Blackwater Faces Civil Suit over Iraqi-Civilian Shootings

By D. Cupples |   On top of a criminal investigation, government contractor Blackwater now faces a civil suit over its guards having questionably shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians.  The shootings are only part of an impressive list of allegations against the company, including illegal weapons smuggling and grand theft airplane (as in, Blackwater contractors were accused of taking an Iraqi military jet despite being asked not to).

Is there any end to the negative news about Blackwater, whose phenomenal growth we taxpayers have funded?  The Associated Press reports:

"Filed this week in U.S. District Court in Washington, the civil complaint also accuses North Carolina-based Blackwater of failing to give drug tests to its guards in Baghdad — even though an estimated one in four of them was using steroids or other 'judgment altering substances....'

"The lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of five Iraqis who were killed and two who were injured during the Sept. 16 shooting in Baghdad's Nisoor Square. The shootings enraged the Iraqi government, and the Justice Department is investigating whether it can bring criminal charges in the case, even though the State Department promised limited immunity to the Blackwater guards....

"Blackwater's contract with the State Department to protect diplomats in Iraq expires in May, and there are questions whether it will remain as the primary contractor for diplomatic bodyguards. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said his Cabinet is drafting legislation that would force the State Department to replace Blackwater with another security company."

Even if the State Department stops awarding contracts, will Blackwater lose its place at the taxpayers' trough?  Perhaps not.  In October, Blackwater CEO Erik Prince told the Wall Street Journal that:

"Blackwater no longer cares much about its security business; it is expanding into a 'full spectrum' defense contractor offering a 'one-stop shop' for everything from remotely piloted blimps to armored trucks." (paraphrasing by Frank Rich)

We taxpayers already funded Blackwater's first growth spurt, from less than $1 million in government contracts to roughly $1 billion.  Now, the company wants us to help it expand into a defense mega-mall? 

Even if Blackwater had an unblemished performance record, funneling so much money their way would be questionable. Federal officials should think more carefully about whom they shower with our tax dollars.

Memeorandum has other bloggers' reactions.

Related BN-Politics Posts:

* Defense Dept. Rewarding Bad Contractor Performance?

* Govt. Contractors: Driving up War's Costs?

* Blackwater Took Iraqi Airplanes, CEO Misled Congress?

* Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?

* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste & Fraud?

* Justice Dept. Official Turned Blind Eye to Contractor Fraud?

* Blackwater Hearing: Poor Media Coverage

 

* DynCorp Joins Blackwater as Probe Target

* State Dept.'s Odd & Untimely Reactions to Blackwater Scandals

* State Dept. Official's Brother Tied to Blackwater; Republicans Oppose Probe

 

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071127/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/blackwater_prosecutions

Comments

[Sam Max]

Well now that the FBI is involved in the investigation we can be sure that someone will be indicted. In the tradition of Martha Stewart some poor sucker that didn’t do anything will get railroaded and sent to jail and the fat-cats with political friends will skate. The FBI is really good at getting someone but not usually the right one.

Sam

[D. Cupples]

I'm afraid you might be right about the wrong people being tagged in the Blackwater case. Maybe I'm pessimistic.

[D. Cupples]

I'm afraid you might be right about the wrong people being tagged in the Blackwater case. Maybe I'm pessimistic.