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US-Iraqi Panel to Probe Private Contractors

Private military contractors get second look following the Blackwater USA incident

By Kate Schwartz,  Newser User

Posted Sep 19, 2007 8:03 PM CDT
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(Newser) – In the wake of the shooting deaths of 10 Iraqi civilians at the hands of private security firm Blackwater last weekend, the US and Iraq are forming a joint panel to probe the war's private security contractors. Rather than conduct forensic field studies of the incident, officials say, the committee will look at the "safety and security involving the operations of these contractors."

Co-chaired by an American and an Iraqi, the panel will review inquiries by both countries. Bystanders claim Blackwater "initiated random and indiscriminate shooting at civilians"; the company says its guards were returning fire from insurgents."We see the security firms ... doing whatever they want in the streets," says an Iraqi of the 25,000 private contractors employed in the country by the military.

In this image released by the Iraqi government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks to reporters in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday disputed Blackwater USA's version of a weekend shooting that left at least 11 people dead and declared he would not tolerate...
In this image released by the Iraqi government, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks to reporters in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday disputed Blackwater...   (Associated Press)
A helicopter owned by Blackwater USA, a private security contractor, flies over central Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. Iraq's decision to temporarily ban Blackwater USA after a fatal shooting of civilians in Baghdad reveals a growing web of rules governing weapons-bearing contractors but few signs U.S. agencies are...
A helicopter owned by Blackwater USA, a private security contractor, flies over central Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007. Iraq's decision to temporarily ban Blackwater USA after a fatal shooting...   (Associated Press)
Signs welcome visitors to the private North Carolina-based security company Blackwater USA's headquarters, in this Feb. 20, 2004, file photo near Moyock, N.C. The Interior Ministry said Monday Sept. 17, 2007 that it was pulling the license of Blackwater USA, a security firm allegedly involved in the fatal shooting...
Signs welcome visitors to the private North Carolina-based security company Blackwater USA's headquarters, in this Feb. 20, 2004, file photo near Moyock, N.C. The Interior Ministry said Monday Sept. 17,...   (Associated Press)
A US private security officer with his face covered against dust, sits in a Chinook helicopter as they accompany Iraq's US civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer on a visit to the southern marsh areas of Iraq in this Thursday, Sept 18, 2003 file photo near the southern Iraqi city of...
A US private security officer with his face covered against dust, sits in a Chinook helicopter as they accompany Iraq's US civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer on a visit to the southern marsh areas...   (Associated Press)
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Related info

Blackwater USA homepage
Blackwater USA

Iraqi Leader Disputes Blackwater Account
Associated Press

 
Iraq • security • Blackwater • contractors • United States • Iraq war

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