The War Profiteers - War Crimes, Kidnappings & Torture

 

War Profiteers Main Index

Killing of Iraqi Civilians Index

Killings Database – Year 2007

 

 

The Blackwater Killings in Baghdad

 

Background

Media Reports

Court Cases

Government Reports

Photo Credits

 

Newest Media Report: Lawsuit now Accuses Xe Contractors of Murder, Kidnapping (2/7/2009/The Virginian-Pilot)

Newest Government Report: Audit of Blackwater Contract for Protective Services in Iraq (6/2009/U.S. State Department)

Newest Legal Document: First Amended Complaint (1/7/2009/Estate of Himoud Abtan et al vs. Erik Prince, XE et al)

 

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Background - September 16th, 2007

 

“[…] Lawyer Hassan Jabir was stuck in traffic when he heard Blackwater USA security contractors shout ‘Go, Go, Go.’ Moments later bullets pierced his back, he said Thursday from his hospital bed. Jabir was among about a dozen people wounded Sunday during the shooting in west Baghdad’s Mansour neighborhood. Iraqi police say at least 11 people were killed. […] ‘No one fired at them,’ Jabir said of the Blackwater guards. ‘No one attacked them but they randomly fired at people. So many people died in the street.’ […]”

 

Excerpt of an Associated Press article from September 21st, 2007

 

Burnt-out car after the Blackwater shootings

 

The Document Archive of the Blackwater Killings

 

The Legal Archive:

 

Criminal Case I: U.S. vs. Slough, Slatten, Liberty, Heard & Ball

Criminal Case II: U.S. vs. Jeremy P. Ridgeway

Criminal Case III: U.S. vs. John Houston & Michael Henson

Civil Suit I: Estate of Himoud Saed Abtan et al vs. Blackwater et al

Civil Suit II: Estate of Ali Hussamaldeen Albazzaz vs. Blackwater et al

Civil Suit III: Estate of Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon vs. XE (Blackwater), Andrew Moonen et al

Civil Suit IV: Estate of Mushtaq Karim Abd Al-Razzaq et al vs. XE, Blackwater et al

Civil Suit V: Estate of Sa’ad Raheem Jarallah et al vs. XE, Blackwater et al

Civil Suit VI: Estate of Sabah Salman Hassoon et al vs. XE, Blackwater et al

Civil Suit VII: Estate of Husain Salih Rabea et al vs. Erik Prince, Xe, Blackwater et al

Exhibits - Filed in the Criminal and Civil Cases

 

The Media Archive:

 

The 2009 Media Reports File

The 2008 Media Reports File

The 2007 Media Reports File

The 2006 Media Reports File

 

The Video Archive:

 

U.S. Department of Justice on Blackwater Indictment - Press Conference from December 8th, 2008

News Feed on Blackwater Killings - Short CNN Documentary from September 19th, 2007

Jeremy Scahill talks about Blackwater - Speech from June 16th, 2007

 

Diverse Archives:

 

The Government Reports File

Diagrams of the Killings - Diagrams included in New York Times/Washington Post articles from September/October 2007.

Interview with Suzanne Simons, Author of “Master of War”

 

 

Recent Media Reports

 

July 2nd, 2009 - Lawsuit now Accuses Xe Contractors of Murder, Kidnapping

1 news article from Virginian-Pilot

 

June 18th, 2009 - DynCorp gets Blackwater’s Service Contracts for U.S. Diplomats in Iraq

1 news article from World Tribune

 

June 16th, 2009 - Audit Finds That U.S. Overpaid Blackwater

1 news article from Wall Street Journal

 

June 10th, 2009 - Suit: Security Company is Operating Illegally in Iraq

1 news article from Virginian-Pilot

 

The 2009 Media Reports File

The 2008 Media Reports File

The 2007 Media Reports File

The 2006 Media Reports File

 

The Accused in the Criminal Case

Evan Liberty

Dustin Heard

Donald Ball

Nick Slatten

Paul Slough

 

Court Cases

 

Criminal Case I: U.S. vs. Slough, Slatten, Liberty, Heard & Ball

 

This criminal case concerns the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater personnel on September 16th, 2007 on Nisour Square in Baghdad. It was filed on December 4th, 2008 at the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC.

