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Contractor Rules in Iraq: Fire Only 'Aimed Shots'
September 18, 2007 5:04 PM
The Blackwater security guards accused of killing nine civilians in an Iraqi firefight are supposed to "fire only aimed shots," according to a copy of the USCENTCOM Rules of Engagement, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
State Department officials refused to make the rules public today, saying they were "classified."
The copy of the rules, provided to ABCNews.com by another private security company that operates in Iraq, is stamped "unclassified, 10 March, 2005."
"The rules are you are not supposed to spray and pray," said one security contractor, explaining that private guards are not allowed to open fire without an identified target.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
The Rules of Engagement make it clear, however, that nothing in them "limits your inherent right to take action necessary to defend yourself."
The incident involving the Blackwater guards occurred as a car bomb went off near a building where U.S. embassy personnel were being protected by Blackwater.
The rules allow the use of deadly force "in defense of persons as specified in your contract" but require "graduated force."
The USCENTCOM rules also require contractors to "fire with due regard for the safety of innocent bystanders."
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
September 18, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (25)
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Thanks Brian. Good job! Thanks for continuing to help the enemy.
Posted by: jim jones | Sep 18, 2007 5:32:08 PM
Just by looking at the picture one can tell that these Mercenaries and Egomaniacs with little ability to actually perform their "missions". They're out there for the money and the Macho Adrenaline Rush.....and so they can go back home and barg in bars to their buddies.....social losers.
Posted by: TomBob | Sep 18, 2007 6:21:26 PM
Blackwater is a mercenary organization. The "employees" are motivated by money and nothing else. These guys are not humanitarians. A Blackwater mercenary can make in a month what a US soldier can make in a year.
So di we expect a higher standard of conduct from the Blackwater folks in Iraq??
Posted by: lakeaustinman | Sep 18, 2007 6:28:52 PM
Agreed Jim. Aimed shots work as the ideal. Let's let the media continue to report this story as if the employees
were not protecting OUR OWN GOVERNMENT (State Department). Then the military
tries to portray them as some sort of cow-boys. Rediculous of course.
Posted by: Rick Earlington | Sep 18, 2007 6:36:25 PM
Iraqis aren't my enemies but Blackwater USA very likely are.
Posted by: mickbonton | Sep 18, 2007 6:36:52 PM
"fire only aimed shots" - how fine! If we could just get street gangs in the U.S. to follow such a rule it would solve everything, wouldn't it? Who thinks up stupid rules like this, anyway... Dick Cheney?
Posted by: Jordan | Sep 18, 2007 6:57:01 PM
nice note james. The problem may be you see the Iraq citizens that were killed as 'the enemy'. I think you missed your kool aid.
Posted by: c g | Sep 18, 2007 6:58:14 PM
I love the coverage. Great job!
Sean
Posted by: Sean Ipstine | Sep 18, 2007 7:09:49 PM
Jim, these men are in another peoples country as private contractors. A country which the United States "liberated" from Saddam Hussien, for lack of a better excuse. They have killed people, real flesh and blood people. This is part of the problem when we attack a nation which did not attack us. Our forces are limited in what they can an cannot do. Are the Iraqis free to manage their own country, or are we their masters? Ask yourself these questions.
Posted by: Don Neuman | Sep 18, 2007 7:22:43 PM
Posted by: jim jones.............
Thanks Brian. Good job! Thanks for continuing to help the enemy.......
.
Your name says it all, Jim...Why don't drink some coolaid.
Posted by: PVperson | Sep 18, 2007 7:36:29 PM
Jim Jones is incorrect. We can't have 'cowboy' mercenaries running amuck in other countries. Things are bad enough without this sort of activity. I've seen video of these so-called "security" advisors spraying indiscriminately at drivers while driving the streets of Iraq. Let's keep them as honest as we can.
Posted by: Looken | Sep 18, 2007 7:47:11 PM
" I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six." - Ice Cube
Posted by: Torrance Holton | Sep 18, 2007 7:47:44 PM
It took this long to figure out that bush has his friends running Iraq, with these no bid contracts. This was bound to happen. Get out of this lie of a war.
Posted by: jace | Sep 18, 2007 7:49:37 PM
Thank you, Brian, for bringing the truth to light.
As to the previous post... Well, they just found young Nazis in Israel of all places. US is not immune to Nazi thinking, I guess.
Posted by: Lou Hears | Sep 18, 2007 8:51:25 PM
as soon as the mercs started showing up in iraq, i new we were had. anytime a nation trys to contract out its wars, its lost before it evens starts. it is considered immoral to profit from combat. it is a form of war profiteering and not an honorable way to meet on the field of battle. a nation sends its citizen patriots into battle, not its contractors.
Posted by: larry k | Sep 18, 2007 8:51:34 PM
Makes you wonder why those preparing the rules of engagement found it necessary to include a rule to aim before firing. I was taught that by my father when I was about 10 years when I first held and shot a gun.
Posted by: bob | Sep 18, 2007 9:44:15 PM
yeah right, jim...whatever you say...
Posted by: Jazz | Sep 18, 2007 10:02:58 PM
how do you military savy people think that our government employees should be protected. By the army? You may not like it but there are very few alternatives. I know some of the boys doing this job and I know some of the boys working in the Army and from my experience they do exactly what the US government wants them to do. The Army has neither the manpower or the expertise to provide the service the these contractors do. If you can do a better job, try to get in. You may be surprised how highly qualified these men are.
Posted by: bridd8 | Sep 19, 2007 2:30:34 AM
It's a WAR people! Get over it!
Posted by: Larry, Panamá | Sep 19, 2007 9:14:15 AM
"This is part of the problem when we attack a nation which did not attack us."
Don (The Genius) Neuman
Hey Donny, we (most of the world)drove Saddam out of Kuwait after he marched in there and took the country just because he felt like it. Part of his surrender agreement was the no fly zones. He then proceeded to fire at our planes many, many times. This alone serves as an attack.
Your pals Kennedy, Kerry and Clinton all said he was developing WMD's in 1998 and that he needed to be taken out. Now, when they think it will help them politically, they change their tunes. No principles. No character. No belief in anything but the great vision of a socialist America with them at the helm.
At least study the issues before you respond for hundreds (probably a high estimate)to read. Remember, it is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Posted by: Nez | Sep 19, 2007 9:21:11 AM
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