BAGHDAD, Iraq- The Iraqi government has cancelled the contract of the security firm Blackwater USA following recent shooting deaths. Blackwater USA is a privately contracted security company, which performs special operations for both the US government and the Iraqi government. The eleven people were shot by an American convoy while in Baghdad.
Blackwater USA was created by Erik Prince in 1997. According to journalist Jeremy Scahill the group is the “world’s most powerful mercenary army.” (Dissident Voice) Scahill’s book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, reported that the North Carolina based group employs over 2,300 full time soldiers and has immediate access to “21,000 former Special Forces troops, soldiers, and retired law enforcement agents” for special operations . . . Blackwater “has a private fleet of more than twenty aircraft, including helicopter gunships and a surveillance blimp division.” (Dissident Voice) Since its creation, Blackwater has gained more than $500 million dollars in government contracts. Blackwater has become increasingly popular with the United States Government since the September 11, 2001 attack.
There has been a dispute whether the Blackwater agents involved in the shooting actually instigated the shooting. Blackwater and President Bush maintain that Blackwater has maintained all of the the rules of engagement that the State Department has prescribed the security agency. The Associated Press interviewed a lawyer who was injured in the shooting. The lawyer stated that the Iraqis were shot at right after the Americans yelled, “Go! Go! Go!” and then fired out into the crowd killing the traffic cop first. Ten others were killed including a young boy.
It is not clear what role private hired security companies should play. It is likely that they are becoming more popular because of their less restrictive rules of engagement. However, action by the Iraqi government is necessary to show that all armies, whether private or not must obey the rules of armed conflict. Thus it will make nations take responsibility for their actions, instead of hiring a private firm to take care of their special work. The rules of armed conflict must be applied to all militaries.
New York Times- Iraq Ends Security Companies License after 8 Deaths- 17 September 2007
Dissident Voice- Blackwater Blues for Dead Iraqi Civilians- 18 September 2007
Associated Press- Survivor recalls Blackwater shootings- 20 September 2007