 

Criminal Case II: U.S. vs. Jeremy P. Ridgeway

 

This criminal case concerns the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater personnel on September 16th, 2007 on Nisour Square in Baghdad. It was filed at the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. The defendant, Jeremy Ridgeway agreed to a plea deal and to testify against the defendants in Criminal Case I.

 

Criminal Case III: U.S. vs. John Houston & Michael Henson

 

This criminal case concerns the illegal smuggling of firearms into the United States. Some of the firearms are connected to the Blackwater shootings  on September 16th, 2007 in Baghdad. The criminal complaint was filed on September 4th, 2008 at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

 

Civil Case I: Estate of Himoud Saed Abtan et al vs. Blackwater USA, Erik Prince et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater personnel on September 16th, 2007 on Nisour Square in Baghdad. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Himoud Saed Abtan and others on October 11th, 2007 at the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit V.

 

Civil Case II: Estate of Ali Hussamaldeen Albazzaz vs. Blackwater USA, Erik Prince et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of 5 Iraqi civilians near the al-Watahba Square in Baghdad on September 9th, 2007, where Ali Albazzaz died. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Mr. Albazzaz on December 19th, 2007 at  the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit V.

 

Civil Case III: Estate of Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon vs. XE (Blackwater), Andrew Moonen et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of Raheem Sa’adoon, a security guard for Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi, by Andrew Moonen, a Blackwater employee, on December 24th, 2006. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Mr. Sa’adoon on March 19th, 2009 at the U.S. District Court in San Diego in California. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

Civil Case IV: Estate of Mushtaq Karim Abd Al-Razzaq et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians by Blackwater personnel on September 16th, 2007 on Nisour Square in Baghdad. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Mushtaq Karim Abd Al-Razzaq and others on March 26th, 2009 at the U.S. District Court in San Diego in California. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit I.

 

Civil Case V: Estate of Sa’ad Raheem Jarallah et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of several Iraqi civilians by Blackwater personnel on September 9th, 2007 at Al Watahba Square in Baghdad. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Sa’ad Raheem Jarallah and others on March 27th, 2009 at the U.S. District Court in San Diego in California. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit II.

 

Civil Case VI: Estate of Sabah Salman Hassoon et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of three Iraqi security guards by Blackwater personnel on February 7th, 2007 at the Iraqi Media Network compound in central Baghdad. It was filed on behalf of the estate of Sabah Salman Hassoun and two other estates on April 1st, 2009 at the U.S. District Court in San Diego in California. On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

Civil Case VII: Estate of Husain Salih Rabea et al vs. Erik Prince, Xe, Blackwater et al

 

This lawsuit concerns the killing of Husain Salih Rabea and the wounding of Ali Kareem Fakhri by Blackwater personnel on August 13th, 2007 on a public roadway in Hilla. It was filed on June 10th, 2009 at the the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

 

Criminal Case I

U.S. vs. Slough, Slatten, Liberty, Heard & Ball

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Case-No.: CR-08-360

Filed on December 4th, 2008

 

Recent Filings:

 

May 12th, 2009 - Stipulated Protective Order

 

“[…] The undersigned parties hereby stipulate, subject to the approval of the Court, to the following Protective Order which shall govern the handling of discovery materials described below in this case:

 

“1. The defendants have asserted that this case involves statements by the defendants to government agents concerning the September 16, 2007, shooting at Nisur Square in Baghdad, Iraq, and that these statements raise issues under Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967), and its progeny. For purposes of this Order, these statements, in whatever form, will be referred to as ‘Potential Garrity Material.’ As a subset of the overall discovery material in this case, Potential Garrity Material is governed by the preexisting Protective Orders entered by the Court on March 5 and April 13, 2009. […] To avoid any unwarranted disclosure of Potential Garrity Material, the undersigned counsel agree to the following additional handling procedures for discovery of this material.

