

3. While I have not seen this film, if it shows what it is purported to show,

the "surge" as a BushCo propaganda point is very considerably a moot point.

If the invasion of Iraq was "a success," the subsequent preoccupation has most certainly not been, and the public relations impact of a U.S. government-sanctioned big-bucks mercernary entity gunning down civilians in the streets is NOT going to help the administration's case.

Here, the media are key determinants of the political consequence. If this story receives appropriate air time, public opinion will further erode for the president's war initiatives.

[rodeodance]

4. umm.. this film is mysterious. not seen anything of it yet.

[DaveJ]

5. One matter that Rethugs will bring up

They will say that these mercenaries have no reason to kill civilians indiscriminately, because that could potentially cause them to lose their jobs. I'm sort of thinking the same thing. As bad as theses guys probably are, why would they open fire without provocation and risk losing their incredibly high paychecks? Are they that bad? Maybe they are, once they just get tired of being there and decide it's not worth it anymore.

[babylonsister]

6. Or maybe they don't give a shit about brown people and not one

'contractor' has been held accountable for anything since the start of this illegal occupation.
There are notated instances of many outrages these mercenaries have perpetrated, but until now, no one has done much about it.

[Jacobin]

7. Because they can get away with it

They have immunity from criminal prosecution and many are complete fucking assholes. That's my take on it, anyway

[me b zola]

8. What makes you think that they would be in danger of losing their jobs?

[RC]

9. Wasn't there a video on U-tube a while back taken from a Blackwater

vehicle showing someone inside firing on Iraqis civilian vehicles if they got too close or didn't pull over in time? It had loud rock & roll playing.

[babylonsister]

10. I seem to recall that video, too, though can't remember if Blackwater

employees or soldiers were involved.