You'd probably change your name, too, if you acted like this:
WASHINGTON — Top executives at Blackwater Worldwide authorized secret payments of about $1 million to Iraqi officials that were intended to silence their criticism and buy their support after a September 2007 episode in which Blackwater security guards fatally shot 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad, according to former company officials.
Blackwater approved the cash payments in December 2007, the officials said, as protests over the deadly shootings in Nisour Square stoked long-simmering anger inside Iraq about reckless practices by the security company’s employees. American and Iraqi investigators had already concluded that the shootings were unjustified, top Iraqi officials were calling for Blackwater’s ouster from the country and company officials feared that Blackwater might be refused an operating license it would need to retain its contracts with the State Department and private clients, worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
In case you were wondering -- yes, it is illegal for an American firm to bribe foreign officials. Lower level employees of Blackwater -- which has changed its name to Xe -- are already facing criminal charges over the 2007 shooting, but any investigation of top company executives including Blackwater's shadowy, controversial founder Erik Prince, could open the whole Pandora's Box that is the Bush-Cheney years.
And that would be long overdue.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
Yawn. War is hell - even if it is subcontracted out. And 17 savages killed during a war is not a crime. I wonder how WWII would have been won if we had to worry about collateral damage.— phillyjeffsr- Comment removed.
- Yeah. Good point, bpphilly. I mean we all know that some voters trade votes, lockstep, for welfare entitlements. I mean, it's not like you, where you vote based on who you determine is the best candidate, or the one who has the best policies. But I'm hoping you could clear something up for me, bpphilly. I mean I know that you'd never generalize or stereotype, but just who are those voters that are voting "lockstep" in return for welfare entitlements? Could you describe them a bit?— Talking point sleuth
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- Comment removed.
- OBAMA loves us and you should be hurt for turning against him. Maj Hassan was a murderer not a terrorist. He loved his country but went bad under Bush, but now OBAMA loved him but the evil Bush turned him away. The Daily Kos and Huffpo told me he was good but turned bad under bush and OBAMA the great tried to save him but evil Bush had turned him too evil. OBAMA loves us and should be worshiped like we know he should be because the daily Kos said so. OBAMA is great and moderate and loves us. I love OBAMA and will always like moderates do. OBAMA is love and Bush is bad. Thank you TPS and Bird11 you know what is best for us all and should be regional directors for the great OBAMA who is great and know all. Rule us like Dems know they should do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— rgreen72
- Oh and you do know you are going to get slaughtered in the next election, right? America didnt just go hard left just because they thought OBAMA was moderate when he wasnt. Get ready to go back in the closet for about 20 years lefty nut jobs.— rgreen72
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- OK... First, out of ten comments, two were somewhat related to the topic, two were removed, and six did not answer the topic at all. Second... "17 Iraqi savages"? Do we know whether any of those 17 were "savage" insurgents... or maybe just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of trigger-happy subcontractor mercenaries? If Blackwater had such a stellar record in Iraq, they would have not been kicked out, let alone change their name to Xe.— Tony H
And yet, it's difficult to find anyone who can do what Blackwater did -- kill some people who need killing, the 17 tragic victims not withstanding. Blackwater did a job nobody else could do and got paid well for it, and then lost that job when they screwed it up.— Mr. Smith
The House of Rep. voted to throw Americans in jail if they don't buy health insurance, and your worried about Blackwater.— jmc- Geez, bpphilly, I don't know what got you so upset. I mean clearly, you're right. Clearly, people who have been on (read: abusing) welfare only vote the way they do because they are on welfare, an only vote based on what's in their best interests. People like yourself, in contrast, weigh issues carefully and vote purely on policy, who is the best candidate, and ideological/moral grounds. If only we could have more folks in America like you, bpphilly; a non-elitist who would never look down on others and accuse others of voting based on an inferior rationale to your own. Right. You're stating fact, not opinion. It is a fact that you make your voting decisions on a much more sound basis than people who disagree with you politically. The fact that you only feel that way about people with ideological differences is purely coincidence. And that's just the ugly truth. LOL!— Talking point sleuth
- Look, even as a conservative, the concept and reality of "outsourcing a war" is disturbing. I've read several books about Blackwater and am fairly convinced that while they may make an effective fighting force, they are not the US military and do things that the US military is unwilling, unable, and should not do. In fact, they seem to do things that NO ONE should do. We should seriously limit the use of external contractors in wars. We either fight these wars with the structure of the US military, or we do not. We really run huge risks by outsourcing to companies outside of the US military -- our allies and adversaries do NOT make the distinction between the fact that Blackwater did it vs. the US military did it. To them, AMERICA did it to them - we are responsible for the actions of this company. I am WAY more comfortable with the US Military, under the restrictions and guidance of our government and principles being the main force who fight our wars and battles with contractors playing a VERY limited role.— IggleFan68
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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