Condi to talk to Maliki about Blackwater:

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070917/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestus_070917172701;_ylt=AjVktMh4lQ7RRjEs16VxdtcUewgF

...... Iraq orders halt to US firm's operations after shootout

by Ammar Karim 27 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq ordered the cancellation on Monday of US security firm Blackwater's operating licence after it was involved in a shootout in Baghdad that killed eight people, a senior official told AFP.
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Blackwater provides personal security for US civilian officials working in Iraq.

"The interior minister (Jawad al-Bolani) has issued an order to cancel Blackwater's licence and the company is prohibited from operating anywhere in Iraq," interior ministry director of operations Major General Abdel Karim Khalaf said.

"We have opened a criminal investigation against the group who committed the crime."

On Sunday, a US diplomatic convoy was involved in a shootout in Baghdad's Al-Yarmukh neighbourhood which killed at least eight people and wounded 13.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki condemned what he called the "criminal" response of the contractors guarding the convoy which the US embassy said had been attacked by insurgents.

Washington said US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will call Maliki later on Monday to express her regret that civilians were killed and to ensure that an investigation is conducted into the incident.

[Robbien]

1. I am sure an investigation by this admin will assure Iraqis that the guilty

will be punished.

yeah, right.

[The Doctor.]

8. That's one of the big problems with not keeping your own house in order...

No one can believe that this administration is serious about pursuing investigations, therefore they will not be placated by such promises.

[Blaze Diem]

2. "..gee so sorry 'bout those civilians'.. may we offer up our OWN

investigation, nothing to worry bout..we'll take care of it. You just never mind now."

[bdamomma]

3. I hope Maliki says NO.

and Blackwater will be thrown out. Condi what a kiss a$$ she is for *'ie, loyal to the end.

[Rageneau]

19. Maliki CAN'T say 'no.' Iraq is now part of the Executive Branch.

There was room for it once the VP's office was moved out.

[truth2power]

4. Someone please tell me when they've ever investigated anything..

<crickets>

[rucky]

16. Bush told us he'd find the "leaker"

and when he did, he gave him a pardon.

Then there was the time that he searched for the WMD's under his desk. That counts as an investigation.

I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of this Blackwater flap, and find they acted lawfully according to the laws they changed to account for something like this. And they'll also call for new *ahem* "elections" in Iraq. Dust off your giant purple foam finger - democracy in iraq is two blocks down and around the corner. (When you see the oil refinery, you know you've gone too far).

[truth2power]

21. Right on all counts!

:rofl:

[bahrbearian]

5. Is she going to pay the families $3,000 , instead of the normal $2000

That will make it all better.

[Deep13]

6. Those "contractors" are civilians themselves.

They are as subject to Iraqi civilian law as any tourist or Iraqi citizen.

[Mandate My Ass]

9. I believe Boosh gave mercs blanket immunity before the war even started

as well as all American personnel in Iraq.

[Deep13]

10. I'm sure he did. Will the Iraqi officials comply with that?

I guess we will see.

U.S. military personel are governed by the U.C.M.J.

[Mandate My Ass]

14. We shall see. My guess is they'll have no choice.

There are a lot of mercs there and without them, troop levels will be pre-surge in numbers, IIRC.

I doubt the Iraqi gov't can forcibly expel them or capture, jail and try them. Bush will never allow them to be sent packing.

[Robbien]

12. Yup. You are right

Even if an investigation happens and it proves these death squads are guilty, so what. Nothing can be done because of the blanket immunity.

[Rick Myers]

18. Actually it was that wiz of nation-building J. Paul Bremmer

On his way out the door the CPA put in place laws that are supposedly 'forever.'

[Mandate My Ass]

22. Heckuva a job, Bremmer!

There were a myriad of abominations visited on Iraqis by the CPA on the way out the door. Blanket immunity for war crimes was just one piddling example. And just because they got immunity in advance does not mean they intended to commit war crimes, so stop saying that. I'm series!!1!