 

“2. Regarding the defendants’ written statements and recorded oral statements concerning the Nisur Square shooting, the United States shall produce to each defendant only his individual statement(s). Documents labeled ‘Potential Garrity Material’ and the contents thereof shall not be provided to potential government or defense witnesses, other co-defendants, or potential jurors. Copies of material labeled ‘Potential Garrity Material’ may be provided to third parties employed or engaged for the purpose of this litigation, assisting in the preparation, trial and appeal of this matter, who shall be informed of the existence of this Order. The parties agree to serve a copy of this Order and the preexisting Protective Orders […] on any such third parties to whom Potential Garrity Material will be disseminated. The parties also agree to maintain a record of any disclosure to third parties, including the date such disclosure was made.

 

“3. Any party to this litigation may apply to the Court for an order specifically permitting other disclosure.

 

“4. Any violation of the terms of this Order may result in the imposition of contempt sanctions against the violator. […]”

 

April 13th, 2009 - Protective Order

 

“[…] Based on a recent news article using leaked information from an unknown source, the government’s motion for a protective order, the defendants’ opposition and the government’s reply, it is this 13th day of April, 2009, hereby ordered that government’s motion is granted in part and denied in part; and it is further ordered that

 

“1. The United States has and will provide to the defendants copies of material pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Brady v. Maryland, […]. The purpose of providing these copies is for the use by the defendants and their attorneys to prepare their defense. The original material is not deemed publicly filed as a result of the copies provided to the defense. […]”

 

April 10th, 2009 - Govt.’s Reply to Defendants’ Response to Motion for Protective Order

 

“[…] While the defendants are correct in pointing out that the ‘substantive dispute’ between the parties on the protective order is ‘narrow,’ […], the disagreement concerns the critical issue as to whether the protective order will place any enforceable limitations on who may receive copies of discovery material in this case. The defendants’ proposed order does not even address the very harm that led to the filing of the Government’s motion, and leaves the door wide open for third parties to do the same thing with Garrity-protected material once those statements are disclosed to the defendants pursuant to the discovery process.

 

“We respectfully request that the Court enter the Government’s proposed order so that discovery may immediately be resumed in this case. […]”

 

April 9th, 2009 - Defendants’ Response to the Government’s Motion for a Protective Order

 

“[…] Defendants, through counsel, respectfully respond to the Government’s motion for a protective order. In its motion, the Government unfairly, and without support, accuses defense counsel of media leaks in which defense counsel had no role. To be clear and unequivocal: member of the Defense team had any role, direct or indirect, in the disclosure of the FBI reports that prompted the Government’s current motion. As Defense counsel have stated repeatedly to the Government and the Court, Defense counsel are aware of this Court’s view media disclosures and of their corresponding obligations, and have conducted themselves accordingly, without equivocation or evasion. The Defense has not been the source for the AP’s recent reporting, and does not know where or how the AP received its information. […]”

 

Case File of Criminal Case I: U.S. vs. Slough, Slatten, Liberty, Heard & Ball

 

 

Criminal Case II

U.S. vs. Jeremy P. Ridgeway

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Case-No.: 1:08-cr-00341-RMU-1

Filed on November 18th, 2008

 

Recent Filings:

 

February 10th, 2009 - Order

 

“[…] It is this 10th day of February 2009, hereby ordered a status hearing in the above-captioned case shall take place on September 14, 2009 at 10:15 am. So ordered. […]”

 

February 10th, 2009 - Minute Order

 

“Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Ricardo M. Urbina: Status Hearing as to Jeremy P. Ridgeway held on 2/10/2009. A further Status Hearing is scheduled for 9/14/2009 at 10:15 A.M. in Courtroom 30, Annex Building, Sixth Floor, before Judge Ricardo M. Urbina. Case not referred at this time. Bond Status of Defendant: Personal Recognizance […]”

 

January 7th, 2009 - Order

 

“[…] it is this 7th day of January, 2009, hereby, ordered that all matters filed and docketed in the case of United States v. Jeremy Ridgeway, Crim. No.08-341 (RMU) shall be unsealed by the Clerk of Court, with the exception of the following documents and transcripts that will remain sealed for a period of 60 days from the issuance of this order:

 

“1. Transcripts from any plea hearings held on November 18, 2008 and December 5, 2008.

 

“2. Any plea agreements entered into the record on November 18, 2008 or December 5, 2008.

