Iraqi official says video shows Blackwater guards firing on civilians

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: CNN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi investigators have a videotape that shows Blackwater USA guards opened fire against civilians without provocation in an incident last week in which 11 people died, a senior Iraqi official said Saturday. He said the case had been referred to the Iraqi judiciary.

Iraq's president, meanwhile, demanded that the Americans release an Iranian arrested this week on suspicion of smuggling weapons to Shiite militias. The demand adds new strains to U.S.-Iraqi relations only days before a meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said Iraqi authorities had completed an investigation into Thursday's shooting in Nisoor Square in western Baghdad and concluded that Blackwater guards were responsible for the deaths.

He told The Associated Press that the conclusion was based on witness statements as well as videotape shot by cameras at the nearby headquarters of the national police command. He said eight people were killed at the scene and three of the 15 wounded died in hospitals.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/22/iraq.blackwater.ap/index.html

[movonne]

1. Another article on here earlier today says 28 killed...

[Roland99]

2. Let Dr. Frist look over that video. I'm sure he'll come up with the proper diagnosis!

[nickyt]

3. You know, if 11 Americans were gunned down in the street, it wouldn't be called

a fucking "incident". It would be called a horrendous, tragic, murderous rampage.

I tripped off my porch and sprained my ankle a couple months ago. I consider that an "incident".

Wording like this just makes me freakin nuts -

[here_is_to_hope]

4. K and R

[Jacobin]

5. Bush: "Who're ya gonna believe? Me, or your lying eyes?"

[TheDoorbellRang]

6. So why aren't WE being shown the video?

Let Americans see it. Let's see just what these Blackwater dudes did. We've heard (only on the "internets") about the callous disregard for the Iraqis time and time again. Now that there's a video out there of one of these "incidents," as opposed to just a we said/they said version, let's see it!

[Canuckistanian]

7. Eat this, Condi

Looks like the "valued Iraqi allies" have you at a disadvantage....

[DemoTex]

8. Every Blackwater "guard" on that scene is now long out of Iraq.

Of that I am sure. No way Bu$hco was going let them hang around (pardon the pun) for another noose party.

[Hulk]

9. Hard to keep the puppet down when you start shooting up his wife, sister and grandkids...eh?

These companies are gangsters. "support the troops"...bullshit!!!

[subsuelo]

10. "gangsters" ... or "terrorists"?

[WileEcoyote]

11. It's important that the Iraqis stand up against Blackwater.

Because when they stand up, we can stand down...

[colorado_ufo]

12. Exactly.

Getting rid of Blackwater is step one, since it is the easiest. If you're hired, you can be fired.

[ima_sinnic]

13. unfortunately, they won't be fired, they'lll be brought stateside

to do the bidding of * right here, as they did in NOLA after Katrina.