Shuck Bush

8 April 2008

I guess that the U.S. State Department is renewing Blackwater’s security contract for another year. This action is drawing ire from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki because of last year’s “massacre” of civilians by that rogue company. In light of the past weeks escalation of hostilities in Baghdad, just what kind of “security” does Blackwater bring the U.S.? Blackwater seems to cause more trouble in an already troubled country. Since no judicial action has happened, al-Maliki says that the extension requires the approval of the Iraqi government. Is this how the U.S. wins friends and influences people? When are we going to really put up a fight with the hawks in the Bush administration and question who and why we sign on these “guns for hire”? With three or more “security” companies in Iraq, who the heck OK’d them and who is supposed to oversee their actions? This is not the first time that I have questioned their use and so far have not been able to find a plausible answer. The only answer that I found was that they protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials in Iraq. Some protection! Security contractors also have immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

After the shootings last September, a joint Iraqi-U.S. committee was set up and the FBI is also looking into the matter. What is taking the FBI so long to assess the “massacre” that took place last September? This smells like a big coverup to me. Al-Maliki wants Blackwater to fall under the jurisdiction of Iraqi law. The State Department signed a five-year contract with Blackwater in 2006 with the stipulation that it be reviewed and renewed yearly. Boy, does that sound like long term occupation of Iraq or what? This is not something that I want my tax dollars to pay for. I should say it’s not something that I want my children’s, grandchildren’s or great-grandchildren’s tax dollars to pay for.

The number of U.S. troops who have died in the Iraq war is 4,020 by today’s count, including eight Defense Department civilians. Where was the protection that Blackwater was giving the Defense Department civilians?

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