 

“3. Any government motions to seal and sealing orders issued by the Court in relation to any plea proceedings that occurred on November 18, 2008 and December 5, 2008. […]”

 

December 5th, 2008 - Minute Entry for Proceedings

 

“Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Ricardo M. Urbina: Arraignment as to Jeremy P. Ridgeway (1) on Counts 1s and 2s held on 12/5/2008. Defendant sworn and plea of guilty entered as to Counts 1s and 2s. Court adopts the Plea Agreement and Factual Proffer filed in the this case on 11/18/08. Status Conference set for 2/10/2009 at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 30A before Judge Ricardo M. Urbina. Case not referred for a Pre-sentence Investigation Report at this time. Bond Status of Defendant: Defendant placed on previous Personal Recognizance Order entered on 11/18/08 with same conditions. […]”

 

Case File of Criminal Case II: U.S. vs. Jeremy P. Ridgeway

 

 

Criminal Case III

U.S. vs. John A. Houston & Michael Henson

U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Case No.: 1:09-cr-00232-AW-1

Filed on September 4th, 2008

 

Recent Filings:

 

April 29th, 2009 - Indictment

 

“[…] 1. Beginning on or about February 19, 2008, and continuing until on or about February 28, 2008, in the Republic of Iraq and elsewhere, the defendants, John A. Houston and Michael Henson and others known and unknown, unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly did combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together and with each other to commit an offense against the United States, to wit, to knowingly and willfully, with intent to defraud the United States, attempt to smuggle and clandestinely introduce into the Unted States merchandise which should have been invoiced, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545.

 

“2. It was part and an object of the conspiracy that defendants Houston and Henson would and did unlawfully, willfully, and knowingly to smuggle firearms from Iraq into the United States. […]”

 

September 4th, 2008 - Criminal Complaint

 

“[…] 8. Houston was a Sergeant Major in the United States Army before retiring from active duty on June 30, 2006. Houston served as a Special Forces soldier assigned to a unit under the command of the United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After his retirement from the Army, Houston accepted a position (likely in 2007) with SOS International, Ltd. (SOSi), a company registered in the state of New York, as a Department of Defense (DoD) Contractor under contract number W9IGER-06-D-007. This contract relates to the staffing of the Iraqi Advisor Task Force located in the country of Iraq.

 

“[…] 12. On March 12, 2008, agents interviewed a confidential informant [hereinafter referred to as CI #1] via telephone. CI #1 is a U.S. Army reservist who was activated and deployed to Iraq in 2007 and 2008. Your affiant believes that CI #1 has proven to be a reliable source of information because much of the information provided by CI #1 has been corroborated by a second confidential informant; because information provided by CI #1 to law enforcement has been acted upon and found to be true; […]

 

“[…] 13. CI #1 advised that he met John Houston some time before the fall of 2007, while stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kalsu in Iraq. CI #1 advised that Houston was employed as the Operations Center Director, Iraqi Advisor Task Force (IQATF) at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq.

 

“14. CI #1 advised that Houston asked CI #1 on approximately fourt occasions to smuggle firearms into the United States from Iraq inside a ‘Conex’ box (i.e. a shipping container used to ship U.S. Army equipment). Houston communicated with CI #1 via secured SIPR e-mail address john.houston@3id.army.smil.mil and Yahoo! Mail commercial e-mail address ranger0565@yahoo.com, by telephone, and in person. Houston used code language when not speaking face-to-face with CI #1 to disguise Houston’s actions. In such situations, Houston never directly referred to smuggling ‘firearms’ but, rather, referred to said firearms as ‘stuff’. Houston told CI #1 that he had obtained several firearms from individuals working for the security contractor Blackwater in Iraq. Houston stated that Blackwater employees maintained a Conex filled with firearms seized by Blackwater employees from Iraqi insurgents. Houston stated that, after the Nissour Square shooting involving Blackwater personnel on September 16, 2007, Blackwater employees gave Houston some of their firearms because they wanted to dispose of the weapons before an investigation ensued. Houston offered to give CI #1 two of these firearms if CI #1 successfully smuggled all additional firearms into the U.S. […]

 

