Rice to talk about Blackwater with Maliki

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: UPI

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would call Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to "express regret" over the deaths of Iraqi civilians.

Rice would "express regret for the loss of innocent life," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said during a media briefing. The department's Diplomatic Security Bureau is investigating the Sunday incident in which employees of a U.S. private military contractor Blackwater, protecting a State Department motorcade, apparently came under attack and fired back, killing a reported 11 people.

McCormack asked that conclusions not be drawn until the investigation was completed.

"There was a loss of life here. There was a firefight. We believe some innocent life was lost," McCormack said. "Nobody wants to see that. But I can't tell you who was responsible for that."

Read more: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/09/17/rice_to_talk_about_blackwater_with_maliki/9703/

[laststeamtrain]

1. She's going to put on a 'Punch & Judy' puppet show. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

3. I wouldn't want to be that "Judy"

if she had the rolling pin in her hands. :)

[baldguy]

2. Why is our Sec of State acting as a lobbyist for a mercenary organization?

[dipsydoodle]

5. I guess her attitude is :

[baldguy]

12. Should I laugh or cry?

[Kagemusha]

11. Because without the mercs the State Dept will be up a creek in Iraq?

Because that's the truth, the sort of fact that defies politics. There aren't enough US troops to do their existing work and cover the State Department's people so without qualified, good contractors (you know, the ex special forces guys) doing this work, and without even regular US soldiers available, the little work that is being done would grind to a complete halt. They'd have to pull out like the UN did years ago.

[paparush]

13. All the more reason for us to GTFO!!!!

[Kagemusha]

14. A fair point.

It's just sad that the Bush admin correctly determined that America would sooner tolerate spending untold billions on Blackwater and similar companies than sending extra divisions.

[pokercat999]

16. My guess is that some millions of our tax dollars will

end up in a numbered account to make this all go away.

[Supersedeas]

22. Repube cronies will not be denied an inside track to war profits

[Captain Hilts]

4. Is 'marketing' in her job description? I don't think so.....nt

[Lerkfish]

6. this proves two things, both bad: One, there is no sovereign Iraqi govt, and two

blackwater is more important to this administration than our own army.

[tabasco]

10. Of course the Iraqi governement is not sovereign.

Any government installed at the end of a gun barrel by criminals who want to steal your natural resources is not going to be sovereign.

Corporate profits are the purpose of this war and the Bush/Cheney oil mafia will not allow the puppet government to stand in the way.

Blackwater will not be banned in Baghdad. If anything, they will rename the Baghdad branch of Blackwater to provide cover for our loyal quislings.

[pwb]

7. i wonder if blackwater bombed that mosque

[donkeyotay]

24. I wonder if blackwater was providing security at the Mansour Melia Hotel

when the 5 Sunni and Shia sheiks were killed. That seems to be one of the problems with privatized armies: who are they fighting for? They're spending our taxes on these guys, but we don't know what their agenda or loyalty is. The whole thing stinks. It is immoral in principle. We're bringing warlords to America as well as Iraq.

[Megahurtz]

8. This Is Just Sick.

:puke:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. More on this: Forbes

<snip>
The presence of so many visible, aggressive Western security contractors has angered many Iraqis, who consider them a mercenary force that runs roughshod over people in their own country.

Sunday's shooting was the latest in a series of incidents in which Blackwater and other foreign contractors have been accused of shooting to death Iraqi citizens. None has faced charges or prosecution.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki late Monday and the two agreed to conduct a "fair and transparent investigation" and hold any wrongdoers accountable, said Yassin Majid, an adviser to the prime minister. Rice was expected to visit the Mideast on Tuesday.

Majid made no mention of the order to expel Blackwater, and it was unlikely the United States would agree to abandon a security company that plays such a critical role in American operations in Iraq.

A State Department official confirmed the call but said he could not describe the substance. The U.S. clearly hoped the Iraqis would be satisfied with an investigation, a finding of responsibility and compensation to the victims' families - and not insist on expelling a company that the Americans cannot operate here without.
<snip>

More at link: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/17/ap4126641.html

[Purveyor]

15. K&R Kick it up, kick it up! eom

:kick:

[ClintonTyree]

18. Well, you give highly paid killers the opportunity....

to slaughter with impunity and that's exactly what they're going to do. These guys LOVE the military lifestyle, the weaponry, and the chance to take another's life. That's what they're in it for. The money is just a bonus. They can't believe their good fortune to be doing what they LOVE, killing people, and getting paid handsomely to do it.

As far as I'm concerned, any merc is mentally unstable to begin with. The whole lot of them should be in prison.

[pinniped]

17. Mere fucking words that don't mean shit, especially coming out of that thing's (Beavis) mouth.

Merc shootouts have happened before and nothing is ever done to them.

But I can't tell you who was responsible for that."

[uppityperson]

19. Seems like the guys with the big guns were responsible, but that's just me.

Or maybe, get this, the Iraqis shot their own people so Blackwater guys didn't have to!

[rodeodance]

20. yeah, you do that Condi. Cheesh!!

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would call Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to "express regret" over the deaths of Iraqi civilians.

[truthisfreedom]

21. SHe's going to try to smooth it out with al-Maliki but as usual, the fact that she's a woman

and has had lesbian rumors circulating about her during recent weeks probably isn't going to help matters.

If Blackwater is forced out, I expect to see some curious results.

[DrDan]

23. I envision a scene reminiscent of Godfather II

with Fredo at her side carrying a briefcase full of money