US Colonel: Blackwater drew weapons on soldiers.

[SirNitram]

Link

Oct. 15, 2007 issue - The colonel was furious. "Can you believe it? They actually drew their weapons on U.S. soldiers." He was describing a 2006 car accident, in which an SUV full of Blackwater operatives had crashed into a U.S. Army Humvee on a street in Baghdad's Green Zone. The colonel, who was involved in a follow-up investigation and spoke on the condition he not be named, said the Blackwater guards disarmed the U.S. Army soldiers and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle the SUV. His account was confirmed by the head of another private security company. Asked to address this and other allegations in this story, Blackwater spokesperson Anne Tyrrell said, "This type of gossip has led to many soap operas in the press."

Whatever else Blackwater is or isn't guilty of—a topic of intense interest in Washington—it has a well-earned reputation in Iraq for arrogance and high-handedness. Iraqis naturally have the most serious complaints; dozens have been killed by Blackwater operatives since the beginning of the war. But many American civilian and military officials in Iraq also have little sympathy for the private security company and its highly paid employees. With an uproar growing in Congress over Blackwater's alleged excesses, the North Carolina-based company is finding few supporters.

Responsible for guarding top U.S. officials in Iraq, Blackwater operatives are often accused of playing by their own rules. Unlike nearly everyone else who enters the Green Zone, said an American soldier who guards a gate, Blackwater gunmen refuse to stop and clear their weapons of live ammunition once inside. One military contractor, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution in his industry, recounted the story of a Blackwater operative who answered a Marine officer's order to put his pistol on safety when entering a base post office by saying, "This is my safety," and wiggling his trigger finger in the air. "Their attitude was, 'We're f---ing security; we don't have to answer to anybody'."

Congress disagrees. Until now, private security contractors working for the State Department, as Blackwater does, have effectively not been covered by either U.S. or Iraqi law, or military regulations. A bill that overwhelmingly passed the House last week would close that loophole. But the law would also require the FBI to establish a large-scale presence in Iraq in order to investigate accusations against private contractors. Law-enforcement officials worry that this would draw valuable resources away from FBI efforts to combat terrorism in the United States. Also, whenever FBI agents venture into Iraq now they are guarded by ... Blackwater operatives. The bureau has sent a team to Baghdad to investigate the Sept. 16 shooting in Nasoor Square, in which Blackwater guards are accused of killing as many as 17 Iraqi civilians. In order to avoid "even the appearance of any conflict [of interest]," according to an FBI spokesman, the agents will be defended by U.S. government personnel.

It is not an idle concern. Blackwater's staunchest defenders tend to be found among those whom they guard. U.S. officials prefer Blackwater and other private security bodyguards because they regard them as more highly trained than military guards, who are often reservists from MP units. A U.S. Embassy staffer, who did not have permission to speak on the record, said, "It's a few bad eggs that seem to be spoiling the bunch." Late last week the State Department announced that it would increase oversight of Blackwater in particular, installing cameras in its vehicles and having a Diplomatic Security Service officer ride along on every convoy. But another State Department official, also speaking anonymously, says that DSS agents in Baghdad have not been eager to rein in the contractors in the past: "These guys tend to close ranks. It's like the blue wall."

Testifying before Congress last week, 38-year-old Blackwater chief Erik Prince vigorously defended his company's "dedicated security professionals" who "risk their lives to protect Americans in harm's way overseas." Prince probably had no reason to be as smug as he seemed to many observers. In deflecting questions about a drunken Blackwater operative who allegedly shot and killed a bodyguard for Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi in the Green Zone on Christmas Eve last year, Prince said that the employee, later identified as Andrew Moonen, had been fined and fired. But on Friday House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Henry Waxman released a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recounting evidence that Moonen was able to return to Iraq and worked there for another company. Moonen's attorney, Stewart Riley, told NEWSWEEK his client denies wrongdoing and is not facing criminal charges. Blackwater is no doubt in for further fire fights.

But they're all very respectable professionals, or so their fans say.

