Blackwater won't guard FBI in Iraq shooting probe

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuter

WASHINGTON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. government, not Blackwater USA, will handle security for FBI agents in Iraq while they investigate whether the private security firm acted properly in an incident that killed 11 Iraqis, the FBI said on Thursday.

"To avoid even the appearance of any conflict, the FBI team deployed from Washington to assist the State Department in the investigation of the events of Sept. 16th will have any additional security needs provided by U.S. government personnel," FBI spokesman John Miller said in a statement.

Blackwater usually guards FBI personnel in Iraq under a State Department contract, the FBI said.

Blackwater, which has received U.S. government contracts worth more than a billion dollars since 2001, is under intense scrutiny over its security work in Iraq after a Sept. 16 incident in which 11 Iraqis were killed while the firm was escorting a U.S. embassy convoy through Baghdad.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04308615.htm

[mallard]

1. Whatever the replacements are, they're new & weird

Probably getting significantly lighter paychecks than their private contractor counterparts. Are they a mix of Guatemalans, Liberians and Midwest retired national guard job-seeking qualifiers, or what.

This adminstration keeps coming up with completely new personnel categories.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

3. oh mallard,

a flock of your namesake birds flew over my home this morning. I think they were saying ut-oh. What do you think it means?

As for those FBI investigators in Iraq, I hope the US soldiers assigned to them for their protection don't blink.

[Kagemusha]

5. It's already known that they'll be diplomatic protection agents.

State Dept does NOT have many of these, which is why Blackwater was hired in the first place, but Rice had some spared just for the FBI here. They are probably very good people, but I don't really expect anyone here to care at this point.

[lonestarnot]

2. Guess they don't want to be assassinated if they discover evidence.

hmmmf.

[soothsayer]

4. LOL, it's funny they even released this info! those FBI dudes must be mightily worried.

[Stephanie]

6. Blackwater guards in Baghdad won't protect FBI agents (who are investigating them)

Source: NY Daily News


Blackwater guards in Baghdad won't protect FBI agents

BY JAMES GORDON MEEK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU
Thursday, October 4th 2007, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON - The FBI Wednesday dropped plans to have Blackwater guards protect a team of agents probing the security firm's alleged murders of at least 11 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.

Responding to a Daily News exclusive yesterday about the eyebrow-raising arrangement, a spokesman acknowledged the bureau dumped Blackwater "to avoid even the appearance of any conflict."

"The FBI team deployed from Washington to assist the State Department in the investigation of the events of Sept. 16 will have any additional security needs provided by U.S. government personnel," said FBI spokesman John Miller.

"The plan had been for Blackwater to fill this role," an official briefed on the FBI mission said.

The FBI's about-face also followed a letter from Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) demanding Secretary of State Rice give Diplomatic Security Service protection to the FBI. That agency is leading the probe of the killings, which Blackwater says were justified because its employees were ambushed.

<more>



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/10/04/2007-10-04_blackwater_guards_in_baghdad_wont_protec.html

[ProudDad]

8. It would save time and money if the FBI just SHOT the blackwaters who won't protect them (n/t)

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I'm sure the FBI is expressing a sigh of relief.

Blackwater is not an effective security force for anyone when no one can trust them.