Rice wants cameras installed in vehicles Blackwater uses for Iraq convoys

[sabra]

Source: USA Today/AP

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has ordered the State Department to overhaul the way it protects diplomats in Iraq following a shooting incident in which more than a dozen people were killed by private security guards, the Associated Press reports.

AP says federal agents will travel with the convoys that Blackwater USA uses to transport American diplomats and other officials. Cameras will be installed in the company's vehicles and radio traffic will be recorded, the wire service says.


Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/rice-wants-came.html

[maddezmom]

1. State overhauls security in Iraq

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - An internal State Department review ordered by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recommends overhauling U.S. diplomatic security practices in Iraq after the Blackwater USA shooting incident in which 13 Iraqis were killed, a senior U.S. official said Friday.

Rice has ordered the recommendations be followed, including requiring U.S. diplomatic security agents to accompany Blackwater-escorted convoys of U.S. diplomats in Baghdad, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The government security service also will bolster monitoring of the private security escorts by installing video cameras in cars and recording radio traffic between convoys and the U.S. embassy.

"She wants to make sure there is a management feedback loop," McCormack told reporters.

The spokesman would not acknowledge that previous Blackwater and U.S. practices were lacking, but instead noted that under the new orders State will have better management, control and accounting of Blackwater. It's the largest of three private security firms that guard U.S. diplomats in Iraq.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071005/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/blackwater_rice

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not good enough

[rodeodance]

2. so, now there will MORE people that need protection in Iraq.

Rice has ordered the recommendations be followed, including requiring U.S. diplomatic security agents to accompany Blackwater-escorted convoys of U.S. diplomats in Baghdad, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

The government security service also will bolster monitoring of the private security escorts by installing video cameras in cars and recording radio traffic between convoys and the U.S. embassy.

"She wants to make sure there is a management feedback loop," McCormack told reporters.

[quiet.american]

3. How much would you wager that there will be an "equipment malfunction" next time out?

On the face of it, it's a good idea, but I wouldn't hold my breath that this will change the behavior of Blackwater thugs. They can always claim the equipment was damaged or malfunctioning.

[Botany]

4. Ah, Condi little late to close that barn door.

[Kagemusha]

5. So Rice's solution to Blackwater is to Mommy them better.

Forgive me for being skeptical that this will have good results.

[Thor_MN]

17. Condi? Mommy?

I'm split between saying you owe the breakfast I can no longer eat and thanking you for helping me control calories with that little mental image.

[RantinRavin]

6. The first thing they will shoot

is the camera and recording equipment.

[kcass1954]

7. Don't tell me, let me guess...

The guy who owns the company that makes the cameras and radios is a pubbie, and he's already been awarded a multi-million dollar contract.

[underpants]

19. LOL I was just about to post something just like that

I was going to venture that the company with the "expertise" in installing them would charge oh $40,000 per camera or something like that and of course have extensive Repub ties

[Journeyman]

8. Ha, ha, ha. "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" . . .

"Ah, but who’s to guard the guards?" - Juvenal

[lovuian]

9. Oh ya a video camera will solve it but I bet at the time you

need a recording the dang things won't work or has been accidentally turned off

the toys Bush & company has such toys to play with

[Demeter]

10. Rice puts cameras on Blackwater convoys

Source: Reuters out of Yahoo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday ordered tighter controls on U.S. security contractor Blackwater, including putting cameras on its convoys, after last month's deadly shootings in Iraq.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said dozens of diplomatic security agents would also be sent to Iraq to accompany each convoy protected by Blackwater guards.

The firm, which guards U.S. diplomats in Baghdad, has come under intense scrutiny in the U.S. Congress and is under investigation over the September 16 shootings in Baghdad that killed 11 Iraqis...The new measures will apply only to Blackwater and not to two other key State Department security contractors in Iraq, Triple Canopy and DynCorp, McCormack said.

Rice took the actions after receiving an initial report by a special panel she sent to Baghdad to look into the September 16 incident and review overall rules for security contractors. McCormack said more recommendations would follow.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071005/ts_nm/iraq_usa_contractors_dc_6

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. Wow. That's really going to change things.

Is it going to change the fact that Blackwater is a band of criminal mercenaries?

[Li-an]

18. It's just PR n/t

[goclark]

12. Will covers be put over the lens of each camera?

Will Cheney be in charge of letting us know of any shooting incidents in a timely manner? :sarcasm:

[parasim]

13. Well, at least it's a step in the right direction.

But why does it apply to only Blackwater? They should have cameras following all of these contractors.

[partylessinOhio]

14. I don't trust any of Bush's women and it's becoming clearer who they are.

[Duncan]

15. Hey Condi,

How is it even remotely OK for a privately owned for profit corporate army to exist? Blackwater and their ilk ain't no militias. What laws are in place to check and balance that sort of power? Why the fuck aren't these questions in the public discussion?

Timid little noises like "We need to begin mumbling about regulating their behavior."
WITFH?! WITGDMFH!?

[MilesColtrane]

16. The Chimp must need fresh video to get off.

The Saddam hanging tape just isn't doing it for him anymore.