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Blackwater Denied Operating License in Iraq
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by Rob Walker | January 29, 2009 at 07:17 am
193 views | 4 Recommendations | 4 comments
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Iraq has denied an operating license to BlackWater Worldwide, a private military contractor that's been embroiled in numerous controversies.
The Iraqi government says that Blackwater, who once enjoyed a 'no prosecutions' protection under the US military, was denied the request mainly due to a 2007 shooting incident in which they company fired at a crowd and killed 17 people.
Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf told CNN the ministry denied the request mainly because of a September 2007 shooting incident in which security guards -- then employed by Blackwater -- fired on a crowd and killed 17 Iraqis.A U.S. Embassy official in Baghdad, who asked not to be named, confirmed the report.
"We have been informed that Blackwater's ... operating license will not be granted," the official said. "We don't have specifics about dates. We are working with the government of Iraq and our contractors to address the implications of this decision."
Blackwater Worldwide, formerly Blackwater USA, is a controversial[2] private military company founded in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark. In October 2007, Blackwater USA renamed itself Blackwater Worldwide, and is colloquially referred to simply as "Blackwater".Based in the American state of North Carolina, Blackwater operates a tactical training facility (
36°27′19″N 76°12′09″W / 36.455359°N 76.202545°W / 36.455359; -76.202545) which the company claims is the world's largest, and at which the company trains more than 40,000 people a year, mostly from U.S. or foreign military and police services. The training consists of military offensive and defensive operations, as well as smaller scale personnel security.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 07:37 on January 29th, 2009
It is so easy : legalise the mafia and make it a recognised body. I dont these corporates have anything to do with security concerns but to create market and hinterland of insecurity.
at 13:00 on January 29th, 2009
Source: blackwaterusa.com
at 21:31 on January 29th, 2009
Whats the months per working to prove?
at 14:41 on January 29th, 2009
They had been threatening this for a while now, so I am not surprised. It will likely allow room for other similar private security firms to move in. While I don't agree with all of their tactics I do know of a lot of military persons who are thankful for the protection that Blackwater provides.