| It's maximum chaos, shoot to kill and ask questions later for U.S. and foreign mercenary forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Military Central Command, Centcom, recently completed an investigation of the deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians who were killed this past September by employees of the Security Contractor Blackwater USA. The report blamed Blackwater, stating that the deaths were unprovoked and not justified. Earlier this month, the Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Al Maliki, demanded that Blackwater be put on trial for the deaths of the civilians. Al Maliki had informed the U.S. State Department of his desire to put the perpetrators on trial for the murders, called for fair and adequate compensation for the families of the deceased, and for Blackwater to cease and desist from conducting any other security operations in Iraq. Blackwater's CEO is Erik Prince who is the scion of wealthy parents with close ties to the Republican elite and the White House. Prince has used his influence to win a billion dollars worth of no-bid contracts and to deflect the calls for his company to be held accountable and be prevented from doing any further business in Iraq and Afghanistan. The failure of the Iraqi government to hold Blackwater accountable makes folly of President Bush's notion that Iraq is a free and sovereign nation. Blackwater USA is one member of a larger group of privately contracted security forces that number 160,000 or approximately the same number of U.S. troops operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. The hiring of private contractors to do limited duty in a war zone is not a new phenomenon. What is different in this instance is the cost, number, scale and scope of their operations. In Vietnam, where the number of U.S. military troops was considerably higher, there were less than 50,000 private security personnel on the ground. The average compensation for U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan ranges between $50,000 to $65,000 per year. The cost billed to the U.S. Government for a "Blackwater Security Officer" in Iraq and Afghanistan ranges from $150,000 to $200,000 per person per year. The gross disparity in compensation does little to improve the morale of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If CEO Erik Prince is allowed to have his way, it will send the wrong message that Blackwater and other such contractors will be allowed to operate independent of the laws in the host countries, and independently of any accountability in the U.S. as well. Representative Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Oversight Committee on Government Reform has a different view of all of this. Last week, Waxman called Erik Prince before his Committee to explain Blackwater's operations in Iraq. This past Thursday, Waxman also called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to answer questions before his Committee about Blackwater's escapades in Iraq. Rice had just dismissed her top aide who had responsibility for handling security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying in a statement that it was time for new leadership. Waxman accused the State Department of colluding with Blackwater to minimize the effects of their actions by providing "pay-offs" of $12,500 to the families of the deceased and safe passage back to the U.S. without prosecution for the mercenaries involved in the crimes. Waxman has also opened an investigation into allegations that Blackwater has bilked the Federal Government millions of dollars by classifying each of its mercenaries as "independent contractor" to avoid paying taxes. The families of Blackwater's employees are also attempting to file law suits against the contractor in the U.S. to get fair and just compensation for those wounded or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blackwater is offering their families a one-time payment of $12,500 for the loss of their loved ones. Representative Waxman is right to use the authority vested in his Committee to get to the bottom of the atrocities committed and to hold those fully accountable. It is a shame that this type of oversight was lacking when the Republicans held their majority in Congress. Waxman should continue to pursue a public hearings process that is clear and transparent so that Americans and the rest of the world can see for themselves that justice, fairness and accountability has prevailed. Anything less would be a great injustice to those who have been victimized. And it would send the wrong message to our troops who are doing their best to make the most out of a bad situation. |
| The Literary Divide/Dr. Paul Barrows Shoot first, ask questions later |
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