U.S. Extends Blackwater's Baghdad Work For One Year

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. private security firm Blackwater's deal to protect American diplomats in Baghdad will be extended for a year while the FBI investigates a 2007 incident in which the company's guards are accused of killing 17 Iraqis, the State Department said Friday.

"I have requested and received approval to have task order six -- which Blackwater has to provide personal protective services in Baghdad -- renewed ... for one year," Assistant Secretary of State Gregory Starr told reporters


Read more: http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=115376

[fascisthunter]

1. Congress Says... Yes... Over Payed Mercenaries SHould Kill and Rape at Leisure

:eyes:

[tridim]

2. Glad I'm not an American diplomat.

Or an innocent Iraqi.

[Disturbed]

3. Further proof that the Busholini Regime is not held

accountable for anything by a complicit Congress!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. State extends Blackwater's deal a year

Source: Yahoo News

WASHINGTON - The State Department says it will renew Blackwater USA's license to protect diplomats in Baghdad for one year, but a final decision about whether the private security company will keep the job is pending.

A top State Department official said that because the FBI is still investigating last year's fatal shooting of Baghdad civilians, there is no reason not to renew the contract when it comes due in May. Blackwater has a five-year deal to provide personal protection for diplomats, which is reauthorized each year.

Iraqis were outraged over a Sept. 16 shooting in which 17 civilians were killed in a Baghdad square. Blackwater said its guards were protecting diplomats under attack before they opened fire, but Iraqi investigators concluded the shooting was unprovoked.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080404/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_blackwater_2

[Lerkfish]

5. winning hearts and minds of the Iraqis.

way to go, assholes.

[pdefalla]

6. WTF?????

They have NOT made a decision as to whether Blackwater will keep the job, SO they're renewing their license and giving them another year contract?

Sounds like they've made a decision to me....

[ajamo]

8. Blackwater Stock holders?

Who are they? who own this company? Are there politicians involved in making a profit from the war? Lets get to the bottom of this.
Forget it with Bush and his Attorney General forget it, they do not believe in the law.

[Blue_Tires]

7. i thought blackwater got kicked out?

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Blackwater Iraq contract to be renewed (CNN)

From Elise Labott
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department will renew its contract with Blackwater to provide security in Iraq, Greg Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, said Friday.

No provisions have been added to the contract, Starr said, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered several changes to procedure after a September incident in which Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 people, including women and children.

The incident placed the operations of Blackwater and other security firms under scrutiny in Iraq, where an estimated 25,000 private contractors protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials. Under a provision instituted in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, security contractors have immunity from Iraqi law.

The five-year State Department contract, which began in 2006, must be renewed every year and is up for renewal next month. Starr said, in effect, Blackwater's contract will roll over for another year.

Blackwater is one of three contractors working under a "task order" to provide security services in Iraq. The other two are Triple Canopy and DynCorp.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/04/blackwater/index.html

[1776Forever]

10. Iraqi official: Blackwater staying on 'is bad news'

Iraqi official: Blackwater staying on 'is bad news'

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/05/iraq.blackwater/?iref=mpstoryview

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. State Department's renewal of Blackwater's contract to provide security in Iraq "is bad news," an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said.

Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 people, including women and children, last September, prompting an outcry and protest from Iraqi officials.

"This is bad news," al-Maliki adviser Sami al-Askari said. "I personally am not happy with this, especially because they have committed acts of aggression, killed Iraqis, and this has not been resolved yet positively for families of victims."

'''''''''''''''''

More from Washington Post:

State Department to Renew Deal With Blackwater for Iraq Security
By Dana Hedgpeth
Washington Post Staff Writer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/04/AR2008040403449.html

Saturday, April 5, 2008; Page D02The State Department said yesterday that it would renew its contract with Blackwater Worldwide, the controversial private security contractor, to provide security for U.S. diplomats in Baghdad for another year, but said it could cancel it at any time.

Blackwater has a five-year contract with the State Department to provide diplomatic security. The contract, which has one base year plus four option years, is entering its fourth year, an official at the State Department said.

The company, based in Moyock, N.C., is under investigation by the FBI in connection with a Sept. 16 incident in which its security personnel shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. Questions have been raised about whether the shootings were justified and if they violated the rules under which contractors may use deadly force in Iraq.

Blackwater has received more than $1 billion in federal business since 2000, according to Eagle Eye, a research company that monitors contract spending. Its agreement to provide security for U.S. diplomats, and bodyguards and armed drivers to escort government officials outside Baghdad's Green Zone, was set to expire next month.

....................

Even after the Congressional oversight hearing Blackwater is still going to try to get more then the 1 Billion they have all ready taken from the tax payers! Enough!!!!!!!!

:banghead: