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October 7, 2008 1:07:49 PM CDT

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Feds Renew Blackwater Deal

Posted Apr 4, 08 7:55 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Washington renewed Blackwater USA's multimillion-dollar contract for another year today pending two probes into the contractor's conduct in Iraq, the AP reports. The FBI is still investigating a Baghdad shooting last year in which Blackwater guards gunned down 17 civilians and sparked outrage among Iraqis; US lawmakers are also probing claims that Blackwater smuggled arms into the country. Blackwater has denied guilt in both cases.

"Essentially I think they do a very good job,"  a US official told Reuters. "The September 16th incident was a tragedy. It has to be investigated carefully." Blackwater says its guards were returning fire to protect diplomats, but Iraqi investigators have called the killings unprovoked. Blackwater has banked nearly $1.25 billion from protecting US diplomats in Iraq over the past 8 years.

Sources Associated Press, Reuters

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Plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a firefight.   (AP Photo/Gervasio Sanchez)
A private military contractor.   (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic, file)
A Blackwater security contractor guards the convoy of U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad.   (AP Photo/Jacob Silberberg)
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007.   (AP Photo)
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Iraq war  • FBI  • State Department  • Blackwater  • Iraq war spending  • security contractors


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