State Department May Rethink Blackwater Contract

In a story I was reading moments ago, it may be that our government is actually listening to the reasonable demands by the Iraqi government to force Blackwater out of their country.


The State Department may phase out or limit the use of private security guards in Iraq, which could mean canceling Blackwater USA's contract or awarding it to another company in line with an Iraqi government demand, The Associated Press has learned. Such steps would be difficult given U.S. reliance on Blackwater and other contractors, but they are among options being studied during a comprehensive review of security in Iraq, two senior officials said.



The shooting has enraged the Iraqi government, which is demanding millions in compensation for the victims and removal of Blackwater in six months. It also has focused attention on the nebulous rules governing private guards and added to the Bush administration's problems in managing the war in Iraq.

We should know more about how this is going to turn out later in the week, but surely as I wrote the other day. If we really are creating a sovereign, "democratic" country in Iraq, and not just use those words for effect, when Bush is making a speech, then when they tell us they want one of our companies out of their country, then there should be not an argument, or a refusal to comply, by the company, or our government!!

Blackwater really is the villain of this piece, and Bush's unwavering support for them is telling in itself, as to how much he respects a "sovereign" nation!!


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