Blackwater likely to be out of Iraq

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

Blackwater likely to be out of Iraq
By ANNE GEARAN, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - A State Department review of private security guards for diplomats in Iraq is unlikely to recommend firing Blackwater USA over the deaths of 17 Iraqis last month, but the company probably is on the way out of that job, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Blackwater's work escorting U.S. diplomats outside the protected Green Zone in Baghdad expires in May, one official said, and other officials told The Associated Press they expect the North Carolina company will not continue to work for the embassy after that.

It is likely that Blackwater does not compete to keep the job, one official said. Blackwater probably will not be fired outright or even "eased out," the official added, but there is a mutual feeling that the Sept. 16 shooting deaths mean the company cannot continue in its current role.

State Department officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not yet considered results of an internal review of Blackwater and the other two companies that protect diplomats in Iraq.

Department officials said no decisions have been made and that Rice has the final say.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_blackwater

[rockymountaindem]

1. How will they put food on their families now?

Won't someone think of the children?

[saigon68]

22. No they will be redeployed to amerika

Where, as they proved in New Orleans after Katrina, they are excellent at disciplining rowdy Negroes and other looting types

[Mendocino]

43. Fishin Accomplished

[Hydra]

2. I'll believe it when I see it

permanence seems to be a hallmark of this invasion.

[Flabbergasted]

15. Thinking the same thing.

Blackwater willingly give up their largest contract without a fight?

Sounds like a public relations ploy....but who knows?

[mopinko]

19. beat me to it

exactly what i was going to say.

[Hydra]

20. Thank you

feel free to second, third it, etc. :evilgrin:

[KansDem]

3. Excuse me? I thought Iraq was a "sovereign nation" with recently-spreaded Bush democracy!

A State Department review of private security guards for diplomats in Iraq is unlikely to recommend firing Blackwater USA over the deaths of 17 Iraqis last month, but the company probably is on the way out of that job, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

And why does Condi have a say in this? The "State Department" may have its opinion(s) but isn't it the Iraqi government that has actual jurisdiction and final say?

[Barrett808]

4. Iraq is as sovereign as we want it to be

So, in essence, it's a colony.

[ryanmuegge]

10. Yeah, the notion of Iraq as a sovereign nation is pretty funny.

Obviously nonsense.

[KansDem]

14. Tell it to this lady...

Whadda mean 'nonsense?" Our democracy is real, given to us by American President George W. Bush, and is just as strong and viable as your's there in the United States!

[Hydra]

21. "is just as strong and viable as your's there in the United States!"

That puts it absolutely perfectly.

[tekisui]

23. Democracy with a capital *Dubya*!

[Hydra]

26. Nice!

:spray:

[jimshoes]

5. Man, that's kinda like getting

banned from a bikers bar for being too nasty.

[aquart]

6. Now tell me about Greystone.

Do they hire out to the Saudis or Taliban or whoever and come back shooting as US soldiers wherever?

[Barrett808]

7. "No diplomats have died while riding in Blackwater's heavily armed convoys"

But Iraqi civilians killed by Blackwater's heavily armed convoys? "We don't do body counts."

[pinniped]

8. This remains to be seen.

These scum mercs won't go without a fight.

[Doctor Cynic]

9. Hope...

Hope they win a multimillion dollar no bid contracts to manufacture license plates next. :evilgrin:

[superconnected]

11. I can only see them leaving out of fear of being prosecuted.

We do have an election coming up -next month marks the start of an election year- and americans are not happy with the repuke leadership.

The tables could turn for blackwater and they could get charged with multiple counts of manslaughter when they no longer have the bush junta in front of them.

It is time for them to be on the run. I bet they stay long enough to collect more collusive funds for being there then get out right before the election.

[wtmusic]

12. Not enough

The murderers must pay.

[Parche]

13. Iran

That is why they WANT Iran, so Blackwater can go there also.......:hi:

[HughMoran]

16. Cool. When do the firing squads commence?

There is no way that these people can get less of a sentence than a military man would for the same blatent offence.

IF there exists a death penalty, THEN it must be used in this case.

[ThomCat]

17. All of our forces should be out of there by May of next year,

not just Blackwater. x(

[Didereaux]

18. Don't worry, they will simply...

rename themselves and not skip a dollar. Remember good old Arthur Anderson Accounting of Enron fame? Thought they died didn't you, folded up and the boys took bookkeeping jobs for local library districts. They are Accensure(?) located in, wherelse...Arlington Virginia in the high rent district.

These guys do not 'fail', they morph and they do it in a heartbeat.

[liberal N proud]

24. They will just change their name and continue the same.

[saigon68]

30. Yup thats the name of That tune

[downindixie]

25. Blackwater is just a name!

So they will change their name and get more contracts!

[Imagevision]

27. Blackwater will pull a halliburton and return under a new name, new CEO... guranteed?

[soothsayer]

28. If not fired or eased out....then how?? Raptured?

[dysfunctional press]

29. it will still be the same merc's...same attitudes...but with a paycheck from a different company.

duh.

[stevedeshazer]

31. Blackwater likely to be out of Iraq

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A State Department review of private security guards for diplomats in Iraq is unlikely to recommend firing Blackwater USA over the deaths of 17 Iraqis last month, but the company probably is on the way out of that job, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

It is likely that Blackwater does not compete to keep the job, one official said. Blackwater probably will not be fired outright or even "eased out," the official added, but there is a mutual feeling that the Sept. 16 shooting deaths mean the company cannot continue in its current role.

Department officials said no decisions have been made and that Rice has the final say.

President Bush did not directly answer a question Wednesday about whether he was satisfied with the performance of security contractors.

more: http://www.onelocalnews.com/howelltimesandtranscript/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=79003

Read more: http://www.onelocalnews.com/howelltimesandtranscript/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=79003

[frylock]

32. they'll be handy around here after the next "national crises"

why suspend posse comitatus when you have these goons to do the wetwork?

[Mendocino]

33. Blackwater 2008

Providing Election Sercurity/Screening

[tom_paine]

35. Would they be so brazen to do that?

Yes they would.

[Javaman]

41. Oh yes they would.

coming to you to the next jackbooted national convention.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

34. they won't leave

they'll just change the name of the company and get a new contract. :mad:

[Akoto]

36. Blackwater likely to be out of Iraq

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A State Department review of private security guards for diplomats in Iraq is unlikely to recommend firing Blackwater USA over the deaths of 17 Iraqis last month, but the company probably is on the way out of that job, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Blackwater's work escorting U.S. diplomats outside the protected Green Zone in Baghdad expires in May, one official said, and other officials told The Associated Press they expect the North Carolina company will not continue to work for the embassy after that.

It is likely that Blackwater does not compete to keep the job, one official said. Blackwater probably will not be fired outright or even "eased out," the official added, but there is a mutual feeling that the Sept. 16 shooting deaths mean the company cannot continue in its current role.

State Department officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not yet considered results of an internal review of Blackwater and the other two companies that protect diplomats in Iraq.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRAQ_BLACKWATER?SITE=WHIZ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Just-plain-Kathy]

37. Blackwater will probably close up shop and reopen under a new name like Blackliquid,

...or Whitewater...oh wait that’s a different scandal.

[Eagle_Eye]

40. A you saying the name "Republican Mercenaries" has already been taken?

[Amonester]

42. Dunno, but can't they take "Republican Guards"TM ?

I know the copyrights belonged to Saddam... but since they do worse...

[NoGodsNoMasters]

38. Nice...

Small victory, but cherish them when they come, 'cause there aren't many. Good riddance!

[Lasher]

39. They'll say Blackwater has to be out in six months.

Then six months later every single one of them will still be there. If anyone notices the administration will ask for patience, saying more time is needed. Say, another six months. Or until January 2009.

[MetaTrope]

44. Even if they're out in May, that's 7 months away...how many Iraqi people will they murder meantime?

Say another 150? 200?