Wounded Iraqis: 'No one did anything' to provoke Blackwater

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: CNN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- It was last Sunday in western Baghdad. Helicopters circled overhead while armed guards, privately hired by the U.S. government, were conducting an ordinary mission to protect U.S. State Department employees.

But within minutes there was an explosion, a hail of gunfire, and bodies in the streets.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry says at least 10 Iraqis were killed and 10 wounded. Another government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, told CNN that at least 20 people died, with 35 wounded.

So what happened on that day on a square in the Mansour district of Baghdad?

It depends on whom you ask.

Blackwater USA, the private security firm at the center of the controversy, says its employees simply defended themselves against armed attackers.

Two men hospitalized with gunshot wounds disagree. They say the guards fired on people for no reason.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/19/iraq.fateful.day/index.html?section=cnn_topstories&eref=yahoo

[Rick Myers]

1. Another reason Bush should be 'vacationing' in The Hague!!!

:grr:

[goodhue]

2. As much as the State Dept would like Blackwater's crimes to go unpunished

It seems increasingly untenable. Let's have a trial.

[E-Z-B]

3. Agreed

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. This is growing beyond their realm of control

It's been reported that they believe Blackwater has blanket immunity, so I don't expect to see them prosecuted.

However, they may not be able to keep Blackwater in Iraq as they planned.

Which will just amount to more money for Dyncorp and Triple Canopy as they step up to fill the gap.

[daleo]

4. State Department personnel should have been protected by troops

This might still have happened, but at least it wouldn't be government hired mercenaries killing innocent civilians (Hessians comes to mind).

[Kagemusha]

6. Simple explanation: someone drove too close to the convoy.

Convoys had been attacked an extra amount lately apparently, and either the car ignored a warning to stop, or the Blackwater people figure it should've been warned before getting that close, so they opened fire. The provocation was proximity. It's a defense against suicide bombers. They've been doing this for years.

Iraqis don't like it, but it keeps more US diplomatic personnel alive.

[goodhue]

7. The car was reportedly moving too slowly for Blackwater's taste

So they killed the family inside, including the mother clutching baby.
They also killed over a dozen other bystanders for good measure.
That is why Iraqi's are outraged and Blackwater now confined to green zone.

[superkia]

8. Heres a link to a video where soldiers say its common practice.

This is from the video:

" after an IED or explosion goes off, the instructions were or it was common practice to basically shoot up the landscape and anything that moved. That kind of thing happened allot."

I wish there were more videos from soldiers returning so America could get a better idea of whats happening.


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f6c_1189246422


Our government will tell the Iraqis to shut the fuck up and our media will let it disappear. If the government is instructing this type of behavior, I cant see them doing anything.

[Maat]

9. It's completely unjustifiable.

Just because it greatly increases the safety of the U.S. personnel does not mean that it's moral. Unless the U.S. personnel are certain that an attack is imminent, they have no justification in killing drivers or passengers. It's obscene. Perhaps they shouldn't be where they are not wanted - and in a location in which the locals want to kill them. Hmmm ...

I'm not attacking you, Kagemusha, just offering my two cents about the incredible arrogance of the Occupiers.

[tridim]

10. Ahh, so that's why we're there..

To uhm.. protect US diplomats in Baghdad by killing Iraqis in Baghdad? That makes so much sense I think I'm going to puke.

[acmavm]

11. Oh for cripe's sake. Thank goodness we have mercenaries over in Iraq,

a country who did nothing to us and was totally defenseless when we started killing it's citizens, to protect the occupier's big shots. Who the fuck do these people think they are? Human beings with rights?

:sarcasm:

[Kagemusha]

12. I think you're reading a bunch of things in my post that I didn't say.

If you prefer, the fact the State Dept people don't dare go out of the Green Zone without Blackwater protection means that without that protection, the occupation is untenable and they should leave.

[acmavm]

13. They need to ALL GET THE HELL out and take our troops with 'em.

[Megahurtz]

14. Kick. n/t

[0rganism]

15. their crime was being Iraqis in Baghdad

That alone excuses any and all violence on the part of our brave mercenaries. :sarcasm:

[unkachuck]

16. who controls....

....these corporate armies?

"...at least 20 people died, with 35 wounded." -- and it's going to eventually happen here....

....what happens when a corporate army decides we're the 'enemy' and slaughters us by the thousands?

....what happens when one corporate army decides to wage war with another corporate army and we're caught in the crossfire?

....who elected these corporate Generals to anything?

....to whom are these corporate fascists accountable when elected officials won't enforce the law because they're owned by the same corporation?

....it's coming, if we don't do something about the stranglehold corporations have over every aspect of life on the planet....

[goodhue]

17. demand a trial

Let's have a trial