Blackwater Stays In Baghdad, and an odd thing

[ThomWV]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1FA1DF85-B72F-4FBA-A7AA-A3C80737F1DC.htm

"The US state department has renewed the license for controversial private security firm Blackwater to protect diplomats in Iraq for another year, according to officials.

The department said there was no reason to refuse the license while the FBI investigates a fatal shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad which involved Blackwater personnel.

"I have requested and received approval to have Task Order 6, which Blackwater has to provide personal protective services in Baghdad, renewed for one year," Gregory Starr, assistant secretary of state, said on Friday."

Some things never change I guess but there is this curiosity, just what license are they talking about? A contract (or a Task Order under that sort of contract) is one thing but a license is a different thing. Notice how the State Department does not distinguish between the two? These are not people who chose their words haphazardly.

[Lasher]

1. I think they should stay in Baghdad.

Just don't give them another dime.

[WinkyDink]

2. Or guns, or armor, or .......

[Lasher]

3. Or the time of day. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Iraqi official: Blackwater staying on 'is bad news'

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department's renewal of Blackwater's contract to provide security in Iraq "is bad news," an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.
art.blackwater.getty.jpg

A woman passes a burned car in Baghdad where Blackwater guards killed 17 in September.

Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 people, including women and children, last September, prompting an outcry and protest from Iraqi officials.

"This is bad news," al-Maliki adviser Sami al-Askari said. "I personally am not happy with this, especially because they have committed acts of aggression, killed Iraqis, and this has not been resolved yet positively for families of victims."

About 25,000 private contractors from three companies protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials in Iraq. Under a provision put into place in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, security contractors have immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

Al-Askari said he would push for the Iraqi government to contest the contract renewal.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/05/iraq.blackwater/index.html?eref=rss_latest

[suffragette]

5. Good catch, ThomWV

I wonder how much this has to do with Iraq having revoked Blackwater's license last year. Maybe the State Dept is trying to usurp the authority of granting licenses? The licenses and contracts are clearly different or at least have been up until now. Contracts through a U.S. entity and licenses through an Iraqi one.

The most specific info I could find about their past licensing was here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091700238.htmlIraq Bans Security Contractor

Blackwater Faulted In Baghdad Killings

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 -- The Iraqi government on Monday said it had revoked the license of Blackwater USA, an American security company involved in a shootout in Baghdad that killed at least nine people, raising questions over which nation should regulate tens of thousands of civilian hired guns operating in Iraq.

~snip~

Blackwater obtained a one-year operating license from the Interior Ministry in 2005, according to a scanned copy of the document provided by the company. After The Washington Post reported in June that the company was effectively operating outside of Iraqi law, Blackwater approached the Private Security Company Association of Iraq to request assistance to obtain a license, according to the trade group.

"We have a license renewal in process with the Ministry of Interior," Strong said.

[ZombieHorde]

6. This may not turn out well... nt