Iraq: Blackwater staff face charges

[Ghost in the Machine]

Iraq: Blackwater staff face charges
Published: 9/23/07, 1:00 PM EDT

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) - The Iraqi government will file criminal charges against employees of U.S. security firm Blackwater who are blamed for a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday.
It is unclear how Iraqi courts will attempt to bring the contractors to trial. A July report from the Congressional Research Service said the Iraqi government has no authority over private security firms contracted by the U.S. government.

The Iraqi government claims that as many as 20 civilians were killed by the private contractors, who were guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy.

Iraqi officials, who claim the shootings were unprovoked, dispute the U.S. claim that the guards were responding to an attack and said on Saturday they had a videotape that showed the Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation.

The incident prompted the Iraqi government to call for Blackwater's expulsion from the country and sparked anger among ordinary Iraqis. Watch a report on Blackwater's response to the allegations

http://home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?pnum=1&bfromind=8386&eeid=5425870&_sitecat=1181&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=0&ck=&ch=ne

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

1. If Blackwater does get kicked out of Iraq

(highly unlikely, I think, but it could happen) then what happens? The way I understand it, Blackwater does almost all security.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. If 'security' means killing innocent civilians, they're doing a great job

Blackwater is a mercenary operation, pure & simple. They have no place in Iraq, or America...

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

4. Yes, but they do security for civilians & also

some of the top brass - at least, that's what I understand.

So, if they're kicked out of Iraq who would take over? How many more troops would be needed? And wasn't that kind of work done in the past by army personnel? I remember DH telling me that he patrolled the perimeter when Bob Hope did a USO tour in 'Nam. With the military stretched thin would there even be enough extra troops to take over?

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. How about the IRAQIS standing up and providing security??

what a novel idea!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

6. I won't hold my breath.

I hope I didn't give the impression that I'm defending blackwater. I find the whole idea of outsourcing the military insane. I'm just wondering what would happen if the Iraq kicked them out.

[ManiacJoe]

7. More than likely the contract would get shifted

to one or more of the other American companies supplying the same services.

[MasonJar]

2. I guess we'd have to leave.