Blackwater Employees Say Iraqi Slaughter Was Unjustified

Two former and four current employees of Blackwater have spoken out on the mass killings of innocent Iraqis over a month ago that company officials say was in defense.

“Some guys are thinking that it was not a good shoot, that it was not warranted,” said one Blackwater contractor, using military jargon for an episode that results in a wrongful death. “I don’t think there was criminal intent involved. I just think it was the application of the use of deadly force gone horribly wrong.”

He added, “To mitigate one threat, 17 people had to die?” ...

“I’m just trying to hold on,” said one member of the Blackwater convoy that was involved in the Sept. 16 killings, in an e-mail message. “They’ve been trying to bring in so many State agents, it’s getting full over here.” ...

According to Blackwater employees, the leader of the convoy on Nisour Square was a man known as Hoss. He and two or three other members of the team have returned to the United States because their tours of duty were up or their contracts with the company had ended, one employee here said. In Hoss’s case, the trip home was to remove shrapnel from a wound he received before the Sept. 16 shootings.

Blackwater Wants Supporters to Flood Congressmen With Lies

The vigorous leaders of Blackwater are now taking their image-saving campaign to a whole new level after being finally booted out of Iraq. They have sent out a mass e-mail to their supporters urging them to contact their congressmen with calls, e-mails, and letters telling them verbatim that somehow the company is an asset in cost management, professional 'mature' employees with impressive experience, and of all things, pride in the amount of U.S. lives saved, leaving out the bad parts of course.

Blackwater’s claim to cost efficiency is specious at best. According to documents made available to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, “It costs the U.S. government a lot more to hire contract employees as security guards in Iraq than to use American troops.”

According to the data, “the average per-day pay to personnel Blackwater hired was $600,” which is significantly more than uniformed soldiers:

An unmarried sergeant given Iraq pay and relief from U.S. taxes makes about $83 to $85 a day, given time in service. A married sergeant with children makes about double that, $170 a day.

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Baghdad overseeing more than 160,000 U.S. troops, makes roughly $180,000 a year, or about $493 a day. That comes out to less than half the fee charged by Blackwater for its senior manager of a 34-man security team.

UN Finally Decides to Investigate War Crimes in Iraq

These ruthless savage killers may finally have their day in court it seems, although it should include Bush for his constant support at the very least. The UN said today that it will begin investigating whether Blackwater committed war crimes or crimes against humanity for the careless savage killings of 17 Iraqi civilians, among countless other incidents involving Blackwater and numerous other private security contractors in the country. The UN apparently wants to make sure that countries employing these idiots are willing to hold them responsible, and enact the rule of law. Obviously this has to be insulting for our government. They think they or anyone they are associated with don't have to follow the rule of law, or be accountable for their actions. This needs to go further than just contractors. If defiance ensues, I won't be surprised at all. A group of Iraqis related to the 17 killings, mostly victims and family members, have filed suit in Washington, but you know how that will go.

Said Arikat, the UN mission spokesman, urged the Bush administration to hold accountable those involved in indiscriminate shooting; "to apply the rules of engagement and prosecute them". He added: "There cannot be rogue elements that are above the law. Definitely, we will be driving that point home time and again."