BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's Interior Ministry has revoked the license of Blackwater USA, an American security firm whose contractors are blamed for a Sunday gunbattle in Baghdad that left eight civilians dead. The U.S. State Department said it plans to investigate what it calls a "terrible incident." Blackwater USA is headquartered near Moyock, North Carolina. In addition to the fatalities, 14 people were wounded, most of them civilians, an Iraqi official said. Sunday's firefight took place near Nusoor Square, an area that straddles the predominantly Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Mansour and Yarmouk. The ministry said the incident began around midday, when a convoy of sport utility vehicles came under fire from unidentified gunmen in the square. The men in the SUVs, described by witnesses as Westerners, returned fire, and the witnesses said the vehicles are that Western security firms use. Click Here To Learn More So it'll be interesting to see how independent Iraq truly is if this company remains banned or not.
Of course, facts have nothing to do with it. Blackwater and their principal came under fire. They returned fire, defending themselves and their principal just like anyone on this board would have done. No where does anyone indicate that Blackwater's bullets were the ones that caused the civilian deaths. They're just the convenient boogieman.
What do you believe the response would be in America if a security vehicle was fired upon, they returned fire, and eight civilians ended up dead?
In some parts of the United States there would be a public medal ceremony. In other parts of the United States, a private one in all likelihood.
There would be an investigation to determine what happened, but I doubt their license would be pulled. Especially if their principal was a big shot at the State Department. There's a really simple way to figure this one out. You tell me what caliber bullets killed the civilians and I'll tell you whether or not Blackwater is at fault. I won't pretend to know everything about Blackwater and how they operate, but I've spoken to more than a few of their personnel and I carried their paperwork around in my briefcase for better than a month while I was deciding if I wanted to go to work for them.
I'm gonna say 30% of people would blame Bush, 25% would blame guns, 20% would blame religion, 10% would blame it on racsism, 7% would blame illegal immigration and there'd be about 5% that blamed Bin Laden. The remaining 3%, myself included, would blame Packard. Lawsuits would abound, the story would dominate the news for maybe a day and we'd have a long thread on the topic that would wind up being about the mathematics of religion, the Iraq war, the evils of socialized medicine and a traffic rant or two if we're lucky. Eventually there'd be a made for tv movie about the incident that would outrage about 0% of the public though a good 37% would claim the film was outrageous. If the ratings were good enough there'd be a sequel, action figures, a graphic novel, maybe even a big weepy song made by a bunch of sorta celebrities to raise money for the cause. Heck, might even get Sean Penn to tour the area.
Indeed. At the very least it's more fuel on the fire for those who wish to replace the Iraqi government. Even wars are being privatised now. There are 30,000 mercenaries in Iraq operating for firms like this, and they have complete immunity from prosecution in Iraq, under laws imposed by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Security employees aren't mercenaries henry and you know it. Thats like calling a security guard an infantryman.
They absolutly are mercenaries. They are private employees doing a soldier's job in a war zone. Pretty much the definition of a mercenary. On the topic point, Blackwater isn't going anywhere. They are there through the State Department, revoking their Iraqi liscense is meaningless. Blackwater will either ignore this or for PR purposes be there under a different name in a few months time.
They're gaurding diplomats and convoys and things like that. They use military helicopters and armoured vehicles. They're not just "security".
Good argument. Perhaps you can offer an alternative definition of "mercenary" then. What would be required for it to apply?
None of the activities you've described are outside the purview of private security operations. Try again.
Mercenaries are COMBAT soldiers hired for the purpose of conducting COMBAT operations. Security and escort work where an armed guard doesn't even fire their weapons except in self defense is not a combat operation.
Oh come on. Blackwater most certainly are mercenaries. From their own website... Yes they're mercenaries...what's wrong with that? They're extremely highly trained, better equipped than the U.S. Military in most cases, have a niche that they fill. I think the problem here is lack of oversight, but in the grand scheme of things, they have a job to do and they do it well.
What you say is true enough about the company, however, since they're operating in a theater of operations where the US military is operating, they're limited in their scope of operations to security and logistical support services, and therefore NOT acting as mercenaries while in Iraq.
Private organisations whos motive is only profit should not be given military duties simply becaue the military cannot cope
I dunno. You're splitting some fine hairs there. I know of one incident during the battle of Najaf where some Blackwater dudes flew into the last friendly stronghold that was under attack on a rescue mission. They fought alongside the military holding off the insurgents for hours, and got the friendlies...including one injured Marine, out. One of those guys is a regular poster at AR15.com...Ramen knows who I'm talking about. That sounds pretty "military" to me.
The incident itself is not as significant as the fact the Iraqis are starting to assert themselves, (arguably) against American interests. It will be interesting to see what the result of that will be.
My guess...after an investigation, a re-evaluation of ROE's, and promises of greater oversight, Blackwater's license will be re-instated.
Looks like it's going the other way. They're now reviewing the status of all of the other mercenaries as well. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7000642.stm
