Author Topic: Iraq to Deny New License To Blackwater Security Firm (Read 1924 times)

240 is Back · « **on:** January 29, 2009, 04:46:53 AM »

Source: Washington Post

U.S. Embassy's Preferred Contractor Accused of Killings

By Ernesto Londoño and Qais Mizher
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 29, 2009; Page A12

MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 28 -- The Iraqi government has informed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that it will not issue a new operating license to Blackwater Worldwide, the embassy's primary security company, which has come under scrutiny for allegedly using excessive force while protecting American diplomats, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Iraq's Interior Ministry conveyed its decision to U.S. officials in Baghdad on Friday, in one of the boldest moves the government has made since the Jan. 1 implementation of a security agreement with the United States that sharply curbed American power in Iraq.

Blackwater employees who have not been accused of improper conduct will be allowed to continue working as private security contractors in Iraq if they switch employers, Iraqi officials said Wednesday ...

"When the work of this committee ends," Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said, private security companies "will be under the authority of the Iraqi government, and those companies that don't have licenses, such as Blackwater, should leave Iraq immediately" ...

headhuntersix · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2009, 06:54:45 AM »

Well I'm sure this will suck for Blackwater....they will just beef up efforts in Afghanistan. They run security there as well. They also run supply missions to our Fobs. There will be no shortage of work for PMC's. They pay days will get smaller but the work will continue.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:09:47 AM »

From Blackfive.net

This is not unexpected, but it will require some scrambling to ensure that full coverage of State Dept. employees continues. Blackwater is one of three companies that work under the World Personal Protective Services (WPPS) contract to safeguard State Dept. personnel in Iraq, but also in high threat areas worldwide, the others are Dyncorp and Triple Canopy. One of these will likely pick up the responsibility for State personnel in the Baghdad and surrounding areas. Both other firms provide services in Iraq, but not in the most dangerous areas and consequently do not have the numbers of highly-trained personal security specialists that Blackwater does. They will need to recruit to be able to fulfill the mission currently performed by Blackwater, who has not had a single person under their protection killed.

I received the following statement from Blackwater spokesperson Anne Tyrrell:

Blackwater followed the proper procedures to apply for and secure operating licenses in Iraq. We have received no official communications from the government of Iraq or our customer on the status of those applications or the future of our work in Iraq. Blackwater has always said that we will continue the important work of protecting U.S. government officials in Iraq for as long as our customer asks us to do so, and in accordance with Iraqi law; that has not changed.

24KT · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2009, 12:45:26 PM »

Well they've lost a client. whoopty-do. Companies lose clients every day.

Maybe they can pick up some work in Gaza. Hamas leaders might be looking for a few bodyguards

headhuntersix · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2009, 02:48:31 PM »

I guess u don't know much about Blackwater.

IFBBwannaB · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:05:24 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on January 29, 2009, 02:48:31 PM

I guess u don't know much about Blackwater.

But she knows much about magic pills Ponzi schemes.

Hereford · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:11:57 PM »

And that the US contains the soul of Satan too, lets not forget that....

Neurotoxin · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2009, 03:20:08 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on January 29, 2009, 02:48:31 PM

I guess u don't know much about Blackwater.

i do. they murder people...for pay.

NT

liberalismo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2009, 06:54:39 PM »

Good riddance. Blackwater is infested with trigger happy psychopaths. If these people wanted to serve the USA then they should of joined (or stayed in) the Military. These people get paid more than US soldiers, get better equipment and armor, and live in better conditions frequently.

Hiring companies to do things that the military should be doing directly only causes problems.

Check out the info here about halliburton:
http://iraqforsale.org/halliburton.php

The stories from U.S. soldiers (and other documented facts) about abuse and corruption will piss you off so much. It's infuriating.

Fury · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:16:43 PM »

Quote from: liberalismo on January 29, 2009, 06:54:39 PM

Good riddance. Blackwater is infested with trigger happy psychopaths. If these people wanted to serve the USA then they should of joined (or stayed in) the Military. These people get paid more than US soldiers, get better equipment and armor, and live in better conditions frequently.

Hiring companies to do things that the military should be doing directly only causes problems.

Check out the info here about halliburton:
http://iraqforsale.org/halliburton.php

The stories from U.S. soldiers (and other documented facts) about abuse and corruption will piss you off so much. It's infuriating.

Hate to break it to you, but if we don't use Blackwater, some other government will down the line. They're full of SOF guys from all over the world, not just the US military. They're not going away anytime soon.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:30:33 PM »

Haliburton...gimme a break. Just once I want one of u libs to please tell me what other company can do what they do..who can do what KBR does......come on Libs who. Nobody ur right.

