Blackwater Gassed US Soldiers

[CatWoman]

2005 Use of Gas by Blackwater Leaves Questions

WASHINGTON — The helicopter was hovering over a Baghdad checkpoint into the Green Zone, one typically crowded with cars, Iraqi civilians and United States military personnel.

Suddenly, on that May day in 2005, the copter dropped CS gas, a riot-control substance the American military in Iraq can use only under the strictest conditions and with the approval of top military commanders. An armored vehicle on the ground also released the gas, temporarily blinding drivers, passers-by and at least 10 American soldiers operating the checkpoint.

“This was decidedly uncool and very, very dangerous,” Capt. Kincy Clark of the Army, the senior officer at the scene, wrote later that day. “It’s not a good thing to cause soldiers who are standing guard against car bombs, snipers and suicide bombers to cover their faces, choke, cough and otherwise degrade our awareness.”

Both the helicopter and the vehicle involved in the incident at the Assassins’ Gate checkpoint were not from the United States military, but were part of a convoy operated by Blackwater Worldwide, the private security contractor that is under scrutiny for its role in a series of violent episodes in Iraq, including a September shooting in downtown Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.

None of the American soldiers exposed to the chemical, which is similar to tear gas, required medical attention, and it is not clear if any Iraqis did. Still, the previously undisclosed incident has raised significant new questions about the role of private security contractors in Iraq, and whether they operate under the same rules of engagement and international treaty obligations that the American military observes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/world/middleeast/10blackwater.html?ex=1357621200&en=b1e9a6f878a8e60b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[NeedleCast]

1. Why is NYT just bringing this up?

Happened in May 2005, NYT just reporting on it?

[jgraz]

2. But they did it much more efficiently than a government-run military would have

:crazy:

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. We should take up donations and offer bounties to soldiers for Blackwater corpses..

Fuck those goddamned lawless mercenaries. We need to engage them with extreme prejudice... NOW!

[aquart]

8. Sadly, I find I have no problem with that.

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. The mercs need to go, period... whatever it takes, no holds barred..

mercs have no allegiance to any flag or nation, only the highest bidder...

[skooooo]

4. Wish I could say I was surprised.

But I'm not .

Hi Catwoman :hi:

[CatWoman]

6. Hi, S

:hi:

[laconicsax]

5. Decidedly uncool?

[90-percent]

7. mercs

If you add Iraq merc deaths to the tally, that makes 4,500 American Dead to date, as I think the death count for Iraq contractors is around 600 or so? US has more merc in Iraq than military - 160,000 mercs vs. 130,000 troops.

Nice work if you don't get maimed or killed!

I am using the term "mercs" casually, it might be more correct to lump them under "contractors", as not all hired help over there carries guns and kills people?

-90% Jimmy

[ManiacJoe]

23. You are correct about mercs vs contractors.

Only a small percentage (10-15% ?) of the contractors are working armed security. The vast majority are doing maintenance, supply, and reconstruction.

[Djinn]

24. not quite

If you add Iraq merc deaths to the tally, that makes 4,500 American Dead to date

Many of them are not Americans.

[annabanana]

9. friggen kick. . . These soldiers are not in a position to raise a stink!

It is our job.. Please rec this up.

[Bluebear]

10. "He gassed his own people!!!!111"

[LaurenG]

11. Touche, nt

[CatWoman]

12. i swear,

Bluebear has the quickest wit!!!

[LaurenG]

14. Yes!

:)

[Disturbed]

15. Black Water Spokeperson said it was an accident.

A vehicle on the ground also dispersed gas. She lied. Those Mercs did it on
purpose for reasons that are yet to be determined. Black Water are RWing loons & goons that
do whatever they feel like doing because they are not bound by the usual laws of
engagement.

Will Congress do anything about these Mercs that are running rampant?

[upi402]

16. Holy shit. What has happened to my country?

:patriot: sorry dad, i tried like hell

[OneSelf]

17. Accident or not

These mercs are doing more harm than good.

[cynatnite]

21. She said it was mistaken for a smoke canister...

Anne Tyrrell, a spokeswoman for Blackwater, said the CS gas had been released by mistake: "It seems a CS gas canister was mistaken for a smoke canister and released near an intersection and checkpoint."

She offered no explanation of why they'd need to use a smoke canister at a checkpoint being manned by our military.

Officer and NCO's who witnessed this all said it appeared that they did it so a Blackwater convoy could get a clear path.

I wonder what the candidates have to say about Blackwater? Will any of them advocate putting Blackwater under some kind of jurisdiction and making them accountable?

[Recursion]

32. Because they had helicopter

She offered no explanation of why they'd need to use a smoke canister at a checkpoint being manned by our military.

She was probably assuming most of the audience knows that smoke canisters are how you tell helicopters where to land.

[stillcool]

26. aren't they all...

'collateral'?

[bvar22]

18. If I had been manning that checkpoint,

Blackwater would be Deadwater.

[cynatnite]

22. How so? There was CS gas everywhere...

that's not counting the civilians that were there as well.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. Good time to move pallets of cash around...

[Didereaux]

20. His troops are almost all ex US military, one of these days one of them is going to frag the boss.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

25. Since BUSHCO removed this company from operations BY LAW,...

,...they can do as they please.

BLAME BUSHCO!!!!

CONVICT THEM, ALL OF THEM, OF WAR CRIMES!!!!

pfft they will get off along with their enablers and profiteers this nation is lost it is bought and sold

[HowHasItComeToThis]

27. MERCENARIES SHOULD LOSE CITIZENSHIP

AND SENT TO RE-EDUCATION CAMPS.

AMERICAS MILITARY HAS FAILED US.

[Lint Head]

28. Fuck Blackwater. They are corporate fascists. This company

needs to be boycotted and driven into bankruptcy. :dem:

[Octafish]

29. It probably won't be long before they're gassing U.S. civilians.

"We the People need to on our most extreme watchfulness."



http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14707922

[seemslikeadream]

30. MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Swamp Rat]

31. yep

:hi:



I see in your photo they are practicing to kill Iraqi civilians. They are aiming low, so I assume they will be killing toddlers too.

[Recursion]

33. Cops use tear gas all the time

That's not really "gassing your own people" in the sense that's normally meant.