Prosecutors Visit Blackwater Shooting Site

U.S. Attorneys Meet With Families, Victims Of 2007 Shooting In Baghdad's Nisoor Square

(AP)  U.S. prosecutors Saturday visited the site of last year's shooting that left 17 Iraqis dead in a Baghdad square and briefed victims' families about the case against Blackwater Worldwide guards indicted in the deadly incident.

Five Blackwater guards were indicted this week on manslaughter and other charges for their alleged roles in the Sept. 16, 2007 shooting in Nisoor Square. A sixth guard reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a mandatory 30-year prison sentence.

"The aim of our visit is to meet the families of the victims and explain the charges that have been filed in the United States and to make ourselves available to any questions they might have," U.S. prosecutor Kenneth Kohl told reporters in a brief statement at the police headquarters just off the square.

The shooting in heavy traffic at the central traffic circle sparked international condemnation, launched U.S. congressional hearings and inspired anti-American insurgent propaganda.

The case fueled Iraqi anger over what they perceive as heavy-handed behavior by private security contractors, who enjoyed blanket immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.

U.S. investigators determined that Blackwater Worldwide guards had been involved in 70 shooting incidents involving civilians before Nisoor Square and only two since then.

A new U.S.-Iraqi security pact lifts security guard immunity, although it will be retained for on-duty American troops and contractors working with them.

Witnesses and an Iraqi investigation said the shooting on Nisoor Square was unprovoked, but Blackwater - the largest U.S. security contractor in Iraq - has said the guards were acting in self-defense after they were ambushed.

During a private meeting, Kohl repeatedly pressed Iraqi police commander Lt. Gen. Hussein al-Awadi whether any Iraqi policemen opened fire that day - presumably against the Blackwater guards, according to those who attended the talks.

Al-Awadi insisted that no policemen opened fire, the attendees said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

Kohl thanked the Iraqi police for their help and for helping tamp down public outrage over the killings. He said the U.S. investigation, which involved 250 interviews over several months, determined the shooting was unjustified and he was determined to prove it in court.

"People are people, as human beings," al-Awadi replied. "And the law is the law."

Al-Awadi said U.S. and Iraqi forces had blocked a second Blackwater Worldwide convoy from reaching the square after the shooting erupted.

"My husband was looking for a job at the square that day. When he reached the square, the security members killed him," said Milad Khalil, whose husband Odai Ismael was killed in the incident. "My two girls need money to cover the elementary school expenses."

Adel Jabr (left, showing his wounds from Nissor Square), said he wants punishment for the guards and compensation for his suffering.

"I have undergone several surgeries including skin grafts," he said. "I am spending most of time lying in bed. I have a family to feed, but I cannot work. We want to be treated the same way that U.S. citizens are treated."

Younis Khudhair Abbas, whose uncle and cousin were killed at the square, said family members were told not to discuss details of the meeting because their comments might be used by the defense.

"We asked to be sent to America to attend the trial. We also asked for compensation," Abbas said. "After meeting with the prosecutors, we became more hopeful of good results and we got the feeling that the American administration is honest."

But Wisam Rahim, who was wounded on the square, said the guards should be executed.

"Blackwater vehicles and helicopters were firing at us. I demand that these guards be executed. We want to see justice done," he said.

The five men have been charged with 14 counts of manslaughter, 20 counts of attempted manslaughter and one count of using a machine gun to commit a crime of violence. The machine gun charge, typically used in drug cases, carries a 30-year minimum prison sentence.

The Blackwater guard who struck a deal pleaded guilty to killing one Iraqi and wounding another.

Iraqi investigators found that 17 Iraqis were killed in the assault.

Assistant Attorney General Patrick Rowan said earlier this week that evidence in the case could only prove the guards shot 14, although he left open the possibility of future charges.

The Moyock, North Carolina-based Blackwater Worldwide was not charged in the case and has said it stands behind the guards despite being "extremely disappointed and surprised" that one had pleaded guilty.

[mzaleski2006]

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[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by tincup356 at 04:59 PM : Dec 14, 2008



The Leaders of this country do not own it, Those that ''own'' the leaders do. Big Brother/Business is already here. Just look at the playbook and you will see it, (from where I sit, you are a young''un agewise)

[tincup356]

you people go ahead and watch out for the boogey man , he isn''t going to come from anywhere but capitol hill, and when the evil empire tells you you have no rights or possessions you will be the one crying in your sandbox,I''m not a kid like you perceive I''m over 50 and will hold my own when push comes to shove, 35 years in the oilfield doing manual labor and working for a living doing something besides sitting at a desk like you. i can back my words with action, you see I''m not afraid to call it like it is even if it isn''t pretty,unlike you fools who hold on to hope these next crooks will remember you.I will fight tooth and nail to save this country from white collar , suit and tie terrorists, more than you sniveling party liners will do.

[jmagarotz]

i have something you or our leaders in Washington don''''t have ..common sense.

Posted by tincup356

Common sense? Not a chance.
I''m going to side with Abrame on this one. I don''t know if Blackwater is guilty or not but, there was an old saying,
"What if they gave a war and nobody came"?
Keep *** our Security people and Military and that saying will come true. Then will "tincup356" and his cronies "fight for their country" or will they roll over and play dead as I expect?
Looks like it''ll be up to the "old guys" like Abrame and I to do the work while tincup356 and his friends play in their sand box. Just my 2 cents.

[bushwhacked8]

They are being tried in US courts with US laws.

Posted by Abrame at 01:03 AM : Dec 14, 2008

Lucky for them. If they were tried in Iraq, they would all be dangling from ropes by now.

[tincup356]

to abrame , are you proud of what our government has done? and do you approve of what they are doing? If so you belong in the same bucket of scum that they thrive in.

[tincup356]

thats your opinion abrame, i have something you or our leaders in Washington don''t have ..common sense.

[tincup356]

to abrame...no not young at all,I''m old enough to remember nearly four decades I''ve been voting.

[tincup356]

to corry 2444, we dont have to worry bush gave us homeland security , they wont let anyone cross our border ...we are so safe,,,LOL...NOT.20 million illegal aliens are proof homeland security is a fraud ...just like the war on terror...it is really the war on the middle class,they are the ones who have lost,Homes jobs lives ,retirements,rights and on and on.We have been sold out by BOTH parties in congress and the little liar Bush.Instead of killing people from other countries and religions,,,maybe we should be watching what the white collar , suit and tie terrorists sitting on capitol hill are doing before it''s too late.

[tincup356]

If it was murder then charge them with murder , but to charge them with using a machine gun...when they were given to them by our government to guard a convoy....DUH...what a joke..using DRUG LAWS?What on earth are we doing with idiot prosecutors who come up with these charges? If they killed people unprovoked ..its murder.Seems like murder is accepted by the bush administration, they do torture so why not? We Americans should be ashamed of what our government has done and allowed to be done.If we don''t stand up pretty quick our whole country might get given away by the white collar ,suit and tie terrorists in Washington.They are all guilty of treason.

[getredofthem]

I wish they would of killed alot more of Iraqis and i think if you agree with our blackwater guards being prosecuted there is something wrong with you. Who do you think protected you when Iraquis messed with our country. I also think that we should of just bomb them and destroyed every single one of them. I say thank you and good job to our guards.

[neo269]

If you don''t have a case, blackmail one of the defendants to create one.

[cbsblogger]

If 17 innocent American citizens were killed by Iraqis on our soil, we would demand that the trial be held in the USA. Why isn''t this trial being held in Iraq?