The US mercenary force, Blackwater USA, seems to be in a bit of hot water -- despite the best efforts of the US State Department to cover for them. TPMMuckraker puts together a helpful list of all the crapstorms the security firm finds itself in after a shooting in September in which Blackwater employees killed 17 innocent people. The shootings themselves have been the subject of no fewer than four separate investigations. The Iraqi investigation concluded that they're a gunhappy bunch of yahoos. The FBI is also investigating, having taken things from a far too friendly State Dept. There's a joint US-Iraqi investigation. Meanwhile, the United Nations will investigate Blackwater -- and all military contractors in Iraq for war crimes.But we're not done. Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Blackwater employees engaged in small arms smuggling, Henry Waxman's oversight committee is investigating the company for tax evasion -- worth "tens of millions of dollars, if not more" -- and a Christmas Eve 2006 murder of the Iraqi Vice President's bodyguard remains unresolved.
It'd be nice if, after the smoke clears, there is no Blackwater USA anymore. But that's probably wishful thinking. The State Dept., despite all of this, remains their bestest, most truest friend...
[CLICK TO READ FULL POST]