[The Spartan]

A U.S. Embassy staffer, who did not have permission to speak on the record, said, "It's a few bad eggs that seem to be spoiling the bunch."

Given that "spoiling the bunch" is actually having a negative effect on America's efforts in Iraq to the point that Blackwater is actually exacerbating the hostility that already exists, I'm inclined to say, "Too fucking bad."

Maybe they should get their asses in gear and start cleaning house instead of throwing up, as the article puts it, a "blue wall".

[K. A. Pital]

So, U.S. officials want to be guarded by professional thugs, but said thugs are spoiling the Iraq war in general and creating fuck-ups even with their ally, the U.S. Army.

The question is, why bother listening to U.S. officials? After all, they must have known that Baghdad is not a very safe place. I mean, it's Iraq. So they have to get rid of Blackwater and remain with "the security they have, not the one they want".

[FSTargetDrone]

One military contractor, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution in his industry, recounted the story of a Blackwater operative who answered a Marine officer's order to put his pistol on safety when entering a base post office by saying, "This is my safety," and wiggling his trigger finger in the air. "Their attitude was, 'We're f---ing security; we don't have to answer to anybody'."

The descriptions of the unprofessionalism of these clowns almost sounds contrived and this is like some dialogue out of a bad action movie.

[Patrick Degan]

I'd say Blackwater's thugs are sucking around for a few blasts of friendly gunfire.

[Sidewinder]

One military contractor, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution in his industry, recounted the story of a Blackwater operative who answered a Marine officer's order to put his pistol on safety when entering a base post office by saying, "This is my safety," and wiggling his trigger finger in the air. "Their attitude was, 'We're f---ing security; we don't have to answer to anybody'."

The descriptions of the unprofessionalism of these clowns almost sounds contrived and this is like some dialogue out of a bad action movie.

It IS from a movie, specifically, 'Black Hawk Down'.

[Edi]

The US military should start responding to this sort of asshattery with lethal force as a matter of principle and immediately arresting and locking up mercenary fuckwits who otherwise behave in the manner described in the article (such as the quote in FSTarget Drone's post.

Once they kill a couple of dozen Blackwater assholes, the rest are probably going to start taking things seriously. If this is the way Blackwater routinely behaves, then all I can say about the Fallujah incident a few years ago that the four who were killed there got what was coming to them.

[Sidewinder]

Talk about biting the hand that feeds them. Does Blackwater want to lose its contracts with the US government?

The "reigning in" is long overdue.

By the way,

"These guys tend to close ranks. It's like the blue wall."

I'm unfamiliar with that term. What is a blue wall?

[SirNitram]

Talk about biting the hand that feeds them. Does Blackwater want to lose its contracts with the US government?

The State Department is continuing to close ranks with Blackwater, and State is where their contracts come from. The Pentagon can insist until they're blue in the face, but it's State who can void the contract.

[/quote]The "reigning in" is long overdue.

By the way,

"These guys tend to close ranks. It's like the blue wall."

I'm unfamiliar with that term. What is a blue wall?[/quote]

It refers to police officers becoming troublesome to anyone trying to investigate one of their own.

[dragon]

One of my friends that is in Iraq tells all sorts of stories only some of which are for companies like blackwater, it's just that at this point in time they are in the lime light. But as for the blackwater forcing the soldiers to lay on the ground the reverse has also happened.

There has also been a few times where the blackwater people that refused to safety their weapons were detained at gun point and had their weapon forcibly removed. So no matter where you look some kind of crap or the other is going on.

[FSTargetDrone]

The descriptions of the unprofessionalism of these clowns almost sounds contrived and this is like some dialogue out of a bad action movie.

It IS from a movie, specifically, 'Black Hawk Down'.[/quote]

Ah, well, BHD is a good movie.

I'm unfamiliar with that term. What is a blue wall?

It refers to police officers becoming troublesome to anyone trying to investigate one of their own.

I guess this makes it a "black wall" of silence, in this case.

Doesn't "Blackwater" sound like something straight out of a video game? Every time I hear it, I think of "Black Mesa."

