NPR: Maliki Calls Blackwater's Actions a Crime

[goodhue]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14527473

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"We will never allow Iraqi citizens to be killed in cold blood by this company which doesn't care about the lives of Iraqis," al-Maliki said.

The spokesman for Iraqi military operations in Baghdad added that Sunday's incident is just the latest in which Blackwater has targeted innocent people. He cited two similar incidents in just the past month.

As if the lid of compliance and silence was suddenly broken, Iraqi officials point to many more incidents over the past few years. Blackwater once was able to explain away shootings of Iraqi civilians, saying they were acting in self defense. But Wednesday, U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo acknowledged those explanations are no longer good enough.

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NPR witnessed a similar scenario two years ago. A State Department convoy, protected by Blackwater, raced out of a compound. Guards immediately shot at the car killing an old man, his son and his daughter-in-law. Blackwater said the car was driving erratically. A U.S. military investigation concluded Blackwater had used excessive force. No one was prosecuted.

Sunday's incident seems to be the final straw — not just for Iraq's prime minister, but for the public. Outrage was bubbling on the streets.

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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14527473

[goodhue]

1. Iraqi police desperately try to clear streets in front of Blackwater to save lives . . .

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14527473

A traffic policeman working in downtown Baghdad, who asked not to be named, said he believes security companies shoot fast and freely. He said he desperately tries to clear the streets in front of them to save Iraqi lives.

"I have to empty the streets for them; otherwise, they would harm people," the policeman said.

[Supersedeas]

2. barely peep about the Blackwater incident and the State Dept reaction in the TV news....odd?

[goodhue]

3. yes, but the story is not going away

Here is an ABC news article . . .

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3623111&page=1