“15. In February 2008, as CI #1 prepared to depart Iraq with his unit, Houston made the last of his requests to CI #1 to transport firearms for him. CI #1 contacted the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at FOB Kalsu and reported Houston’s request. On February 17, 2008, acting at the direction of CID Special Agents, CI #1 sent an e-mail via SIPRNET to john.houston@3id.army.smil.mil (i.e. Houston’s SIPR e-mail account) advising Houston that CI #1 had a way to ‘move some stuff’ in a Conex. […] Several days later, Thomas Bevier came to see CI #1 and advised that Bevier was holding a bag of ‘stuff’ from Houston for CI #1. CI #1 advised CID that the firearms had already arrived at FOB Kalsu, and CI avoided Bevier for a couple of days before finally telling Bevier that he could not help Houston with the ‘stuff’. […] CI #1 advised CID that the firearms were being housed in the Containerized Housing Unit (CHU) occupied by Bevier. […]

 

“[…] 24. On March 19, 2008, a second confidential informant [hereinafter referred to as CI #2] was interviewed via telephone. CI #2 is a U.S. Army reservist who was activated and deployed to Iraq in 2007 and 2008. Your affiant believes that CI #2 has proven to be a relable source of information because much of the information provided by CI #2 has been corroborated by a second confidential informant […]

 

“[…] 26. According to CI #2, in July or August of 2007, Houston advised CI #2 that Houston had some firearms that Houston was trying to transport into the US. Houston asked CI #2 if CI #2 would be willing to smuggle firearms back into the U.S. inside of MILVANS (Conex boxes). […]

 

“[…] 29. CI #2 stated that Houston told CI #2 that Houston had obtained the machineguns from Blackwater contractors. Houston said that Blackwater contractors maintained a Conex box filled with seized weapons. Houston said that after Blackwater ‘got into trouble,’ they had to get rid of the firearms so that they didn’t get caught with them. Houston claimed that he was given the firearms by these Blackwater contractors. CI #2 said that, in addition to having the two AK-47s and two MP-5s, Houston also bragged about having a British Sterling machinegun. […]”

 

Case File of Criminal Case III: U.S. vs. John Houston & Henson

 

 

Civil Suit I

Estate of Himoud Saed Abtan et al vs. Erik Prince, Xe, Blackwater Worldwide et al

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case No.: 1:09-cv-617-LMB-TRJ

Filed on June 2nd, 2009

Consolidated with Civil Suit IV on June 2nd, 2009

 

Prior to June 2nd, 2009:

Estate of Himoud Saed Abtan et al vs. Blackwater USA, Erik Prince et al

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Case-No.: 1:07-cv-01831-RBW

Filed on October 11th, 2007

Consolidated with Civil Suit II on March 28th, 2008

 

Recent Filings:

 

July 1st, 2009 - First Amended Complaint

 

“[…] Count Nine Against Defendant Erik Prince - Violations Of Rackeeter Influenced And Corrupt Organizations Act (‘Rico’)

 

“114. The RICO Plaintiffs are Estates of Abtan, Abbass, Ali Khaleel, Abdulwahab Abdulqadir Al-Qalamchi, Sami Hawas Hamood, Fereed Waleed Hassoon, Bara’a Sa’adoon Ismael, Sameer Hoobi Jabbar, Mohammed Hassan Mohammed, Haider Ahmed Rabe’a, Hassan Jabir Salman, Estate of Mohamed Abbas Mahmoud, and Zuhair Najim Abbood Al-Mamouri.

 

“115. These RICO Plaintiffs all suffered property damage to their cars during the Nissor Square massacre. RICO 18 U.S.C. § 1964 (c).

 

“116. The RICO Plaintiffs bring claims under RICO 18 U.S.C. § 1962 (b) and (c) against Defendant Erik Prince. […]

 

“[…] 119. The Prince RICO Enterprise is an ongoing criminal enterprise that has been in existence since at least 2003. The conduct of the Prince RICO Enterprise demonstrates a pattern and practice of repeated illegality designed to create more wealth for Defendant Erik Prince and the Prince RICO Enterprise.

 

“120. There is no goal that accomplished, would bring this Prince RICO Enterprise to an end. Rather, as evidenced by a lengthy series of illegal acts - ranging from murder to tax evasion to destruction of evidence - Defendant Erik Prince and his RICO Enterprise will continue its racketeering unless stopped by this Court. […]”

 

June 12th, 2009 - Order Granting Enlargement of Time for Defendants to Answer Complaint

 

“[…] This matter having come before the Court on the Joint Motion of the parties for an enlargement of time, until and including July 13, 2009, within which Defendants may answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, and good cause being shown therefor, it is hereby ordered that the motion is granted; and it is further ordered that Defendants shall file an answer or other response to the Complaint on or before July 13, 2009.

 

“So ordered. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 43. Blackwater provides armed forces to protect Department of State personnel in Iraq. These mobile armed forces that accompany diplomats and others in need of protection are consistently referred to by Blackwater management and employees as ‘shooters.’

 

“44. On or about September 16, 2007, Blackwater shooters shot without justification and killed multiple innocent civilians.

 

“45. On or about September 16, 2007, Blackwater shooters shot without justification at and injured multiple innocent civilians.

 

“46. According to United States military and criminal investigators, none of the civilians was armed or taking offensive actions against the Blackwater shooters.

 

“47. As stated by a United States military official on site in Iraq, Blackwater’s conduct ‘was obviously excessive, it was obviously wrong.’

 

“48. At the time of the shooting and killings in Nisoor Square, Blackwater shooters were not protecting any State Department official. The Blackwater shooters had already dropped off the State Department official under its protection prior to arriving in Nisoor Square.

 

“49. Reasonable discovery will establish that, after Blackwater shooters dropped off the State Department official they were guarding, the Tactical Operations Center (manned by both Blackwater and Department of State personnel) (‘TOC’), expressly directed the Blackwater shooters to stay with the official and refrain from leaving the secure area. Reasonable discovery will establish that the Blackwater shooters ignored these directives from the TOC. Reasonable discovery will establish that Blackwater personnel were obliged to follow directives from the TOC.

 

“50. Blackwater shooters had no legitimate reason to open fire on a crowd of innocent civilians. Blackwater shooters began firing without any provocation.

 

“51. Blackwater is responsible for the actions of its heavily-armed shooters acting in Iraq. […]”

 

April 27th, 2009 - Memorandum Opinion

 

“[…] ‘[I]t is entirely proper for this Court to hear [the p]laintiffs’ claims so long as they bear a substantial connection to the District of Columbia.’ […] It is unclear, however, from the plaintiffs’ pleadings and memoranda of law whether such a connection exists in these cases. The Court would therefore be well within its discretion to simply grant the defendants’ motion to dismiss or transfer and relieve itself of further consideration of this matter. But if the plaintiffs had formally requested venue discovery on the issue of the defendants’ purported written submissions transmitted to this jurisdiction at the outset of the case, they may well have satisfied the Court’s concerns about the ambiguity of their assertions. To penalize the plaintiffs for this failure on their part would unduly elevate the formal requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure over the substantive merits of the plaintiffs’ position, particularly given the plaintiffs’ request for venue discovery in their opposition to the defendants’ motion.

 

“The Court will therefore provide the plaintiffs with an additional opportunity to demonstrate the merits of their position in its fullest form. If the plaintiffs fail to adduce record evidence or seek venue discovery, or if the Court, having reviewed the plaintiffs’ motion for leave to take venue discovery, concludes that discovery is improper for some reason, then the Court will not hesitate to resolve forthwith the defendants’ motion. But the Court must make certain that the District of Columbia is not the proper venue for these cases before it dismisses or transfers them. The Court will therefore stay the defendants’ motion to dismiss or transfer and the plaintiffs’ motions for leave to file amended complaints for the limited purposes set forth above. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit I re Killings of September 16th, 2007

 

 

Civil Suit II

Estate of Ali Ibrahim Albazzaz et al vs. Erik Prince, Xe, Blackwater Worldwide et al

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case No.: 1:09-cv-616-JCC-JFA

Filed on June 2nd, 2009

Consolidated with Civil Suit V on June 2nd, 2009

 

Prior to June 2nd, 2009:

Estate of Ali Hussamaldeen Albazzaz vs. Blackwater USA, Erik Prince et al

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Case No.: 1:07-cv-02273-RBW

Filed on December 19th, 2007

Consolidated with Civil Suit I on March 28th, 2008

 

Recent Filings:

 

June 12th, 2009 - Order Granting Enlargement of Time for Defendants to Answer Complaint

 

“[…] This matter having come before the Court on the Joint Motion of the parties for an enlargement of time, until and including July 13, 2009, within which Defendants may answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, and good cause being shown therefor, it is hereby ordered that the motion is granted; and it is further ordered that Defendants shall file an answer or other response to the Complaint on or before July 13, 2009.

 

“So ordered. […]”

 

June 11th, 2009 - Defendants’ Financial Interest Disclosure Statement

 

“[…] Accordingly, the representations below are made on behalf of Prince Group LLC; Xe Services LLC; Greystone LTD; Total Intelligence Solutions LLC; U.S. Training Center, Inc.; GSD Manufacturing LLC; Blackwater Security Consulting LLC; and Raven Development Group LLC (collectively, ‘Defendants’).

 

“2. Defendants have no parents, subsidiaries, or affiliated entities (corporate or otherwise) that have issued stock or debt securities to the public, nor are there any publicly entities (corporate or otherwise) that own 10% or more of the stock in any of the Defendants.

 

“3. None of the Defendants are partnerships, general or limited. The following [are] the owners or members of a Defendant, excluding other Defendants, that are non-publicly traded entities such as LLCs or other closely held entities: Samarus CO LTD. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 17. On September 9, 2007, Blackwater shooters, whose identities are known to Defendants and are capable of being ascertained through discovery, used excessive force without justification and killed Plaintiffs in and around Al Watahba Square, Baghdad.

 

“18. The September 9, 2007, massacre was not an isolated instance of misconduct by Xe-Blackwater. Xe-Blackwater has a pattern and practice of recklessness in the use of deadly force. Xe-Blackwater has created and fostered a corporate culture in which excessive and unnecessary use of deadly force by its employees is not investigated or punished in any way.

 

“19. Xe-Blackwater routinely sends heavily-armed ‘shooters’ into the streets of Baghdad with the knowledge that some of those ‘shooters’ are chemically influenced by steroids and other judgment-altering substances.

 

“20. Through their acts and omissions, Xe-Blackwater management encouraged shooting innocent Iraqis. Xe-Blackwater management refused to fire or discipline ‘shooters’ who murdered innocent Iraqis. ‘Shooters’ known to have committed ‘bad shoots’ (i.e. murder) would not even be placed on the ‘do not use’ list. Instead, Xe-Blackwater would continue to rehire and deploy ‘shooters’ known to have killed innocents for no reason.

 

“21. Xe-Blackwater captured much of the illegal conduct on videotape and audiotape. At times, Xe-Blackwater would even review the illegal conduct in a review called a ‘hot wash.’ Xe-Blackwater, however, did not report or punish the illegal conduct of its mercenaries. Instead, Xe-Blackwater intentionally destroyed the evidence of illegal conduct, and encouraged the mercenaries to do the same. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit II re Killings of September 9th, 2007

 

 

Civil Suit III

Estate of Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon vs. Erik Prince, XE, Blackwater Worldwide et al

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case No.: 1:09-cv-615-TSE-IDD

Filed on June 2nd, 2009

 

Prior to June 2nd, 2009:

Estate of Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon vs. XE (Blackwater), Andrew Moonen et al

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Case. No.: 3:09-cv-00561-W-LSP

Filed on March 19th, 2009

 

Recent Filings:

 

June 12th, 2009 - Order Granting Enlargement of Time for Defendants to Answer Complaint

 

“[…] This matter having come before the Court on the Joint Motion of the parties for an enlargement of time, until and including July 13, 2009, within which Defendants may answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, and good cause being shown therefor, it is hereby ordered that the motion is granted; and it is further ordered that Defendants shall file an answer or other response to the Complaint on or before July 13, 2009.

 

“So ordered. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 19. On Christmas Eve, 2006, Xe-Blackwater employee Andrew Moonen consumed excessive quantities of alcohol at a party being held in an area of Iraq referred to as Little Venice.

 

“20. Numerous other Xe-Blackwater employees were attending the same Christmas party. They all saw Moonen become intoxicated. They all saw Moonen leave the party in an intoxicated state carrying his Xe-Blackwater Glock.

