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2007-09-18 Iraq
Iraq battle was self-defense, security firm says
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Posted by gorb 2007-09-18 04:55|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ]  Top

#1 Iraqi officials Monday condemned the weekend killings of eight civilians during a Baghdad street battle

Quick, grab those rifles and scram, then there's no proof.
Posted by Redneck Jim 2007-09-18 11:58||   2007-09-18 11:58|| Front Page Top

#2 A State Department report on the attack said the convoy came under fire from an estimated eight to 10 people, some in Iraqi police uniforms. The guards called for backup, at one point finding their escape route blocked by an Iraqi quick-reaction force that pointed heavy machine guns at one vehicle in the convoy.

Indeed. Definitely not the final word.
Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-18 12:28||   2007-09-18 12:28|| Front Page Top

#3 I think it's time for Blackwater to consider moving their operations offshore from the US. Since right now they have considerable money and influence, they should consider buying an island to make their new headquarters.

This would both benefit them from the almost certain eventuality of a US government that doesn't like them and wants to put them out of business; and it also gives them a corporate "Chinese wall", so that while the US government does like them, they can keep most of their operations in the US.

If the island was big enough, they might also set up a conglomeration of other service providing corporations, like KBR, on the island. In this way, they could be a "full service provider".

Finally, they could also freely import and train talent to be their enlisted personnel. Gurkhas, Sikhs, Samoans, Maori, Europeans, Africans, who knows who else. In short order they could have a brigade of light infantry for the big bucks, multi-billion dollar operations.

With the contracting nation either providing transport and logistical support, or a LOT more money so they could subcontract it, costs would be minimal compared to a regular army force.
Posted by Anonymoose 2007-09-18 14:08||   2007-09-18 14:08|| Front Page Top

#4 This is some thoughts about this from Andrew Lubin (I don't know him or his background, his name comes up lots in the bloggers round-tables) and he does raise a few questions, me being just a litt'le ole lady in Texas would have never consider. Some thoughts I found interesting:

Andrew Lubin

It is unclear as to whether or not the suspensions are political blowback from the Jones Commission’s scathing report on the MoI. Gen Jones called the Ministry of the Interior “incompetent, dysfunctional and corrupt”, as well as stating that the National Police were hopelessly corrupt and sectarian, and should be abolished

Early afternoon yesterday, the insurgents attacked a six-vehicle U.S. State Department convoy returning to the Coalition’s highly protected Green Zone, when an I.E.D detonated as the convoy passed through Nisoor Square. Ak-47 armed insurgents then attacked the convoy in a 20-minute gunfight with the State Department’s Blackwater escorts. The Blackwater helicopter over-watch then fired into the street in an attempt to provide cover to the convoy on the ground, with at least one vehicle in the convoy being disabled by the insurgents.

When a convoy is attacked, the contractor's priority is to rush it’s clients out of the area as rapidly as possible. The extended gunfight suggests that the attackers had blocked the escape route or at least keep the convoy pinned down. This suggests the ambush was complex, well planned and well executed. When the shooting was over, at least eight civilians lay dead.

This incident and the strong Iraqi reaction could cause an escalation in attacks by groups looking to increase tensions. Should this occur, it could further destabilize and complicate the political process in Baghdad. With the American military barely having sufficient troops to conduct its own operations, these private security contractors are necessary in order to conduct security in the Green Zone and throughout the country.

They protect Ambassador Crocker, the many congressional delegations, as well as all the logistics convoys. Getting the Shia-heavy Minister of the Interior to kick the largest contractor out of the country will prove a most effective and efficient way to get the American forces out of Iraq.

Additionally, the Iraqi Parliament (with it’s large Shia majority) has already voted in July to forbid Prime Minister Maleki to renew the Iraqi government mandate inviting the United States to assist in it’s defense. This mandate expires 10 December 2007. While Mr. Maleki unilaterally renewed it a year ago (it is renewed annually), it is incidents like this, when added to the rising Shia opposition to the Coalition troops, that will make the signing of a new one most uncertain.

Some worrying thoughts, there. And I have no idea if he is right in any of this. But thought I would share.
Posted by Sherry">Sherry  2007-09-18 14:48||   2007-09-18 14:48|| Front Page Top

#5 To whom should be given the benefit of doubt? Blackwater or "the other". "The other" being those oh so brave lions notorious for the use of human sheilds comprised of women and children.

I'll give Balckwater the benefit of doubt.

Posted by Mark Z">Mark Z  2007-09-18 14:52||   2007-09-18 14:52|| Front Page Top

#6 Blackwater's doing important work.

But I'm not thrilled at the thought of them setting up a quasi-nation of their own. They've already made public suggestions that countries hire them in a standing security role (i.e. as an army vs. for individual tasks). The history of large mercenary forces doesn't fill me with great glee at the thought of another in our day.

OTOH, if things really fall apart geopolitically in the next decade they will grow anyway. And our special ops can only grow so large without major dilution of skills, talent and ... discretion in executing their work.
Posted by lotp 2007-09-18 15:00||   2007-09-18 15:00|| Front Page Top

#7 Sealand, here we come.
Posted by Seafarious 2007-09-18 16:43||   2007-09-18 16:43|| Front Page Top

#8 Isn't Sealand where we were considering establishing Rantbourghia, not so long ago?
Posted by trailing wife 2007-09-18 17:44||   2007-09-18 17:44|| Front Page Top

#9 The convoy is being described as being controlled or under the US State Department - there have been calls for Iraqi police forces to be abolished and redone.
Posted by Snavinter Sinatra2198 2007-09-18 19:57||   2007-09-18 19:57|| Front Page Top

#10 "The controversy over Blackwater is an unfortunate demonstration of the perils of excessive reliance on private security contractors," said Waxman, D-California.

Henry might want to reconsider that statement in light of both his and Congress' failure to boost overall troop levels and the transparent attempt to restrict further US troop deployments. I won't even go into their counterproductive attempts at foreign diplomacy.
Posted by Pappy 2007-09-18 21:12||   2007-09-18 21:12|| Front Page Top

23:56 JosephMendiola
23:46 Seafarious
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