posted on October 12, 2007 07:02:09 PM new
This story reminds me of Cartman on South Park going home because he doesn't get his way. Blackwater takes their ball and goes home because they can't handle the heat...
Blackwater withdrawal ends inquiry
By Richard Lardner, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON —
Blackwater USA has ended an inquiry into the private security contractor's performance by withdrawing from an industry group that initiated the review after the company's guards were accused of killing 17 Iraqis in Baghdad last month.
The International Peace Operations Association said in a statement Friday that Blackwater withdrew its membership two days after the group decided to examine whether the contractor's "processes and procedures" complied with the group's code of conduct.
Blackwater joined the association in August 2004 and had been "a member in good standing," according to the statement, which said the group decided Monday to conduct the review.
The Washington-based peace operations association represents security contractors and companies that provide logistics support services.
All member companies are required to follow the group's conduct code, which the group described as a "set of ethical and professional guidelines for companies in the peace and stability operations industry."
J.J. Messner, the association's director of programs and operations, would not cite a specific episode that prompted the group's decision. Messner said Blackwater representatives initially agreed such a review was appropriate. He would not say why the company decided to sever the relationship.
"It would be inappropriate for us to mind read," Messner said.
Blackwater did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Blackwater has a large contract with the State Department to guard U.S. diplomats in Iraq. On Sept. 16, Blackwater guards were involved in a shooting in Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.
While Blackwater said its personnel were under attack from "armed enemies," Iraqi witnesses and the Iraqi government say the shooting was unprovoked.
Families of Iraqis who were killed sued Blackwater on Thursday, saying the firm violated U.S. law and fostered a culture of lawlessness among its employees.
Federal and congressional investigations are underway to determine what happened in Baghdad. The Sept. 16 shootings have also sparked a wider examination of the government's reliance on private security firms in battle zones.
On Friday, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., a Blackwater critic, called on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to cancel the department's contract with Blackwater.
"Blackwater employees have a long history of excessive use of force," wrote Schakowsky. She said the company has been involved 163 "escalation of force" incidents "in which "Blackwater forces fired first."
posted on October 13, 2007 06:08:34 AM new
"""desquirrel
posted on October 12, 2007 04:06:21 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This why people laugh at you. Bear pastes the statistics and we get:
"killing with impunity"
"gun happy..."
Bear pastes NUMBERS or a black and white statement and you get "conservative propaganda" from some twit. No "this is incorrect". And what's even better: the fellow whack packers chiming in to say "you really showed him". Half my office gets silly laughing at some of the posts here.
Just think how hysterical it would be if we took the entire Vendio whack pack, sent them to Iraq with rifles, and ran a few speeding cars past them. I wonder what stats we'd get."""
This is why we laugh at you, duhsquirrel, rambling posts with no substance, facts, or meaning and certainly NO answers to pertinent questions.
YOU post NO facts.
YOU ignore any facts that don't fall in line with your "stuck in concrete" thinking.
YOU haven't the backbone to start a thread.
YOU can only endlessly and boringly repeat insults like "twit" or "whack pack"
You and colin appear to have the same MO....that of cowards lacking any evidence of intellect.
posted on October 13, 2007 12:59:54 PM new
Helen, I know what you mean. I wonder if Bear is going to say the US soldiers are wrong or lying now about what they say about Blackwater. I guess he still believes everyone else is lying except those in charge. "In my experience, those who do not like you fall into two categories: the stupid, and the envious. - John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester
