AP: Blackwater says it could leave Iraq with 72 hours

[laststeamtrain]

Blackwater says it could leave Iraq with 72 hours

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press writer Mike Baker – 46 mins ago

MOYOCK, N.C. – Blackwater Worldwide, which guards American diplomats in Iraq, said Thursday it would be prepared to leave that country within 72 hours after Iraqi officials denied the North Carolina-based company an operating license because of a deadly shooting spree in Baghdad.

But Blackwater founder Erik Prince told The Associated Press that while losing the State Department contract would hurt the company, the move would cause more harm to the diplomats it has protected since soon after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

"Our abrupt departure would far more hurt the reconstruction team and the diplomats trying to rebuild the country than it would hurt us as a business," Prince said Thursday in an exclusive interview with the AP.

Iraqi officials said the lingering outrage over a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad's Nisoor Square that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead led to its decision...http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090129/ap_on_re_us/ml_iraq_blackwater

[NightWatcher]

1. are they trying to blackmail us in to keeping them there?

threatening us by saying they'd be out too soon for us to back up their security details?

[Christa]

Hmmm - sound like blackmail to me

fuckers

[GentryDixon]

19. We don't have the last word any longer.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. Buh-bye!

And when you get back here, in the words of the great game Monopoly, "Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 defense department contracts."

[Pisces]

3. Get the fuck out and let the military protect these people. There are enough soldiers there already.

[ManiacJoe]

12. That is not the job of the military.

Nor are they trained to do it. Plus DSS does not have the staff to take on the extra work.

[Hekate]

24. IIRC, uniformed Marines always used to guard US embassies around the world...

Of course, this was before Bush.

Hekate

[EFerrari]

4. Eric Prince, Dominionist scum bag, security threat and anti-American.

[ixion]

5. I wish they would depart the US, too

because, well, they suck.

[DCKit]

6. "...because of a deadly shooting spree in Baghdad."

Because everyone knows that was the only incident. The Iraqi's are just being mean and anti-capitalist.

[lpbk2713]

7. They're probably needed now in Paraguay anyway.

BushCo certainly isn't done with them yet.

[tularetom]

8. So why is it letting the door hit it in the ass on the way out?

The writing has been very clearly on the wall for a few days now. Anybody with half a brain could tell when they weren't wanted. If they stay they are going to cause attacks injury and deaths, not prevent them.

[Norrin Radd]

9. They should depart the planet.

Any space shuttle launches, soon?

[originalpckelly]

10. So has anyone wondered what they're going to do when they come back?

:shrug:

Something doesn't smell right here.

[Donnachaidh]

11. my thoughts exactly

I really DON'T want that scum-sucking dirtball OR his private militia here, either.

[ManiacJoe]

13. Just like in all other contracting companies,

the contractors will be put into other contracts or will be let go.

[SoCalDem]

17. They'll head for Africa..many are already there

There are several countries there that are in plenty of turmoil.. I'm sure that Mr prince can find a way to stir up more shit in Africa, so that eventually, US forces will be compelled to intervene:grr:

[conscious evolution]

20. My thoughts also

Its almost like they are being transferred from the Waffen SS to the SD-SS.

[fascisthunter]

14. unamerican nazi-wannabes

[Gold Metal Flake]

15. Now we have to deal with them here.

How will they sate their appetites?

[spanone]

16. we'll see....is prince blackmailing???

[bridgit]

18. Make it 16 TOPS and they got a deal now start the fuck packing!

[mitchum]

21. Fine...so it shouldn't take more than a week for them to leave the planet?

[salguine]

22. Now that there's a new administration in Washington, Blackwater needs to be

disarmed and disbanded. A private army with its own aircraft and armored vehicles, as well as thousands of "soldiers" armed with automatic weapons has no business existing inside the borders of the United States.

[malaise]

23. This is great news

Prince should be locked away in prison.