BLACKWATER ROLLING THROUGH TAX DOLLARS, WHILE KILLING CIVILIANS & UNDERMINING IRAQ GOVT: 35 min ago

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Maliki Accuses Blackwater of Challenging Iraq's Sovereignty

By Alissa Rubin and Andrew Kramer, The New York Times. Posted September 24, 2007.
35 minutes ago

Baghdad - Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said Sunday that the shooting of Iraqi civilians last week by Blackwater USA, a private American security company, amounted to a challenge to the nation's sovereignty, but he added that the his government was working jointly with the United States to bring those responsible to justice.

In an interview with The Associated Press in his New York hotel suite ahead of his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, he said: "The Iraqi government is responsible for its citizens, and it cannot be accepted for a security company to carry out a killing. There are serious challenges to the sovereignty of Iraq." The Associated Press noted that Mr. Maliki used the Arabic word "tajawiz," which can be translated either as "affronts" or "challenges."

On Sept. 16, Blackwater security guards opened fire on civilians in Nisoor Square in western Baghdad, killing at least 11 and reminding Iraqis of the often abusive behavior of private Western security companies operating in the country. This was the seventh incident in which Iraqi authorities have cited Blackwater for the injurious behavior of its guards toward civilians.
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/63395/

The Iraqi "government" backed off its pledge to ban the mercenary firm.

Other points of interest

Iraq Sets the Stage for Possible U.S. War with Iran
Peter Galbraith

What Is Iraq Costing You?
Larry Beinhart

The Pentagon Rivals Hollywood at Telling War Stories
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Petraeus: A Failure by His Own Standards
Larry Beinhart

Why is a Blackwater employee paid a great deal more than an American soldier that is doing exactly the same job, only much better?

DID A LADY LOSE HER SWORD?