Panel: Rein In Private Security In Iraq

Unified Control Urged For U.S. Security Guards In Iraq After Blackwater Shooting

(AP)  A panel recommended to the State Department that the U.S. government impose unified control over private security guards working for the U.S. in Iraq, an idea already floated by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, The Associated Press has learned.

The review panel found poor communication between diplomats and military officials and too little oversight of contractors like Blackwater USA, two people familiar with the report's findings told the AP on Monday.

The State Department risks another incident like the Sept. 16 Blackwater shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians unless it quickly installs closer management of the private army guarding diplomats in Iraq, the independent panel privately told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice said she wants to discuss the findings with Gates face to face and intends to act quickly.

"The recommendations point a very good way forward," Rice told reporters Monday night. She provided no details but said she and Gates would "discuss how we will carry out better coordination, how we will make certain that the United States government moves this forward with one voice."

The group strongly recommended that Rice coordinate her next move with the Pentagon, and she plans to speak with Gates by phone before he returns from an overseas trip late this week, a State Department official said. A face-to-face meeting would follow.

The panel, named by Rice in the wake of the Sept. 16 killings, made no specific recommendations about what should happen to Blackwater, whose guards were escorting an official from the U.S. Embassy when they fired on civilians in a Baghdad square, those familiar with the report said. The killings have outraged Iraqis and focused attention on the shadowy rules surrounding heavily armed private guards.

"There needs to be unity of effort so that whatever's moving in the battle space is coordinated, and it needs to be understood, especially, by the military out in that battle space," one person said.

Those familiar with the recommendations in the report spoke on condition of anonymity because Rice has not yet decided what changes she will make.

The recommendations would apply to management of all private security contractors in Iraq, and recognize that it is impractical to eliminate such protection altogether. The military has resisted assuming responsibility for guarding large numbers of U.S. officials, and the State Department's own security force is too small and already stretched too thin.

The group's closely held report also identified a gap that left private guards for diplomats in Iraq outside the direct control of U.S. civilian or military law, and outside Iraqi law, a U.S. official said. It was not clear whether the report recommends placing private contractors squarely under U.S. civilian law, but Congress has already acted to place such guards under military law when working for the Pentagon.

The Iraqi government is demanding that Blackwater be expelled from the country within six months and that its employees be subject to Iraqi law.

One person familiar with the report said the group did not focus on the specific events of Sept. 16, looking instead at the rules of engagement, responsibilities and oversight for all security contractors.

The group told Rice she cannot wait for the results of a separate FBI inquiry into the Blackwater shootings, but should act within days or weeks and with a sense of urgency, the person said.

Rice agreed, the person said.

The group, led by a State Department official with long experience in Iraq, presented its findings to Rice on Monday and she is expected to act on them this week.

The panel included a retired senior diplomat, a retired four-star general and an intelligence expert.

Gates has already suggested he favors consolidated control of security contractors working for numerous U.S. government agencies, and discussed the idea briefly with Rice before the State Department's review was completed.

A separate Pentagon review recommended the U.S. military have more control over contractors in Iraq and that private guards fall under the military code of justice in some cases, Gates has said.

He said new guidelines for military commanders in Iraq probably will increase the number of private security contractors who will face prosecution or discipline for violence.

Gates said the five-member review team he sent to Iraq after the Blackwater shootings found a need for better coordination between the security details and the military.

Gates was in the Czech Republic when Rice met Monday with the panel she had named, and the two had not yet discussed the findings, a State Department official said.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said last week that Gates thinks "it is worth exploring" whether one chain of command should oversee all private security contractors in Iraq.

Separately, Rice agreed to testify about State Department activities in Iraq on Thursday, at a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

[sgtrds]

These murderous psychotic terrorists from Blackwater and all of their kind need to be pulled out now. Except of course for the ones who have murdered innocent Iraqi civilians. They need to be sent back to Iraq to stand trial and, if convicted, need to be be-headed slowly with a dull knife.

[kissamaarse]

Jesus, Bush and his handlers and cronies have been raping the United States treasury in so many ways. Now he wants another $198 Billion, no questions asked, or our money? Why won''t the man just resign in total disgrace/ Oh, I forgot, because of the countless wingnuts who troll this comment board and other news comment boards, and are no more than lemmings falling off the cliff into the sea. Securely nestled deep within their R-complexes.

[j-whitman]

The group strongly recommended that Rice coordinate her next move with the Pentagon ---- I hope someone tells "Mushroom Cloud" Rice Rumsfield doesn''t work at the Pentagon anymore ---- With these idiots you have to be specefic then "Trust but, verify"

[rowdytexan2]

"The group told Rice she cannot wait for the results of a separate FBI inquiry into the Blackwater shootings, but should act within days or weeks and with a sense of urgency, the person said.

Rice agreed, the person said."

Why can''t she wait for the FBI opinion? The FBI pro''bly had the information it needed before SHE got it!

Frankly I think there should be a lot of opinions considered, including those of the Iraqi people. And that they should focus on the Sept. 16 events in particular, as it was the last straw that brought this on.

"The panel included a retired senior diplomat, a retired four-star general and an intelligence expert."...chosen by whom?

Does anybody else smell rotten fish?

[walt1944-2009]

Once again, still another "review panel" has made recommendations to the "Bushie" government on how to arrive at a solution to a problem that was caused by them. Naturally, there is serious doubt that the panel''s recommendations will be even considered by the all knowing Great Emperor Bush or his court, which will mean another study''s findings will be ignored and the cost to the taxpayer of that study will go down the drain.

When will people learn that the Great Emperor Bush II is all knowing and does not need the advice of anyone in the solving of problems which he caused. The Emperor feels that no one''s opinions are needed and he is sure that his problems will work themselves out if he continues to "STAY THE COURSE!".

sIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[l8c6]

"I don''t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don''t care. It''s not that important. It''s not our priority." - G.W. Bush, 3/13/02 ...

When Bush said it''s not our priority he was telling the rest of us it''s not their priority. Who is he and who are they he represents?

[l8c6]

Blackwater USA.... The way right wing private companies like to saddle their identity with the United States is interesting. It''s like a trophy that is attached to their name, they won and conquered the USA. Another trophy for right wing companies are religious labels. The right wing believes they have conquered faith, they own it, it''s theirs. The right has the rights to Jesus.

Other typical right wing private company names run along the lines of, Heritage plumbing, The center for faith based initiatives. The list goes on. It''s sometimes easy to spot a republican right wing "conservative" business. Conservatives, conservative with everyone but themselves.

[feelfree1]

Gee. Too little "oversight" for the craven and greedy terrorists-for-rent at Blackwater and other fascist organizations?

Too dangerous to participate in this illegal war based on their own assurances alone?

Go figure.

Everyone, everywhere, has every right to defend themselves against the greedy amoral scum that makes up the ranks of terrorist organizations like Blackwater.