Gunmen Kill 10 Security Guards in Iraq

[Eugene]

Gunmen Kill 10 Security Guards in Iraq

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Police said gunmen killed at least 10 security guards and seized an African engineer
in an ambush Wednesday in Baghdad. Iraqi authorities, meanwhile, held out hope that a kidnapped
American reporter would be released.

The guards were killed when their convoy was attacked by heavily armed insurgents in Baghdad's
dangerous western Jami'a district, said Capt. Qassim Hussein. He said another security worker and
a civilian were also wounded.

An engineer from Malawi, who was working for the mobile telephone company Iraqna, was abducted
during the attack, said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not
authorized to talk to media.

Earlier Wednesday, two Iraqi journalists were wounded in the same area by gunmen who fired shots
at them from a passing car as they drove to work at the al-Iraq newspaper, Hussein added.
The reporters were hospitalized.

<snip>

Full Article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060118/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

The article continues with other incidents in Iraq.

[leftchick]

1. I think they can quit with the "Baghdad's dangerous...... district"

It is pretty damn obvious all of Baghdad and most of Iraq is dangerous. :eyes:

[acmavm]

2. To us maybe, but then again I'd guess that most people who post

hear have traceable brainwave patterns.

[hwmnbn]

3. When they say security guards......

are they talking Iraqi police, Iraqi army, militia, or US private security personnel?

Security guard is such a vague description. They didn't elaborate in the article.

[Eugene]

4. Reuters describes them as a private security team.

Link here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060118/ts_nm/iraq_attack_dc_3

[leftchick]

5. that link calls them Iraqi Guards...

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Gunmen ambushed a private security team in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 10 Iraqi guards and kidnapping a Malawian engineer working for the Iraqna mobile telephone operator, an Interior Ministry official said.

the dead/wounded guy in the photo looks Iraqi or at least Mideastern.

:(

[hwmnbn]

6. So that means firms like Blackwater.....

Aegis and others are hiring Iraqi nationals now? I know they hire gunmen from other countries, but isn't it risky hiring Iraqis? Couldn't the insurgent/freedom fighters infiltrate their ranks just like they've done to the police force and regular army?

I watched a repeat of the Frontline documentary re: privatized security. According to Frontline, there is growing tension between private security companies and the military command who do not control them, but have to deal with the aftermath of their cowboy-style actions.

That whole war is a MESS

[Igel]

7. That presumes that Iraqna isn't able to hire people

that can hire their own people.

Might be that Blackwater wasn't involved at all. I know if I were going to hire locals, and I was a private company operating locally, I probably wouldn't hire an American company to hire local people. Who needs the lightning rod?

[hwmnbn]

8. I see your point....

Iraqna is a privately owned multinational telecommunications firm. I wonder if it provides good health benefits as an incentive for new hires? :sarcasm:

How would you like to be a cable guy working for them outside the green zone? He damn sure better not be late for an appointment there!

[Igel]

10. I wouldn't fret the health benefits.

Survivors' benefits ... now, *that* would come up during contract discussions.

[wordpix2]

12. I saw the Frontline "Warriors" program, too-quite an eye opener

[wordpix2]

11. probably US private security--they employ anyone/everyone from all nations

in Bush cabal's "outsourcing of military" program

[central scrutinizer]

9. sounds like we've turned the corner in Iraq

yup, it's the last throes of the deadenders

<>

[wordpix2]

13. yup, just "stay the course" in Iraq under the inept Chimp