Blackwater tried to bribe critical Iraqi officials with $1 million after 2007 shootings

[G_j]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/11/blackwater-1-million/

Blackwater tried to bribe critical Iraqi officials with $1 million after 2007 shootings.

On Sept. 16, 2007, a Blackwater convoy opened fire in Iraq’s crowded Nissor Square, killing 17 Iraqi civilians and wounding dozens more.

The incident set off a backlash of criticism against the contractor, and earlier this year, Iraq said that it wouldn’t issue Blackwater a new operating license. Today, the New York Times reports that in 2007, top executives at Blackwater approved $1 million to bribe critical Iraqi officials into supporting the company, although it is unclear whether the money ever made it to the intended recipients:

Blackwater’s strategy of buying off the government officials, which would have been illegal under American law, created a deep rift inside the company, according to the former executives. <...>

The former Blackwater executives said it was not clear who proposed paying off Iraqi officials. But after Mr. Jackson, the former company president, approved the plan, the cash for the payoffs was taken from Amman and given to Rich Garner, then a top manager in Iraq, the former executives said. One of those executives said that officials in Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which is responsible for operating licenses, were the intended recipients

[Cognitive_Resonance]

1. Foreign Corrupt Practises Act.

Book 'em.

[G_j]

7. not clear yet

if Iraqi officials actually received money.
That might make a difference, but I believe there are also other laws that will apply.

[MountainLaurel]

2. I really need to read Scahill's book

But I'm afraid the screaming in anger might scare the neighbors.

[G_j]

8. yep

big thanks to Jeremy Scahill!

:applause:

[no_hypocrisy]

3. It's equivalent to having my tax dollars pay Al Capone for the St. Valentine's Day

Massacre in order to allow him to regulate the alcohol industry.

[G_j]

4. it is

perfect analogy

[47of74]

5. I think Blackwater, or Xe, or whatever the hell they call themselves these days...

...should be banned from doing any government work for the next 1,000 years.

[DrDan]

6. and every blasted dollar of that was billed back to U.S. taxpayers. . . .

[Octafish]

9. Murder Inc has many divisions.

One real line of business -- death.

Sounds about right for Reichprinz Erik.

[bobthedrummer]

10. kick