[XOKCowboy]

27. More on that from a story on CNN or all places...

"Most recently, a news article discussing an incident in which a Blackwater guard shot dead an Iraqi driver in May 2007 quoted an Iraqi official's statement that the Iraqi Interior Ministry had received four previous complaints of shootings involving Blackwater employees," the congressional service report said.

The Congressional Research Service report cited other concerns, such as "the apparent lack of a practical means to hold contractors accountable under U.S. law for abuses and other transgressions and the possibility that they could be prosecuted by foreign courts."

The reported added, "Iraqi courts do not have jurisdiction to prosecute contractors without the permission of the relevant member country of the Multi-National Forces in Iraq."

Contractors fall under Justice Department and FBI jurisdiction for alleged crimes, said a Pentagon official, who confirmed the accuracy of the congressional report.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/17/iraq.main/index.html

When I first read the story it specifically mentioned that Bush had given all US contractors blanket immunity and couldn't be prosecuted by Iraq. That reference seems to be gone now.

[unhappycamper]

7. condi:

[Toucano]

11. Three cheers for the corporate diplomat!

Hip, hip, PISS OFF!

Hip, hip, PISS OFF!

Hip, hip, PISS OFF!

[sinkingfeeling]

13. If the Iraqis are investigating, why doesn't Condi shut up and let them?

You know they're a 'sovereign' country and all, right George?

[blogslut]

15. Maybe Maliki will stick to his guns

It would be a hell of a thing if Blackwater were forced to leave Iraq.

Just the same, I won't get my hopes up. Either Maliki will cave, or he'll be deposed by Shrub cronies or he'll be assassinated by Blackwater al Quaeda in Iraq^TM.

[rucky]

17. You must have Maliki confused with someone in power. n/t

[ljm2002]

20. Ah, so our esteemed Secretary of State...

...has finally found a diplomatic mission she can get behind: ensuring that Blackwater mercenaries are allowed to stay in Iraq after the latest incident of killing innocent civilians.

Iran? Pakistan? Israel vs Palestine? Russia, even? All of these areas and more have ongoing issues that are vital to our national interests. But good ol' Condi, you might call her a "minimalist" SOS.

I'd call her something else, but it ain't fit for family audiences!

[simmonsj811]

29. WHY IS SHE IN

WASHINGTON DC INSTEAD OF IRAQ??? WHAT A WASTE OF TIME

[ljm2002]

31. Well, yeah, that too... n/t

[EFerrari]

23. This is what Iraq standing up looks like!

[Maggie_May]

24. Kick there asses out I am tired of paying for them

[Dhalgren]

25. Blackwater will be forced to change its name while in Iraq.

"Blackwater forced out, to be replaced by...er...Effluent Securities, LLD."

[0007]

26. Can one say that Blackwater will be staying and Maliki will just fold?

I think so!

[soothsayer]

28. they really just need to hang one or two of them and the rest won't be so trigger happy

[Javaman]

30. two things will happen which might lead to another...

1)media spin. blackwater was trying to "protect" something or other and people got in the way...colateral damage...sad part of war, etc.

2)condi is going over there to tell Maliki to shut the fuck up or otherwise will find himself either suicided, assassinated, beheaded on the insurgent video of the month, or just plain old disappeared.

and...

If maliki doesn't share his blocks, number two will happen in within a month and there will be yet a new puppet ready willing and able to dance with the devil all so the new puppet can get an iphone with a personal ring tone.

people are bailing left and right from this sham of a US propped up iraqi gov't. maliki isn't worth much right now.

It's nice that maliki is trying to be a leader but when you are the leader of nothing and the only people that are listening are the people signing your check, it's not wise to piss them off.

To quote Billy Preston, "nothing from nothing leaves nothing".

[NewJeffCT]

32. Sheesh, I haven't heard Condi's name in months and, now it's for this?

I guess we know where the priorities are.