[Glocksman]

IIRC, the name comes from the area in North Carolina where the company is based.

As for the rest of it, supposedly the Blackwater bodyguards are ex-SEAL/Special Forces/etc. types.
I can see a State Department puke's POV when he says he'd rather have ex-SF guys instead of Army reservists as bodyguards.
But OTOH, you'd think that the ex-SF guys would know the value of being cooperative and friendly with the troops in the area, who after all control the heavy weapons and would be riding to their rescue if something really hairy started going down.

[Pelranius]

I've heard that a lot of the Blackwater people are actually recruited from law enforcement personnel in rural areas or what not.

I thought there weren't enough ex Special Forces and SEALS of fighting age to supply all the PMC's combat manpower needs?

[Vendetta]

One of my friends that is in Iraq tells all sorts of stories only some of which are for companies like blackwater, it's just that at this point in time they are in the lime light. But as for the blackwater forcing the soldiers to lay on the ground the reverse has also happened.

There has also been a few times where the blackwater people that refused to safety their weapons were detained at gun point and had their weapon forcibly removed. So no matter where you look some kind of crap or the other is going on.

Well, yes. I would expect Army personnel to insist that any weapons held by non army personnel in their immediate vicinity are made safe or confiscated. Anyone who does not comply with a request to make his weapon safe is a danger to the soldiers and should be dealt with accordingly.

[Kanastrous]

There has also been a few times where the blackwater people that refused to safety their weapons were detained at gun point and had their weapon forcibly removed. So no matter where you look some kind of crap or the other is going on.

Seems to me that in an area of military operations, US soldiers have every right to disarm and detain Blackwater personnel, or whomever else they find cause to detain.

I don't think the reverse is true. No matter how well armed, no matter who they are contracted to protect, we can't tolerate unsupervised private hired guns fucking with soldiers operating within a chain of command.

[Coalition]

Seems to me that in an area of military operations, US soldiers have every right to disarm and detain Blackwater personnel, or whomever else they find cause to detain.

To me, if you want to go into an area where they insist you disarm, but you want to keep control of your weapon, then you should bring a friend. The friend stays outside with your weapon (and theirs), while you go on through.

I.e. Blackwater wants to enter, but US Military says disarm. The BW personnel pass their weapons to the people they arrived with, and only the necessary personnel go inside. US Military maintains control over its territory, and BW maintains control over its weaponry.

Above all else, have a liaison with the military so potential problems get resolved quickly, and always extend professional courtesy.

BW shouldn't blatantly tell the US Military to disarm, they should tell them that the corridors are cramped, and that extra weaponry might catch on things. They shouldn't prevent entry of the entire Company of troops, they should say that there is not a lot of room for a large group of people. They don't post guards, they provide guides to make sure people don't get lost, etc.

[Patrick Degan]

There has also been a few times where the blackwater people that refused to safety their weapons were detained at gun point and had their weapon forcibly removed. So no matter where you look some kind of crap or the other is going on.

Good. As it should be. The reverse should never happen, since the U.S. Army is supposed to be in charge in an active war zone and not Chimpus Caesar's for-hire goon squad.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Either there is someone on the State Dept who has a vested interest in having Blackwater do their dirty work, or this is rooted in inter-Dept rivalry.

[The Yosemite Bear]

yeah, I am beginning to think they are starting to grow mustaches just to have something to twirl.

[weemadando]

Either there is someone on the State Dept who has a vested interest in having Blackwater do their dirty work, or this is rooted in inter-Dept rivalry.

Read. this book. Brilliantly researched and well balanced (as far as they could with most of the subjects hiding behind the gov't and "its all confidential".

The entire fucking gov't is so deep into the private contractors that they couldn't possibly fuck them off without turning the entire war on terror into a bigger clusterfuck than it already is.

[Lord of the Abyss]

Doesn't "Blackwater" sound like something straight out of a video game? Every time I hear it, I think of "Black Mesa."

I think of "Blackwood Company" from Oblivion. Some people think the similarity is on purpose.