As far as PMC's.....they're a growth industry. Guys from Blackwater will sign on with Triple C or Hart or Aegis etc etc and continue the work they do. And these guys do serve...they serve right along side our guys...fight and die with em in many cases. They live in about the same conditions...eat the same food and most carry AK's or whatever the enemy does...so they have a ready supply of arms. I wouldn't say there better armed either, they just look cooler. Beards, sunglasses and do rags are part of the image.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:39:34 PM »

From blackfive.net

After reading this post my source contacted me and confirmed the accuracy of the transcripts. He was in the TOC shortly after the car bombing which precipitated this event and heard most of the calls live. The first call he heard was "Contact! Contact! Contact!" and subsequent calls stated they were taking fire from both uniformed Iraqi Police and shooters in civilian clothes as well. SAF is Small Arms Fire(again my source does not work for Blackwater)

The AP beat me by an hour or two but here is a look at the relevant part of the Blackwater radio logs on the day of the shootings in Nisour Square. They clearly show that the teams were either under fire or were dexterous enough to start creating a cover up while in the act of slaughtering innocents. I know which I believe. The log notes they came under fire shortly after entering the Square. A full look at the incident as detailed by my exclusive source is here.

Oh and I wonder where these bullet holes in the vehicles came from, friendly fire I guess. I have many more photos and a more complete piece tomorrow.

Some of the posts here show a complete lack of understanding what BW does or how they operate. Trigger happy gets u fired. Calling attention gets u fired. Have they been heavy handed sure...as have American soldiers, including myself. Have they murdered anybody...especially here?...NO. The audio proves otherwise. Those transmisson come into something called a CONOC or contractor operations center...which is con-located with the BDE/DIV or Corps HQ. They can't fake that stuff. U don't fake FM traffic. This is a billion dollar company doing a job the US military does not do.

Straw Man · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2009, 07:47:13 PM »

how the heck did our country ever get along without Blackwater?

I can't even remember

I wonder if they will get "bail out" $$$

Mr. Magoo · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:34:06 AM »

not one person under blackwater has been killed?

Gotta admit, thats pretty impressive.

Vince G, CSN MFT · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:46:09 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Magoo on January 30, 2009, 07:34:06 AM

not one person under blackwater has been killed?

Gotta admit, thats pretty impressive.

Actually 4 people were killed including a person who was in the show Big Brother. They weren't prepared properly.

However, now they have this big ass monster recon vechicle that practically indestructible and Blackwater always have the best gear.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2009, 09:35:58 AM »

Nobody protected by Blackwater has ever been killed...they have lost shooters.

liberalismo · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:27:57 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on January 29, 2009, 07:30:33 PM

Haliburton...gimme a break. Just once I want one of u libs to please tell me what other company can do what they do..who can do what KBR does......come on Libs who. Nobody ur right.

As far as PMC's.....they're a growth industry. Guys from Blackwater will sign on with Triple C or Hart or Aegis etc etc and continue the work they do. And these guys do serve...they serve right along side our guys...fight and die with em in many cases. They live in about the same conditions...eat the same food and most carry AK's or whatever the enemy does...so they have a ready supply of arms. I wouldn't say there better armed either, they just look cooler. Beards, sunglasses and do rags are part of the image.

Haliburton is so abusive and corrupt that simply letting the Military do what they did would be a huge improvement.

Soldiers waiting in line for HOURS for water bottles, or paying outrageous sums of money to have their clothes washed! Haliburton employees living in Lush buildings, with swimming pools and stocked with expensive SUVs while the soldiers lived in shitty desert conditions? BILLIONS of tax payer dollars wasted? Manipulation of funds to steal more taxpayer dollars while not providing the troops with the services required? Covering up of GANG RAPE? Endangering Soldiers and American civilians?

Fuck you.

Mr. Magoo · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2009, 06:47:55 PM »

Quote from: Vince G, CSN MFT on January 30, 2009, 08:46:09 AM

Actually 4 people were killed including a person who was in the show Big Brother. They weren't prepared properly.

However, now they have this big ass monster recon vechicle that practically indestructible and Blackwater always have the best gear.

Oh ok, i misunderstood the article, thanks. Does blackwater always having the best gear say how good it is to contract out government jobs to private industries or that US government sucks?

headhuntersix · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:34:56 AM »

Quote from: liberalismo on January 30, 2009, 04:27:57 PM

Haliburton is so abusive and corrupt that simply letting the Military do what they did would be a huge improvement.

Soldiers waiting in line for HOURS for water bottles, or paying outrageous sums of money to have their clothes washed! Haliburton employees living in Lush buildings, with swimming pools and stocked with expensive SUVs while the soldiers lived in shitty desert conditions? BILLIONS of tax payer dollars wasted? Manipulation of funds to steal more taxpayer dollars while not providing the troops with the services required? Covering up of GANG RAPE? Endangering Soldiers and American civilians?

