Iraqi Prime Minister Wants Answers From Blackwater

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki wants answers from the U.S. government concerning the renewal of Blackwater. Al-Maliki says the company has yet to answer for the “massacre” of 17 people last year on September 16 at Baghdad’s Nusoor Square.

The fact that the security company’s renewal in Iraq wasn’t brought up to Iraqi officials is a sore spot.

No judicial action has been taken and no compensation has been made,” al-Maliki said Sunday. “Therefore, this extension requires the approval of the Iraqi government, and the government would want to resolve the outstanding issues with this company.”

According to victims from the massacre the security company opened fire without provocation. The guards that were involved has been accused of committing premeditated murder. There is an ongoing investigation with the FBI on the matter.

After that incident a joint Iraqi-American committee was set up to enforce the rules of engagement and the use of force had to be changed.

Now a State Department security official is required to be with any convey that is manned by contractors. Each vehicle in the convoy is also required to have a security camera on it to monitor behaviours.

On Sunday the prime minister said that the renewal of the Blackwater contract is not final “because they committed a massacre against Iraqis and until now this matter has not been resolved.”

About 25,000 private contractors employed with Blackwater, Triple Canopy and DynCorp work in Iraq to protect diplomats, reconstruction workers and government officials. Because of a provision put in place early into the U.S. occupation in Iraq these contractors have immunity from Iraqi prosecution.

In 2006 the US signed a five-year contract with Blackwater. The deal is up for review every year and will be up for renewal next month. The US has announced that the renewal will go through for another year. Iraq is not confirming that order though.

According to Greg Starr, acting assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, Blackwater must follow Iraqi laws.

However, Starr said, “I am not going to prejudge what the FBI is going to find in its investigation. It’s complex. I think the U.S. government needs protective services.”

Blackwater is defering all questions to the State Department.