Blackwater's Iraq Contract Ends

Vice president expresses his 'personal regret' for the case's outcome

(AP) - Joe Biden said today the US will appeal a court decision dismissing manslaughter charges against five Blackwater guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting. Biden expressed his "personal regret" for the shooting and said the Obama administration was disappointed by the dismissal. "A dismissal is not an acquittal," he said. More»

But two former contractors arrested in Afghanistan

(NEWSER) - Blackwater—now known as Xe—has settled a group of civil lawsuits with Iraqis that accused the firm of creating a cowboy culture that led to civilian deaths. The firm will pay $30,000 to injured victims and $100,000 to families of people who died in a number of shooting incidents involving employees of the firm, including the infamous Nisoor Square incident that left 17 dead in 2007. More»

Triple Canopy accused of funding insurgents

(NEWSER) - Triple Canopy, the company that succeeded Blackwater as the top US security contractor in Iraq, bought its weapons on Iraq’s black market, former employees allege in court documents obtained by ProPublica. “We’re spending a lot of money on these rifles, millions of dollars—where do you think that money is going?” said former program manager Ronald Boline in a deposition for a wrongful termination suit. “We’re supporting people who are trying to kill Americans.” More»

(NEWSER) - Washington refused to renew Blackwater's contracts in Iraq, and Baghdad told the company to get out—but that doesn't mean it's actually left, the AP reports. The private mercenary firm, now called Xe, still runs ground operations and provides air security for US convoys, and may continue doing so until as late as September. More»

Loss of contract means many guards will just change uniforms

(NEWSER) - Blackwater is getting kicked out of Iraq but not all of its workers will be leaving with the shamed company, the New York Times reports. The Iraq government refused to renew the security firm's license after its guards were repeatedly accused of using excessive force but many, if not most, of its guards are expected to simply switch uniforms and work for Blackwater's replacement. More»