I think this whole Blackwater thing is another set-up.

[trumad]

Oh sure---Blackwater is guilty of killing citizens at random--- but we all know who pulls the Iraqi government strings---

I think the whole outrage is a ploy to make it look like the al-Maliki Government can stand up on their own---hence proof positive that there is a functioning government.

In a nutshell---- I don't believe one God Damn word that comes out of Iraq.

[moodforaday]

1. So far it has proven the opposite

Since Blackwater appears to be back in action, it only confirms what we already knew - that the government of Iraq has zero control over their laws and their land.

[trumad]

2. true too....

[Demit]

3. Yup. One step closer to legitimizing private armies. The plan is unfolding perfectly.

No doubt they will be there when we are forced to withdraw our troops. The troops we leave behind will probably end up being "force protection" for Blackwater. Socialize the cost, privatize the gain. The Bush cabal will have achieved everything it set out to do.

[H2O Man]

4. Blackwater

is a more powerful branch of the Iraqi government than al-Maliki's student council.

[KharmaTrain]

5. This Was More A Play To Make Malaki Relevant To Iraqis

His grip is slipping. If I read properly, Al Sadr withdrew his support for Malaki in the past week. Surely Malaki knows how unpopular those black helicopters and mercenaries are inside his country and this was a Hail Mary to retain any internal support he has.

Of course this move was toothless...there is no Iraqi government...but it may have bought Malaki a little more time and taken the focus off his ineptness and made the US the targets again.

An interesting take I heard was how Blackwater now has made themselves a liability. They first made "headlines" with the Fallujah bridge incident that kicked the insurgency into a higher gear and I see this latest incident being the cause celebre for future attacks on American interests in the country.

Yep, they may be more powerful that Malaki, but can the company stay low profile any longer?

[SoCalDem]

6. Even THAT argument fails, because Blackwater is STILL THERE

and al-maliki had to back off from fom his proclamation of expulsion.. had that stuck, he would have been perceived as the leader.. backing off..not so much :(

[spanone]

7. Or Washington.....