U.S. Confiscates AP Footage At Scene of Bloody Baghdad Bombing

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Editor&Publisher/AP

Published: October 03, 2007

BAGHDAD A daring ambush of bombs and gunfire left Poland's ambassador pinned down in a burning vehicle Wednesday before being pulled to safety and airlifted in a rescue mission by the embattled security firm Blackwater USA. At least three people were killed, including a Polish bodyguard.

American authorities confiscated an AP Television News videotape that contained scenes of the wounded being evacuated. U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl told AP that Iraqi law makes it illegal to photograph or videotape the aftermath of bombings or other attacks.

The attack — apparently well planned in one of Baghdad's most secure neighborhoods — raised questions about whether it sought to punish Poland for its contributions to the U.S.-led military force in Iraq. But Poland's prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said his nation would not retreat "in the face of terrorists."

The diplomatic convoy was hit by three bombs and then attackers opened fire in the Shiite-controlled Karradah district. Polish guards returned fire as the injured ambassador, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, was pulled from his burning vehicle. At least 10 people, including four Polish security agents, were wounded. U.S. Embassy officials dispatched Blackwater helicopters to evacuate the ambassador and others. Blackwater was not involved in protecting the Polish convoy....

Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003651227

[tom_paine]

1. Who could have foreseen that being taken over by tyrants would lead to America

behaving like old Soviet Commies.

Who could have foreseen it?

:crazy:

[daleo]

16. Remember "let Poland be Poland"?

They seem to have gone from being the client state of one empire (USSR) to the client state of another (US...).

[tom_paine]

17. Yeah, that sucks for most of the former Soviet Bloc

They ran from the Russians just as the Russians were trying to free themselves.

Then, like ducking a left and putting your chin right into a right uppercut, American Freedom and Liberty withered, turning into the New Totalitarianism which doesn't yet have a name, but which I call BushPutinism after it's first real implementors, so they basically went from one Evil Empire to another Evil Empire.

The Putin part of BushPutinism is rebuilding their Evil Empire in Russia as quickly as possible. They don't want to fall behind the Bush faction of BushPutinism's Founding Tyrants.

It's a damned pity for the Poles, but then, so is BushPutinism a pity for we Imperial Subjects of Amerika, the Iraqis, the Afghanis, and everyplace else it's iron boot falls.

[kenny blankenship]

2. So...it didn't happen after all. More good news from Iraq!

[Pachamama]

3. Why were Blackwater helicopters dispatched? Why not US Military?

Anything that Blackwater is involved in, I have high suspicions about...And any time now when I hear of us as taxpayers funding Blackwater to be doing something in Iraq, I wonder if that same money could have been spent on body armor for our troops or other needed supplies....and probably for a lot less than it cost us to give to Blackwater to purchase.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. This does raise the question of exactly how big a part Blackwater plays...

in operations in Iraq.

[defendandprotect]

8. Edwards says he will end Blackwater -- and they should be "out of Iraq" ---

[Pachamama]

13. That's another reason for me to like Edwards, and I'll admit that has been a lot lately!

:hi:

I was also very impressed by him on Countdown with KO last night...

Although I still have a dream of Al Gore announcing he's running, my dream ticket is Edwards/Obama '08 right now....

[saigon68]

18. They need more Rose Petal Parades

[armodem08]

21. Don't even get me started...

That's a good thing of course, but I don't want to think what a large group of armed mercenaries would do if they were faced with a sudden loss of business. It's an extreme scenario, I know, but it still scares me.

[Pachamama]

14. I agree...I think the answer is that they are involved very deep and I think so much so that its

important that when the Dems talk of "bringing the troops home" that they need to be instead saying "bring the troops and any private security contractors" and no more funding for them.

People don't know in this country that there may actually be more private mercenaries in Iraq on our taxdollars than there are troops, so just saying "bring the troops home" is irrelevant. It also brings into question when any candidate says we need to leave security forces, do they mean these contractors?

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Excellent points! nt

[defendandprotect]

23. Excellent points . . .

Someone discussing the draft today on Randi Rhodes suggested that the Blackwater troops should be drafted first -- !!!

[armodem08]

20. That question was partially answered...

From Tuesday's NYT:

"The report also says Blackwater gunmen engaged in offensive operations alongside uniformed American military personnel in violation of their State Department contract, which states that Blackwater guards are to use their weapons only for defensive purposes."



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/washington/02cnd-blackwater.html?_r=1&pagewanted&oref=slogin

[DeepModem Mom]

22. Oh, boy -- God knows what's going on over there. nt

[AzDar]

4. So BLACKWATER , currently under investigation here at home,

shows up to save the day in a daring rescue mission, huh?
From an 'apparently well-planned attack in one of Baghdad's most secure neighborhoods', eh?
Reminds me a bit of the Fire Marshall here in AZ who was starting forest fires in order to, well, put them out.:tinfoilhat:

[BB1]

6. you can't say that - its treason.

or is it?

[AzDar]

7. Y'all come see me in Gitmo, now... y'hear?

:hi:

[BB1]

10. don't forget to eat.

otherwise we have to alert Amnesty International, and that's also treason.

[Karenina]

25. I've heard the "lemon chicken" is quite tasty!

:hi:

[rocktivity]

9. I just hope it wasn't planned by Blackwater

in their idea of a PR effort in the wake of their being investigated--and of the House passing a bill retracting their immunity from prosecution.

:headbang:
rocknation

[formercia]

12. I think so

I watched the segment and it looked bogus to me.

How come the camera crew gets to be there before the rescue helo?

[HuffleClaw]

11. 'iraqi law' my ass

AMERICAN law imposed upon iraqi for political expediency.

[superconnected]

15. When we no longer have a free press, we no longer have a free nation.

[xchrom]

24. let's bring this back --

:kick: