US Rights Group Sues Blackwater
A US human rights group says it is suing private security firm Blackwater for unspecified damages for war crimes and wrongfully killing Iraqi civilians.The Center for Constitutional Rights is acting on behalf of an injured survivor and three families of men killed by Blackwater guards on 16 September.
The Iraqi government said the incident in which 17 people died was unprovoked. Blackwater denies firing without cause.
The case has put a spotlight on private military contractors in Iraq.
The action claims Blackwater “created and fostered a culture of lawlessness amongst its employees, encouraging them to act in the company’s financial interests at the expense of innocent human life,” the centre said in a statement.
It has been filed in Washington on behalf of Talib Mutlaq Deewan and the estates of Himoud Saed Atban, Usama Fadhil Abbass, and Oday Ismail Ibraheem, the group said.
“This senseless slaughter was only the latest incident in a lengthy pattern of egregious misconduct by Blackwater in Iraq,” said lawyer Susan Burke. The group say its complaint alleges Blackwater is liable for claims of assault and battery, wrongful death, emotional distress and negligence.
Blackwater has the contract for guarding US embassy staff in Baghdad and is also used both by visiting businesspeople and officials.
It insists its staff were acting in legitimate self-defence, and that they had been fired on by insurgents first.
Monitor allegations
Separately, the UN has called for private security contractors in Iraq to face prosecution if they are accused of serious crimes.
The UN’s human rights official in Iraq, Ivana Vuco, said private guards were subject to international law, despite being given immunity by a US directive following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
“For us, it’s a human rights issue,” said Ms Vuco. “We will monitor the allegations of killings by security contractors and look into whether or not crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed.”
Iraqi ministers say they are determined to press ahead with legislation that would strip foreign security personnel in Iraq of this protection.
The behaviour of private security companies in Iraq was further highlighted on Tuesday with the killing of two Baghdad women by security guards from an Australian-run firm.
© 2007 BBC
Jack London wrote in IRON HEEL: “Another great institution that had taken form and was working smoothly was the Mercenaries. This body of soldiers had been evolved out of the old regular army and was now a million strong, to say nothing of the colonial forces. The Mercenaries constituted a race apart. They dwelt in cities of their own which were practically self-governed, and they were granted many privileges. By them a large portion of the perplexing surplus was consumed. They were losing all touch and sympathy with the rest of the people, and, in fact, were developing their own class morality and consciousness.”
Hoa binh
I live in San Diego, Calif.
We just found out that Blackwater is turning our beautiful Nature preserve into an war zone.
Jesus Christ, what do we do?
America the beautiful has turned into a vicious war machine. My heart breaks in terrible sorrow
This used to be an honorable country. Bankrolled soldiers have always been around, but not in self-respecting democracies. Why not rent somebody else’s army and go the whole hog? If war has become business, our national attitudes have become sale items in the brand Bush bazaar. If we can’t fight a war with honorable purposes that require an unselfish committment to country of scrifice, We had better quit seeing ourselves as in any way a true nation of citizens who act in fesperate necessity in grave instances to fight wars that kill people whom we (they) wish they did not have to kill. Not bounty Hunters. Bring back the draft for God’s sake, if that’s truly necessary.
Blackwater was deliberately given immunity so that the Iraqis could be terrorized, demoralized, bullied, maimed and killed with no recourse.
The neocon/zionist vision of heaven on earth. Plunder, loot, rape and if someone has the nerve to object kill the bitches.
Blackwater is the epitome of what is wrong
with my nation, there is nothing of benefit to balance all the wickedness done by this company under this administration, with actions & methods copied directly from the Israelis.
Don’t get too happy. These lawsuits have only been announced not resolved. The EXTREME court is not likely to rule against right wing nuts. It might not be considered cricket.
For how ineffective the Iraqi government has seemed to be; without a doubt due to the overbearing Bushco invasion and fake support, as we rape their country; I am pleased to see their resolve in forcing the accountability of this Demon Army. Call all the mercenary armies to task and throw their asses out of Iraq. Then, with the forces cut in half, Bush and his evil conspirators will have to see that we cannot continue to waste American and Iraqi lives and resources fighting.