Blackwater working again in Iraq

Blackwater working again in Iraq

news.bbc.co.uk

The US security firm Blackwater has resumed limited operations in the Iraqi capital Baghdad four days after a deadly shootout involving the company.

The company provides security to all US state department employees in Iraq.

It had been ordered by the Iraqi government too halt operations while a joint US-Iraqi inquiry was held.

(visit the link for the full news article)



Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
Blackwater security firm banned from Iraq

[edit on 21-9-2007 by UM_Gazz]

Well, what can I say? It looks like we all know now who is really in charge of Iraq.

Can't say I'm surprised, though. We all saw this coming.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

Taking BW out of Iraq would be a bad idea and its a good thing that they are back in the action... we do need highly trained individuals to protect some targets that the US military doesn't want to.

I got this from the related thread:

Originally posted by tha stillz here
I haven't read this whole thread, but my buddy is an MP, he says Blackwater has been unbanned. He says the US military has threatened the Iraqi gov that they would leave if Blackwater isn't allowed in, and the heads of the Iraqi mil. instantly buckled and gave in.

I haven't seen this substantiated, but thought I would share.

Thought I'd repost it here since it is very much related to this news, and explains why the ban has been lifted better than the news article.

Edit: included link to original post.

[edit on 21-9-2007 by Beachcoma]

Oh Blackwater, Keep On Rollin'

No surprises here. There's way too much of a need for Blackwater's services in Iraq to just send them away.

When U.S. officials are relying on them instead of the U.S. military for security, that speaks for itself.

How many Blackwater personnel are working in Iraq right now? And what sort of assignments are they handling that the US Military won't?

I'm not surprised in the least. Someone has to do the dirty work and protect VIPs .The soldiers are not trained to be security in battle situations like BW is.

Originally posted by Beachcoma
How many Blackwater personnel are working in Iraq right now? And what sort of assignments are they handling that the US Military won't?

Blackwater has roughly 1000 Personal in Iraq 800-900 of so are ground forces the rest is Intel, Air support, logistics, etc. The type of assignments that they are contracted to do is to help train some Iraqi Forces. Provide security for high value targets. and of cource do the missions that the Gov wants done but they need some one that isn't bound by the UCMJ so they can get the job done.

Originally posted by Danman
of cource do the missions that the Gov wants done but they need some one that isn't bound by the UCMJ so they can get the job done.

Does that include smuggling weapons?

Feds probe whether Blackwater smuggled weapons into Iraq

Smuggled No but they do have Weapons of there own, Rifles, .50 CALS, M240'S, SAW's, And mounted weapons on helicopters and vehicle's. but selling weapons on the black market... I don't think so because those weapons could be used to kill them-selfs...Not to mention that they are all past US solders and they would not aid in the killing of US solders by selling weapons.