Blackwater USA Is More Than Just a Private Contractor

Until recently, only a small number of US citizens were aware of the role played by the private security contractors such as Blackwater USA in Iraq. However, on September 16th, as a heavily guarded Blackwater convoy was speeding down the wrong side of a rode in Baghdad with a senior US State Department official, the Iraqi police tried to block off the traffic near Baghdad’s Nisour Square. In the confusion, a single car entered the square and apparently the driver did not see or hear an Iraqi policeman warning him to yield. The Blackwater operatives then opened fire on the vehicle killing the driver. They then launched a grenade at the vehicle, setting it ablaze and killing all those left inside. Gunfire continued to blaze within the square as Iraqi citizens fled for cover and many witnesses have described indiscriminate shooting by the Blackwater operatives. In all, at least 11 Iraqi civilians were killed and the toll will probably climb as many wounded victims remain in critical condition. It was later learned that the initial single vehicle was not filled with “armed insurgents” as was suspected by the Blackwater personnel. Instead, it was a young Iraqi family. A man, a woman and an infant who apparently panicked in a chaotic traffic incident. The bodies of the mother and child were later found to be melded together by the ensuing flames that had engulfed their vehicle.

A spokesman for Blackwater later said “They acted lawfully, appropriately and they heroically defended American lives in a war zone.”. Unfortunately for Blackwater, there was an amateur video of some the event that shows the mass shooting was unprovoked. It also shows women and children jumping out of their cars and crawling on the ground to avoid being shot. An Iraqi Lawyer, Hassan Salman was driving behind the Blackwater convoy when it was stopped in the square. He said Blackwater guards immediately ordered him to turn around and leave the scene. As he was turning around, the shooting began. While being interviewed in the hospital, Salman said, “No one had fired at the convoy. I don’t know why the guards opened fire.” Salman was shot in the back 4 times as he was leaving the scene and his vehicle was hit 12 times in all. Salman also saw a young boy killed when he was shot in the head while leaping from a mini-bus. His mother had screamed and jumped after him but she was also killed. All the bullets found in Salman’s car came from the Blackwater operatives and no other guns were found at the scene.

What must be understood about Blackwater USA and the 180 other “private security” companies are that they work under different rules than the US Military. Blackwater is the largest private security contractor in Iraq with $700Mil in diplomatic State Dept. security contracts. The total cost to date for all 181 private security contractors with tens of thousands of employees is $4Billion. Most security contracts were awarded as “no-bid required” awards.

Listed below are some comments about private contractors and private mercenaries in Iraq and the US Military.

When Blackwater first came to Iraq to protect the first US Occupation Chief, L. Paul Bremer in 2003, Bremer issued the now infamous “Order 17” as he was later turning Iraq over to the Iraqis. This order prevents any private security contractors from being prosecuted for crimes committed in Iraq.

Private Security contractors do NOT report to the US Military. They report to the US State department. They are also NOT required to follow the “US Military Rules of Engagement” as are the US military troops.

The US military troops must be fired on first or catch someone in the act of attacking them or their military unit before returning fire. Private security forces do not have this restriction. There is no accountability requirement for the actions of private security contractors.

Over the past 12 months, Blackwater USA has been involved with 6 other known civilian fire-fights (10 deaths) such as the one at Nisour Square. Based on all 181 private security companies, there is an average of one incident per week of civilians being “accidentally” killed by private mercenaries.

Last Christmas Eve, an off-duty Blackwater operative shot and killed the bodyguard of Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi while inside the US Green Zone. Blackwater fired the contractor, but quickly whisked him away, out of Iraq. The killing is listed as a “murder” in Iraq, but the ex-contractor has not been charged with a crime.

Due to the Nisour Square incident, the Iraqi civilians are angered by Blackwater’s conduct. Blackwater’s job is to protect US occupation and Iraqi officials by “any means possible”. Therefore, they will kill anyone they see as a threat. Many civilians have been shot and killed for just passing too close to a vehicle convoy. Blackwater makes civilian enemies during every pass they make through any Iraqi town or village. (They also usually choose randomly which side of the road they want to use.)

After Nisour Square, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for Blackwater’s expulsion. Blackwater was quickly put back on the job as it then became understood that the officials believed that they can’t expel Blackwater USA. The US and Iraqi officials say they have nothing to replace Blackwater with in Iraq.

Since Nisour Square, Blackwater’s black uniforms, SUV’s, trucks and helicopters have become well known (and hated) by the Iraqi’s and they have become the targets of Iraqi resistance attacks. Even more as targets than the officials they are supposed to protect.

No names of the Blackwater mercenaries were recorded of those that participated in the Nisour Square killings.

There are approximately 160,000 US troops in Iraq. There are 180,000 private contractors providing everything from food, water, latrines, tents, cable TV and other necessities. Iraq is the most “privatized” war in US history.

US Senators Jim Webb and Claire McCaskill have proposed legislation to create a Commission on Wartime Contracting. This is modeled after President Harry Truman’s committee for investigating waste and fraud during WW II.

Blackwater is the most modern and capable private security operation in the world. They are the best trained, armed and very self-sufficient. They have their own SUV’s, Humvees, trucks and helicopters. They have thousands of employees and they are one of the world largest private armies.

Blackwater is owned by Erik Prince, a very private, evangelical Christian that is a major contributor to President George W. Bush and his friends. Among Blackwater’s senior executives are former CIA official, J. Cofer Black (now Mitt Romney’s counter-terrorism adviser), and Joseph Schmitz, the Inspector General under Sec.Def.- Donald Rumsfeld.

Blackwater’s continued presence after Prime Minister Maliki’s call for their expulsion serves as a potent symbol of the current lack of real Iraqi sovereignty.

Author’s Note:

I personally do not believe that it is prudent for private mercenary armies to be allowed to become established, to grow to thousands of members and to become armed with modern weapons inside any democratic republic. I guess I am a bit funny that way.