Blackwater guard screamed 'stop shooting'

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Banned
A Blackwater security guard screamed at colleagues to "stop shooting" in an incident that left 11 Iraqi civilians dead, enraged the government and sparked reviews of security firms in Iraq, United States media has reported.

The Washington Post and The New York Times quoted unnamed US officials saying they had been told at least one employee of the private American security firm pointed a gun at a fellow guard to try and curb the shooting in Baghdad on September 16.
Blackwater, one of the biggest private security operators in Iraq, employing 1000 people, has said its guards reacted lawfully to an attack on a US convoy. It was not immediately available for comment on the media reports.
Citing a two-page US embassy report, The Washington Post described an afternoon of mayhem including a car bomb, a shootout at a crowded junction and a standoff between Iraqi soldiers and Blackwater guards, eventually ended by US troops.
"We're not commenting on the substance of the investigation," a spokeswoman for the US embassy said.
Iraq has called the incident a flagrant assault and there are now several separate investigations, including a joint Iraqi-US commission looking at private security firms used to protect US government staff in Iraq.
Iraq says there are more than 180 mainly US and European security companies in Iraq, with estimates of the number of private contractors ranging from 25,000 to 48,000.
Under a 2004 rule, the firms are immune from Iraqi law.
Citing the two-page "first blush" embassy report on the September 16 incident, based on Blackwater testimony immediately afterwards, The Washington Post said the events that led to the deadly shooting involved three Blackwater units.
A State Department official quoted by the paper said it was only an initial account and the details could change as the investigations progressed.
The report said two units escorted a US official back to the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad "without incident" after a car bomb exploded near a compound in which the official was having a meeting.
A third team sent from the Green Zone to help evacuate the official then came under "small arms fire" from "multiple nearby locations" at a road junction in Baghdad's upscale Mansour neighbourhood, the report said.
This version contrasts with statements from Iraqi police and witnesses who said Blackwater guards were the only ones firing.
The US official familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post some of those involved in the shooting said at least one guard pointed a weapon at his colleagues.
"Stop shooting – those are the words that we're hearing were used," the official was quoted as saying.
The US official quoted by The New York Times said the words "ceasefire" were used by one or more Blackwater guards and at least one carried on shooting despite the calls.
This unit then returned to the Green Zone. One of the first Blackwater teams sent back to help was surrounded by Iraqi security forces at the same junction.
There was a standoff and US troops came to mediate. They escorted the Blackwater guards back to the Green Zone without incident, the report said.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, a former ambassador to Iraq, said "something went tragically wrong on September 16 and we are taking steps to address the matter".
Speaking on Thursday, he said Blackwater had conducted 1873 operations outside the Green Zone up to September 18 this year and fired weapons on 56 of those missions. He gave no details but said they were reviewed to ensure procedures were followed.
 
A Blackwater security guard screamed at colleagues to "stop shooting" in an incident that left 11 Iraqi civilians dead, enraged the government and sparked reviews of security firms in Iraq, United States media has reported.

The Washington Post and The New York Times quoted unnamed US officials saying they had been told at least one employee of the private American security firm pointed a gun at a fellow guard to try and curb the shooting in Baghdad on September 16.

I hate "news reports" that use "unnamed US officials", an unnamed official could be anyone from the President to South Dakota municipal garbage collector.
 
For The Record

Private military contractors might provide an alternative to conventional military intervention in humanitarian emergencies. If the so-called world community won’t intervene in a place like Darfur, maybe Blackwater will do so—for a price.

—Robert D. Kaplan From 'Outsourcing Conflict,' TheAtlantic.com, September 28, 2007
 
For The Record

Private military contractors might provide an alternative to conventional military intervention in humanitarian emergencies. If the so-called world community won’t intervene in a place like Darfur, maybe Blackwater will do so—for a price.

—Robert D. Kaplan From 'Outsourcing Conflict,' TheAtlantic.com, September 28, 2007

This is a distinct possibility, the only question being, "On who's side would they fight".
 
how so?



you think refugees have enough cash to pay mercs?

first they are not mercenaries. They're contractors. I know u hate them for obvious reasons and I know that it's a leftist viewpoint to call them mercenaries.

btw, Why don't you ask your government to pay for them? :p
 
That's not a smart question!

I beg to differ, as I rarely ask a question to which i don't already know the answer. It is not only smart but it is extremely purtinent to this discussion, as i have first hand knowledge. NOT something read out of a paper.

Why is it not smart? These men fight for the man that provides the most money, that makes them mercenaries by any definition. If the bad guys provide the money, that's where they'll be.
mer·ce·nar·y (mûr
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adj.1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain.
2. Hired for service in a foreign army.

n. pl. mer·ce·nar·ies 1. One who serves or works merely for monetary gain; a hireling.
2. A professional soldier hired for service in a foreign army.


