The Iraqi security forces Bush trained have had some recent shootouts with Blackwater employees

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=356745&Category=24&subCategoryID=

Private U.S. Security Firm in Standoff in Iraq

Employees of Blackwater USA, a private security firm under contract to the State Department, opened fire on the streets of Baghdad twice in two days last week, and one of the incidents provoked a standoff between the security contractors and Iraqi forces, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

A Blackwater guard shot and killed an Iraqi driver Thursday near the Interior Ministry, according to three U.S. officials and one Iraqi official who were briefed on the incident but spoke on condition of anonymity because of a pending investigation. On Wednesday, a Blackwater-protected convoy was ambushed in downtown Baghdad, triggering a furious battle in which the security contractors, U.S. and Iraqi troops and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters were firing in a congested area.

Blackwater confirmed that its employees were involved in two shootings but could neither confirm nor deny that there had been anycasualties, according to a company official whodeclined to be identified because of the firm’spolicy of not addressing incidents publicly.

Blackwater’s security consulting division holds at least $109 million worth of State Department contracts in Iraq, and its employees operate in a perilous environment that sometimes requires the use of deadly force. But last week’s incidents underscored how deeply these hired guns have been drawn into the war, their murky legal status and the grave consequences that can ensue when they take aggressive action.

[whistle]

1. Why is Blackwater fighting in the streets of Baghdad?

[peacetalksforall]

2. Can someone please tell me - how do I define 'Iraqi forces' - are

they the people we trained or are they the so-called insurgents?