Blackwater Indicted – Conviction is Another Thing
By Michael Lang on Dec 6, 2008 in Political Commentary
The Lang Report has been dilligently covering the abuses in Iraq by private contractors, such as Halliburton and Blackwater USA that have been operating with absolutely no Congressional oversight or knowledge of their actual day to day activities.
Blackwater was investigated when one of its security details was accused of killing 11 Iraqis in Nisoor circle in western Baghdad’s Mansour district. A preliminary Iraqi investigation carried out by the interior ministry, found that armed Blackwater guards fired unprovoked on Iraqi civilians.
Well, more than a year after the fatal shootings of 17 Iraqi civilians, five decorated military veterans who were Blackwater Worldwide security guards are headed to court in a case that strained diplomatic ties and raised the level of anti-Americanism in Baghdad.
Iraqis hope the charges, to be unsealed Monday, finally will bring justice and improve relations with the United States after the gruesome slayings on Sept. 16, 2007.
But I wouldn’t be so quick to bet against Blackwater yet. Remember the Blackwater and its founder and President, Erik Prince have deep connections with the Bush Administration with its Chairman Cofer Black being the former Chief Counter-terrorism official on 9/11!
Additionally, under its contract with the State Department, Blackwater was allowed to repair and repaint the armored sport utility vehicles involved in the shooting. Also, legal complications resulting from the immunity agreements delayed the FBI investigation for more than two weeks after the shootings.
Defense lawyers say the case unfairly has tarnished the images of the Blackwater guards. Each man has received honors for his service in some of the world’s most dangerous places, from Bosnia and Afghanistan to Iraq. The five were to surrender to the FBI on Monday, when the Justice
Department plans to unseal the charges against them.
"These are indictments that never should have been brought," said Mark Hulkower, a lawyer for Army veteran Paul Slough of Keller, Texas.
Attorney David Schertler, who represents former Marine Dustin Heard of Knoxville, Tenn., said the guards "were defending themselves and their comrades who were being shot at and receiving fire from Iraqis they believed to be enemy insurgents."
According to their lawyers, the other men charged are: Donald Ball, a former Marine from West Valley City, Utah; Evan Liberty, a former Marine from Rochester, N.H.; and Nick Slatten, a former Army sergeant from Sparta, Tenn.
A sixth suspect was in negotiations to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for his cooperation against his former colleagues. Documents related to that matter remain sealed as well.
Whatever the real story is it is going to be difficult to reconstruct the truth after so much time has past. That and the fact that Blackwater has had more then enough time to work their magic by putting their own spin on the event.
Mohammed Latif, 52, a retired police officer said, “I think it is a move in the right direction to make the security company employees realize that they are no longer above the law and they should stop behaving like cowboys on the streets of Baghdad," adding that he hopes that the indictments are not just "an act of propaganda."
EDITORIAL NOTE: We at The Lang Report hope that this does turn out to be more than just another ‘act of propaganda’ however we are not so confident. Chalk it up to another on the long list of criminal activities initiated, perpetrated or condoned by George Bush and his very prolific Crime Family. Sad but true!
Here are some other articles on Blackwater published in The Lang Report:
The Military-Industrial Complex back and as strong as ever!
WHO’S the BOSS…..Iraq or Blackwater USA?
Blackwater USA – 1 versus Iraqi Government – 1
BLACKWATER USA ….. Wyatt Earp or Barney Fife?
AROUND the BLOGOSPHERE:
Five Blackwater Guards To Face manslaughter and assault charges … – Five Blackwater guards have been told to surrender to the FBI by Monday to face federal manslaughter and assault charges connected to the shooting deaths of 17 civilians at an traffic circle in Iraq last year, ABC News has learned. …
Pushing Rope: Blackwater Indictments – The Associated Press reports the Blackwater mercenaries involved in the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians could be charged as early as Monday. The Blackwater contractors face charges of manslaughter and assault. …
Blackwater Guards Could Get 30 Years In Jail For Massacre – Six guards have been under investigation since a convoy of heavily armed Blackwater contractors opened fire in a crowded Baghdad intersection on Sept. 16, 2007. Witnesses say the shooting was unprovoked but Blackwater, …
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