Well... That Didn't Take Long, Now Did it ???

[WillyT]

<snip>

BAGHDAD - American convoys under the protection of Blackwater USA resumed on Friday, four days after the U.S. Embassy suspended all land travel by its diplomats and other civilian officials in response to the alleged killing of civilians by the security firm.

A top aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had earlier conceded it may prove difficult for the Iraqi government to follow through on threats to expel Blackwater and other Western security contractors.

The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation into Sunday's shooting was ongoing, said a way out of the Blackwater crisis could be the payment of compensation to victims' families and an agreement from all sides on a new set of rules for their operations in Iraq.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday she had ordered a “full and complete review” of security practices for U.S. diplomats following the incident.

Rice said she had directed the State Department to examine “how we are providing security to our diplomats.”

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the decision to resume land travel outside the heavily fortified Green Zone was made after consultations with the Iraqi government. She said the convoys will be limited to essential missions.

Nantongo declined to comment on an Interior Ministry report that officials said concluded that Blackwater guards opened fire Sunday from four positions on a square in western Baghdad after a vehicle near their convoy failed to stop.

<snip>

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17149369/

Good to know the Iraqis are in charge of their own government, eh?

:banghead:

[rateyes]

1. The SOVEREIGN government of Iraq....

my ass.

:kick: & R

[liberalmuse]

2. We all knew Blackwater would stay.

al-Maliki is a powerless puppet.

[rusty quoin]

3. yep

[jimshoes]

4. Was there ever an

iota of doubt? Maliki controls exactly zip in our 51st state.

[Bluerthanblue]

6. it certainly doesn't help * 's claim that this is anything but an occupation-

-

[Bluerthanblue]

5. ay up, we complain the government isn't standing up on it's own,

and when it does our government blows them off.

My oldest son (23)commented that the people of Iraq will never be able to trust their leaders if we are going to stay there and walk all over them. He said -if nothing else, this should be a good enough reason for why we must leave.

I agree with him.