I do have a family member who has done this work and I do have a small insight into it. Personally I'm very proud of him, but both he and I are under no misapprehension as to the fact that he is a mercenary pure and simple and no amount of sanitising will change it.
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I wouldn't insult them by calling them Mercenaries, afterall, all of them are ex-military. Thank goodness for their service. Call them Contractors!
 
I wouldn't insult them by calling them Mercenaries, afterall, all of them are ex-military. Thank goodness for their service. Call them Contractors!

Well, I suppose that's why you and I differ so much.

I tend to try not to lie about the matter, no amount of lies, no matter how carefully crafted, will cover the unpleasant truth. They are mercenaries, and as far as I can see they know it. The main people who deny the fact are those who employ them, purely because they know that world opinion condemns them.

From the little I can see, and the three persons I know personally in this line of work, "They don't feel insulted by being called mercenaries" They leave "being insulted" to the people who haven't got the moral fortitude to face the truth.

They have far bigger fish to fry.

If I wasn't 25 years too old, I'd possibly be there myself.
 
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I am not even sure about the original source of the initial article. It sounds bogus to me. Another media built conspiracy!
 
contractors ARE mercenaries

soldiers for hire, it's not something you can argue over...thats what they are. also, i dont hate them, i just think that they are a poor replacement for actual REAL soldiers. prone to acting for their wallets, or for kicks....and not for whats best or right. hence you have innocent civilians being blow awy for no other reason than that mercs answer to no one but their paychecks

as for your other snide, weasely little comments;

my government contributes more than it's fair share in global peace keeping...and there doesn't even need to be an oil field under the conflict zone to convince us to go! the balkans, sinai, cambodia, timor lest, afghanistan and the solomons, just to name a few.


and, once again, surprisingly (or not), you're name calling again. i dont mind so much as i would consider myself left leaning on some issues, but that doesn't stop me from serving my country, OR from telling right from wrong.

I am not even sure about the original source of the initial article. It sounds bogus to me. Another media built conspiracy!



yeah, because Reuters is well known for just making stuff up.

you dont like the message, therefore it must be evil leftist lies!!1!!!11
 
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contractors ARE mercenaries

soldiers for hire, it's not something you can argue over...thats what they are. also, i dont hate them, i just think that they are a poor replacement for actual REAL soldiers. prone to acting for their wallets, or for kicks....and not for whats best or right. hence you have innocent civilians being blow awy for no other reason than that mercs answer to no one but their paychecks

as for your other snide, weasely little comments;

my government contributes more than it's fair share in global peace keeping...and there doesn't even need to be an oil field under the conflict zone to convince us to go! the balkans, sinai, cambodia, timor lest, afghanistan and the solomons, just to name a few.


and, once again, surprisingly (or not), you're name calling again. i dont mind so much as i would consider myself left leaning on some issues, but that doesn't stop me from serving my country, OR from telling right from wrong.

Good for you. Have your government send some contractors to Darfur. I am sure every body will appreciate that. No?
 
Good for you. Have your government send some contractors to Darfur. I am sure every body will appreciate that. No?



tell me again why my country would resort to sending over priced cowboys when we could send our own legitimate combat soldiers instead?

infact i believe our govt is discussing deploying troops in conjunction with the UK's comitment to the region. this despite our forces already deployed in afghanistan and other conflict zones


now, one more backhanded comment about NZ's commitment to the world stage and i will be reporting the post for a violation of this boards country bashing rule. my country's commitment to justice is written in blood on many foriegn battlefields
 
tell me again why my country would resort to sending over priced cowboys when we could send our own legitimate combat soldiers instead?

infact i believe our govt is discussing deploying troops in conjunction with the UK's comitment to the region. this despite our forces already deployed in afghanistan and other conflict zones


now, one more backhanded comment about NZ's commitment to the world stage and i will be reporting the post for a violation of this boards country bashing rule. my country's commitment to justice is written in blood on many foriegn battlefields

LOL... i m scared now.... LOL... don't threaten me dude and grow up. reporting others is what kids do in kindergarten. if you cant stand some sharp comments here then this might not a good place for u.... Moreover you have not provided a credible source for the phony story you put here. I couldnt find one... Any way, I am quite familiar with leftists' tactics to shut down people who oppose them: reporting, blackmailing, threatening.... They cant stand legitimate criticism. I should honor you by putting you on the ignore list, I guess. Becoming annoying!

Okay, Have your socialist government cut on domestic spending and send contarctors or mercenaries or whatever YOU want there to do something about it. You can't expect the US to solve the problems of the world! ;-)

yeah, because Reuters is well known for just making stuff up.

you dont like the message, therefore it must be evil leftist lies!!1!!!11

Check this one:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=21956_Reuters_Doctoring_Photos_from_Beirut&only

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22391_Fauxtography_Updates&only

Thats why I dont trust most media, especially al-Reuters and AP. They forge and fake every thing. I am not going to believe any thing they put on their websites. You may believe them out of naivete but not me. Thnx!
 
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