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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Blackwater boss grilled over Iraq | Blackwater boss grilled over Iraq |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The chairman of US private security contractor Blackwater has defended his firm and his staff during a grilling by a congressional committee. | The chairman of US private security contractor Blackwater has defended his firm and his staff during a grilling by a congressional committee. |
| Blackwater has come under scrutiny since a shoot-out last month in Baghdad in which 11 Iraqis were killed. The FBI has begun investigating that incident. | Blackwater has come under scrutiny since a shoot-out last month in Baghdad in which 11 Iraqis were killed. The FBI has begun investigating that incident. |
| The firm's founder, Erik Prince, said his staff were brave and effective, and had acted "appropriately". | The firm's founder, Erik Prince, said his staff were brave and effective, and had acted "appropriately". |
| But one of the committee asked if the firm was "a shadow mercenary force". | But one of the committee asked if the firm was "a shadow mercenary force". |
| "Blackwater appears to have fostered a culture of shoot first - and sometimes kill - and then ask the questions," said Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings. | "Blackwater appears to have fostered a culture of shoot first - and sometimes kill - and then ask the questions," said Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings. |
| Blackwater is the main firm employed by the state department to provide security for its staff and visiting officials and businessmen. | Blackwater is the main firm employed by the state department to provide security for its staff and visiting officials and businessmen. |
| It has earned more than $1bn (£490m) from US government contracts since 2001. The state department paid the company more than $832m (£408m) for security work between 2004 and 2006. | It has earned more than $1bn (£490m) from US government contracts since 2001. The state department paid the company more than $832m (£408m) for security work between 2004 and 2006. |
| 'Short' on standards | 'Short' on standards |
| The 16 September shooting incident is not featuring in the hearing by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, following a Justice Department request that it wait until the FBI's investigation is concluded. | |
| CONGRESS BLACKWATER REPORT Earned more than $1bn (£490m) from US government contracts since 2001Staff involved in 195 shootings in Iraq between 2005 and 12 September 2007Allegedly drunk employee killed Iraqi vice-president's guard in 2006, but was flown out of Iraq and faced no criminal charges28 staff in Iraq sacked for weapons-related incidents, 25 for alcohol and drug violations Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Blackwater memorandum | CONGRESS BLACKWATER REPORT Earned more than $1bn (£490m) from US government contracts since 2001Staff involved in 195 shootings in Iraq between 2005 and 12 September 2007Allegedly drunk employee killed Iraqi vice-president's guard in 2006, but was flown out of Iraq and faced no criminal charges28 staff in Iraq sacked for weapons-related incidents, 25 for alcohol and drug violations Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Blackwater memorandum |
| But congressmen raised a number of other incidents they said showed that Blackwater fell short of the standards of the US military. | But congressmen raised a number of other incidents they said showed that Blackwater fell short of the standards of the US military. |
| The committee's chairman, Henry Waxman, referred to an incident in Afghanistan in 2004 when a Blackwater plane flown by inexperienced pilots crashed, killing US service personnel on board. | The committee's chairman, Henry Waxman, referred to an incident in Afghanistan in 2004 when a Blackwater plane flown by inexperienced pilots crashed, killing US service personnel on board. |
| An investigation showed the pilots did not follow procedure, did not know where they were going and were treating their mission as "fun". | An investigation showed the pilots did not follow procedure, did not know where they were going and were treating their mission as "fun". |
| "Is Blackwater, a private military contractor, helping or hurting our efforts?" Mr Waxman asked, referring to Iraq. | "Is Blackwater, a private military contractor, helping or hurting our efforts?" Mr Waxman asked, referring to Iraq. |
| 'Unaccountable' | |
| Several representatives referred to an incident in which a Blackwater guard shot dead a bodyguard of one of Iraq's vice-presidents while drunk. He was hurried out of Iraq and faced no criminal charges. | Several representatives referred to an incident in which a Blackwater guard shot dead a bodyguard of one of Iraq's vice-presidents while drunk. He was hurried out of Iraq and faced no criminal charges. |
| They said the incident showed how "unaccountable" Blackwater and other firms were. | |
| "Why are we privatising our military to an organisation that has been aggressive and in some cases reckless in the handling of their duties?" asked New York Democrat Carolyn Maloney. | |
| BLACKWATER USA FACTS Founded in 1997 by a former US Navy SealHeadquarters in North CarolinaOne of at least 28 private security companies in IraqEmploys 744 US citizens, 231 third-country nationals, and 12 Iraqis to protect US state department in IraqProvided protection for former CPA head Paul BremerFour employees killed by mob in Falluja in March 2004 Profile: Blackwater USA Security firms in the dock | |
| Mr Prince said Blackwater had taken firm action against the guard. He was fined and fired. | Mr Prince said Blackwater had taken firm action against the guard. He was fined and fired. |
| "But we, as a private organisation, can't do any more," he said. "We can't flog him. We can't incarcerate him." | |
| He also said that 30 Blackwater staff had been killed while working to defend US diplomats, but that none of its clients had died while in its protection. | He also said that 30 Blackwater staff had been killed while working to defend US diplomats, but that none of its clients had died while in its protection. |
| "There is no better evidence of the skill and dedication of these men," said Mr Prince, who is a former member of the US Navy Seals special forces. | "There is no better evidence of the skill and dedication of these men," said Mr Prince, who is a former member of the US Navy Seals special forces. |
| Mr Prince, 38, said his firm was happy to be subjected to greater oversight. | Mr Prince, 38, said his firm was happy to be subjected to greater oversight. |
| "Blackwater believes that more can and should be done to increase accountability, oversight and transparency," he told the hearing. | "Blackwater believes that more can and should be done to increase accountability, oversight and transparency," he told the hearing. |
| Good value? | |
| Mr Waxman's staff produced a scathing report on Monday that released details of several incidents involving Iraqi casualties, in which Blackwater employees had fired first on 163 out of 195 occasions. | Mr Waxman's staff produced a scathing report on Monday that released details of several incidents involving Iraqi casualties, in which Blackwater employees had fired first on 163 out of 195 occasions. |
| In the majority of cases, the guards fired their weapons from moving vehicles without stopping to count the dead or assist the wounded, the report said. | In the majority of cases, the guards fired their weapons from moving vehicles without stopping to count the dead or assist the wounded, the report said. |
| He questioned whether private contractors should be used instead of US soldiers. | He questioned whether private contractors should be used instead of US soldiers. |
| "The question for this hearing is whether outsourcing to Blackwater is a good deal to the American taxpayer," he said. | "The question for this hearing is whether outsourcing to Blackwater is a good deal to the American taxpayer," he said. |