Blackwater Fired 122 Employees

[Robbien]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)- Private security contractor Blackwater USA has had to fire 122 people over the past three years for problems ranging from misusing weapons, alcohol and drug violations, inappropriate conduct, and violent behavior, according to a report released Monday by a congressional committee. That total is roughly one-seventh of the work force that Blackwater has in Iraq, a ratio that raises questions about the quality of the people working for the company.

The report, prepared by the majority staff of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also says Blackwater has been involved in 195 shooting incidents since 2005, or roughly 1.4 per week. In more than 80 percent of the incidents, called ``escalation of force,'' Blackwater's guards fired the first shots even though the company's contract with the State Department calls for it to use defensive force only, it said.

``In the vast majority of instances in which Blackwater fired shots, Blackwater is firing from a moving vehicle and does not remain at the scene to determine if the shots resulted in casualties,'' according to the report.

. . .

Blackwater, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Moyock, N.C., is the biggest of the State Department's three private security contractors. The others are Dyncorp and Triple Canopy, both based in Washington's northern Virginia suburbs.


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6962947,00.html

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From a NYT article on the same subject:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/washington/01cnd-blackwater.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

In one incident, the State Department and Blackwater agreed to pay $15,000 to the family of a man killed by “a drunken Blackwater contractor,” the report said. As a State Department official wrote, “We would like to help them resolve this so we can continue with our protective mission.”

. . .

Blackwater guards have logged more shooting incidents than the other two private military contractors combined. “Blackwater also has the highest incidence of shooting first, although all three companies shoot first in more than half of all escalation-of-forces incidents,” the staff report said.

“There is no evidence in the documents that the committee has reviewed that the State Department sought to restrain Blackwater’s actions, raised concerns about the number of shooting incidents involving Blackwater or the company’s high rate of shooting first, or detained Blackwater contractors for investigation,” the committee staff wrote.

Moreover, contrary to the terms of its contract, Blackwater sometimes engaged in offensive operations with the American military, instead of confining itself to its protective mission, the staff found.

[TheDebbieDee]

1. "Blackwater is firing from a moving vehicle.......

and does not remain at the scene to determine if the shots resulted in casualties."

So.................we are paying these guys hundreds of dollars a day to do "drive-bys"?

[Kagemusha]

8. Yes. See, the VIP's tend to be inside the vehicles.

So you don't stop.

Shooting innocent people, that is a problem. Not staying, well, they'd be utter freaking complete crazy idiots to stay. They'd end up like those four guys burned and hung from bridges in Fallujah.

Let's keep the Blackwater hate in at least some perspective, please?

[TheDebbieDee]

14. I guess you just really need to see the "sarcasm" icon, huh?

Unfortunately, it's too late to add it to my post.......

But you are reading WAY TOO MUCH into my post!

[Kagemusha]

15. Sorry. There are many on this board who would have really meant it.

Have a nice day.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

22. Can't let that good old sport squirrel hunting die don't you (nt)

[Joanne98]

2. The employees aren't the problem! The private army is!

The "few bad apples" excuse isn't going to work. Mercs will be BANNED!

[Canuckistanian]

12. The employees ARE the private army

[Orsino]

16. The army wouldn't exist without the rich old men who pay them.

As much as I despise mercenary forces, I reserve my greatest hatred for the ones who hide behind them.

[robinlynne]

3. 122 is one seventh of its employees in Iraq? I don't think so.

[grasswire]

4. my reaction, too

It jumped right out at me.

It's bogus.

[Robbien]

7. Just the GOP admin playing games.

This is a report of Blackwater agents hired by the State Dept. I expect most are in the employ of the Iraqi Oil Admin where I read they have at about 20,000. Who knows which other departments in Iraq have these mercs on their payroll.

[EFerrari]

11. This number may represent only security guards, not other

kinds of employees and only those under contract to State.

[whistle]

5. Is that allowed? Isn't that dangerous for everyone? Unemployed

...Blackwater operatives drawing no pay? That would be like the mafia firing 122 of their soldiers.

[Kagemusha]

9. If the mafia did any such thing the ex members would lobby to join other groups

Blackwater isn't allowed to, oh, summarily shoot them, so yes, firing is allowed.

[Rambis]

13. They work for the Kurds

or any other group they can find in the region that needs hired guns.

[Klukie]

6. Wow ...

getting fired for killing people!

[Wilber_Stool]

10. So,

122 is one seventh of 130,000? They have trouble with math too.

[nealmhughes]

17. My, the class of mercenaries one gets these days. . .but the dental is to kill for at BW!

[Jax]

18. It's a start

Fold your corporate murdering company, get rid of all your terrorists for hire. That is all these scum are.

[liberal1973]

20. I agree

It's unreal for this un-American so-called company to not get any oversight. These guys should be shutdown.

A extreme right-wing group getting no oversight. Why not give that to the KKK while your at it?

[Earth_First]

19. Attempting to save face in light of bad public relations?

Ask the families of the eight innocent Iraqis who were gunned down two weeks ago if they care about a public relations campaign.

This is all an attempt for this private military corporation to put a good face forward in order to keep their operating contract in Iraq in standing order.

The People of Iraq have spoken. Several times. They do not want an occupying force by way of The United States Government nor private security firm.

In this case, the 'Blackwater' is very clear.

[Thor_MN]

21. Wouldn't this indicate systemic failure to meet contractual obligations?

Namely, defense only? Their contract should be pulled and they should be banned from obtaining any future government contracts.