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Iraq Bans Blackwater Security Firm from Providing Protection to U.S. Diplomats
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ShareJanuary 29, 2009 2:09 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Duck Reports: Iraq is banning security company Blackwater Worldwide from providing protection to U.S. diplomats because of "improper conduct and excessive use of force."
The company's reputation is highly damaged from an incident in 2007 when Blackwater guards opened fire on civilians in Baghdad killing 17 people.
Acting State Department Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters he didn't know who will step in to protect the diplomats now that Blackwater is barred.
"Contingency plans are obviously being looked at," Wood said noting the Iraq Ministry of Interior informed the embassy in Baghdad on January 23 that Blackwater's application for an operating license was not going to be approved.
He emphasized the U.S. will comply with Iraqi law and not use Blackwater. "We're going to comply with the Iraqi decision. We have no choice but to do that. So we're just right now trying to formulate how we're going to go forward."
Wood added, "We haven't made a decision on how we're going to move forward yet."
When asked who is protecting the diplomats today, Wood said, "I'll have to see who's actually on the ground doing it. I'm just not sure at this point."
Wood said the State Department "will do everything necessary to make sure that our personnel are -- have the security that they need."
Two other contractors work in Iraq but Wood wouldn't confirm if one of the contractors would take over Blackwater's role. "That's a possibility, but we haven't made a decision on how we're going to go," Wood said.
January 29, 2009 in Iraq | Permalink | User Comments (7)
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I never liked the idea of private security contractors. But, given the Bush Administration's slowness to act upon the insurgency and therefore not having enough troops in theater, I guess they didn't have much choice.
Posted by: Grand Old Party | Jan 29, 2009 5:36:00 PM
I wonder if Chaney was a partner in the ownership of this outfit? May not be a bad idea if your going to go there to hire your own bodyguards? Or just stay home
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Jan 29, 2009 6:40:08 PM
Blackwater Training Center of the US security firm Blackwater Worldwide, a State Department contractor in Iraq, donated between $10,001 to $25,000 to the CLINTON FOUNDATION.
Posted by: Inconvenient Truth | Jan 30, 2009 9:55:26 AM
I like the fact that you can hire an elite force to do the work. If they screw up your country doesn't get blamed
and you just fire them.
Posted by: atv tires | Jan 30, 2009 3:31:20 PM
Actually, the country/administration DID get blamed. Also, I'm not really sure how 'elite' these guys are. If they did indeed fire upon civilians, then they sound like a bunch of trigger-happy yahoos.
Posted by: Grand Old Party | Jan 31, 2009 4:49:37 AM
If I were a “Diplomat” deployed in Iraq – I’d want trained AMERICAN professionals like “Blackwater” covering my back.
Posted by: Isabella | Jan 31, 2009 4:58:03 AM
You run a charitable organization you can't stop people from contributing. Or scrutinize all of them
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Feb 3, 2009 10:46:22 AM
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