Blackwater Arms Smuggling Probe -- BBC News 22sep2007

Blackwater Arms Smuggling Probe

BBC News 22sep2007

      Blackwater USA was founded in 1998 by former Navy Seals, Blackwater USA says it has prepared tens of thousands of security personnel to work in hot spots around the world. At its complex in North Carolina, it has shooting ranges for high-powered weapons, buildings for simulating hostage rescue missions and a bunkhouse for trainees.
      The Blackwater installation is so modern and well-equipped that Navy Seals stationed at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Va., routinely use it, military officials said. So do police units from around the country, who come to Blackwater for specialized training.
The lengthy conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have given the company an even greater presence around the world, guarding diplomats and performing other security functions. In 2004, four of its employees were captured, killed and burned by a mob in the Sunni city of Fallujah. Pictures of their charred bodies hanging from lamp posts led President Bush to order a Marine assault against the city.
      Iraqi officials have long complained about what they have called indiscriminate gunfire by private security forces hired by Americans. On Sept. 17, 2007, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry announced that the government had revoked Blackwater's license to operate in the country after gunfire from a convoy killed eight civilians.

source: 22sep2007

Photo: Sara D. Davis / AP

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether staff from US security company Blackwater smuggled weapons to Iraq, according to reports. Some employees are alleged to have sent over unlicensed weapons and equipment, that could have been used by a group labelled as terrorist by the US.

Reports said two ex-Blackwater staff had admitted weapons charges and were co-operating with federal officials.

Blackwater was blamed for a Baghdad gunfight in which 11 civilians died.

The North Carolina-based firm had its licence to operate in Iraq withdrawn by the Iraqi authorities following last Sunday's shootout. It resumed limited operations on Friday.

The News and Observer in North Carolina quoted two sources as saying officials were investigating whether any Blackwater staff shipped weapons, night-vision scopes, armour, gun kits and other equipment to Iraq without the required permits.

The newspaper said that, in January, two former members of staff with the firm had pleaded guilty in Greenville, North Carolina, to weapons charges.

The allegations of weapons smuggling by a US contractor in Iraq came to light earlier this week in a written statement from the state department's inspector general, Howard Krongard.

He confirmed that officials in North Carolina were investigating alleged weapons smuggling to Iraq by a US contractor.

In July, Turkey complained to the US that they had seized American weapons from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), designated by Washington as a terrorist organisation.

Investigators are reportedly attempting to determine if any Blackwater weapons could have been sold on the black market and ended up in the hands of the PKK.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported in Saturday's edition that the Iraqi government was also investigating if Blackwater had been involved in six other violent incidents in Iraq that left at least 10 people dead.

The firm has resumed limited operations in Baghdad providing security to all US state department employees in Iraq, following US consultation with the Iraqi government.

An Iraqi interior ministry investigation found Blackwater to be "100% guilty" of last weekend's incident in which 11 Iraqi civilians were killed.

Blackwater insists its guards acted in self-defence.

The company could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

source:22sep2007

Iraq Orders Firm Out

Blackwater USA, a private security firm, was ordered by the Iraqi government to leave the country following the fatal shooting of eight civilians.

TIMELINE

March 2004: Halliburton subcontracts Regency Hotel & Hospital Co. and Eurest Support Service. Both then subcontract Blackwater for security services

April 2005: The General Accounting Office (GAO) releases reports indicating serious problems with overseeing subcontractors

August 2005: US Inspector General Joseph Schmitz quits his post to become CEO for Blackwater's parent organization, the Prince Group

October 2006: GAO lists US contract with Blackwater as more than $24 million

December 2007: Rep. Harry Waxman says Blackwater is charging exorbitant fees for security services that it is prohibited from providing

May 2007: Plans for a government audit of Blackwater are announced

source: 22sep2007

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