Wow..ur an idiot. Hours to get water bottles. There are hundreds of fridges all over the place on the FOBs, stocked with water. The gyms all have water. We had steak and lobster every friday. They have all the soda, red bull and other bs u could want. I had eggs to order every day I was inside the wire. KBR doesn't charge for laundry. They cleaned the shitters 3 times a day, spotless. Our houches in Afghanistan had AC. We build a deck, had stadium seating and 3 TV's including a 50 inch plasma that wasn't being used. Yeah if u live in a forward FOB, life can be hard...no shit. We went with showers, but ur in combat. We always had food water..whatever. If a Haliburton employee gives u shit, they're gone withing 24 hours...gone. There are hundreds waiting for those jobs and they all live in the same conditions we do. U have no idea what ur talking about..none.

Fuck you.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:40:53 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Magoo on January 30, 2009, 06:47:55 PM

Oh ok, i misunderstood the article, thanks. Does blackwater always having the best gear say how good it is to contract out government jobs to private industries or that US government sucks?

Those guys all buy alot of their own gear..stuff we can get as well. We all had top notch gear. This myth that we had nothing is a Lib ploy. The M4 is going to be replaced, hopefully with the H@K 416 which looks about the same. I had good body armor, good boots etc. Plus we can buy most stuff off the shelf now.

Vince G, CSN MFT · « **Reply #20 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:42:02 AM »

Quote from: Mr. Magoo on January 30, 2009, 06:47:55 PM

Oh ok, i misunderstood the article, thanks. Does blackwater always having the best gear say how good it is to contract out government jobs to private industries or that US government sucks?

The advantage of working for a private military contractor is that you'll make a lot more money...150,000 dollars a year compared to my former PFC salary of 995.00 a month. In addition, I would have my choice in weapons and I certainly wouldn't walk into combat with an M-16 and no frag vest.

Assignments would be more dangerous however Blackwater has the Grizzly APC transport. It can stop a 50 caliber bullet and its undershielding will crush IED's.

As far as the government contracting out....I actually say its a waste of money because the military is capable of providing the same services. However the reason these companies are hired is because they can simply get away with more stuff. When you hire people like Blackwater, essentially its a company full of mercenaries. Mercenaries don't give a shit about anyone and they have no problem in pulling the trigger on a little kid or kicking the face of an old woman.

On a side note, they're teddy bears are popular.

headhuntersix · « **Reply #21 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:48:04 AM »

Quote from: Vince G, CSN MFT on January 31, 2009, 08:42:02 AM

The advantage of working for a private military contractor is that you'll make a lot more money...150,000 dollars a year compared to my former PFC salary of 995.00 a month. In addition, I would have my choice in weapons and I certainly wouldn't walk into combat with an M-16 and no frag vest.

Assignments would be more dangerous however Blackwater has the Grizzly APC transport. It can stop a 50 caliber bullet and its undershielding will crush IED's.

As far as the government contracting out....I actually say its a waste of money because the military is capable of providing the same services. However the reason these companies are hired is because they can simply get away with more stuff. When you hire people like Blackwater, essentially its a company full of mercenaries. Mercenaries don't give a shit about anyone and they have no problem in pulling the trigger on a little kid or kicking the face of an old woman.

On a side note, they're teddy bears are popular.

U really don't understand how PMC's work. The US military can't do what Blackwater does because its not big enough to do it. BW or any of the other companies aren't the cowboys that the MSM have made them out to be. Blackwater is one of the biggest and best and has taken the most hits. There is a great 2 hour documentary on Discovery about PMC's as well as several books. They all give pretty unbiased reports about the PMC's. Its BS about abnybody pulling the trigger on kids..show me where this has happened.

liberalismo · « **Reply #22 on:** January 31, 2009, 06:26:58 PM »

Quote from: headhuntersix on January 31, 2009, 08:48:04 AM

U really don't understand how PMC's work. The US military can't do what Blackwater does because its not big enough to do it. BW or any of the other companies aren't the cowboys that the MSM have made them out to be. Blackwater is one of the biggest and best and has taken the most hits. There is a great 2 hour documentary on Discovery about PMC's as well as several books. They all give pretty unbiased reports about the PMC's. Its BS about abnybody pulling the trigger on kids..show me where this has happened.

What exactly are you claiming? That the stories of Blackwater commandos killing Iraqi Civilians are all fabricated?

That all of the testimonials and documented information about Haliburton is all made up?

War-Horse · « **Reply #23 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:09:42 PM »

hh6 has been on fantasy island with Mr Rork to long.........