 

“21. No Xe-Blackwater employee did anything to stop Moonen from leaving the Xe-Blackwater party heavily-armed and visibly intoxicated.

 

“22. Xe-Blackwater employee Andrew Moonen, after losing his way and stumbling drunkenly around Little Venice for a short period of time, came across Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon on guard duty. Moonen, visibly intoxicated, pulled out his Glock and fired at Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon, killing him for no reason.

 

“23. After Xe-Blackwater employee Moonen killed Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon, Defendant Xe-Blackwater evaded Iraqi authorities and flew Moonen out of Iraq into the United States.

 

“24. Xe-Blackwater thereafter promised to compensate the widow for the death of her husband by making a series of payments. Xe-Blackwater made an initial payment of US $20,000, but made no further payments. The widow continued to believe that additional payments would be made until earlier this year. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

 

“[…] Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(i), Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss without prejudice their claims against all Defendants. […]”

 

March 19th, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 18. On Christmas Eve, 2006, Xe-Blackwater employee Andrew Moonen consumed excessive quantities of alcohol at a party being held in an area of Iraq referred to as Little Venice.

 

“19. Numerous other Xe-Blackwater employees were attending the same Christmas party. They all saw Moonen become intoxicated. They all saw Moonen leave the party in an intoxicated state carrying his Xe-Blackwater Glock.

 

“20. No Xe-Blackwater employee did anything to stop Moonen from leaving the Xe-Blackwater party heavily-armed and visibly intoxicated.

 

“21. Xe-Blackwater employee Andrew Moonen, after losing his way and stumbling drunkenly around Little Venice for a short period of time, came across Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon on guard duty. Moonen, visibly intoxicated, pulled out his Glock and fired at Raheem Khalaf Sa'adoon, killing him for no reason.

 

“22. After Xe-Blackwater employee Moonen killed Raheem Khalaf Sa’adoon, Defendant Xe-Blackwater evaded Iraqi authorities and flew Moonen out of Iraq into the United States.

 

“23. Xe-Blackwater thereafter promised to compensate the widow for the death of her husband by making a series of payments. Xe-Blackwater made an initial payment of US $20,000, but made no further payments. The widow continued to believe that additional payments would be made until earlier this year. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit III re Killing of December 24th, 2006

 

 

Civil Suit IV

Estate of Mushtaq Karim Abd Al-Razzaq et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Case. No.: 3:09-cv-00626-LAB-BLM

Filed on March 26th, 2009

 

On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit I.

 

Recent Filings:

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

 

“[…] Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(i), Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss without prejudice their claims against all Defendants. […]”

 

March 26th, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 24. This action is being brought against Xe, formerly Blackwater, in all of its various corporate incarnations. These companies (including a Xe-Blackwater company called Falcon that continues to operate in Iraq), are all component parts a single private company wholly owned and personally controlled by a man named Erik Prince. Prince and his corporate entities earn billions of dollars selling mercenary services.

 

“25. On September 16, 2007, heavily-armed Xe-Blackwater mercenaries (known in Blackwater parlance as ‘shooters’) working in Iraq began firing on a crowd of innocent Iraqis, without justification, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The Xe–Blackwater ‘shooters’ involved in this senseless slaughter on September 16, 2007, are being criminally prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice. One Xe-Blackwater shooter has already plead guilty, admitting that the Xe-Blackwater shooters were not being threatened and instead intentionally killed innocents for no reason.

 

“26. The September 16, 2007 massacre is one episode in a lengthy pattern of egregious misconduct by Xe-Blackwater acting in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Xe-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. This action seeks compensatory damages to compensate the injured and the families of those gunned down and killed by Xe-Blackwater shooters. This action seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish Erik Prince and his Xe-Blackwater companies for their repeated callous killing of innocents. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit IV re Killing of September 16th, 2007

 

 

Civil Suit V

Estate of Sa’ad Raheem Jarallah et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Case. No.: 3:09-cv-00631-H-JMA

Filed on March 27th, 2009

 

On June 2nd, 2009 the case was transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and consolidated with Civil Suit II.

 

Recent Filings:

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

 

“[…] Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(i), Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss without prejudice their claims against all Defendants. […]”

 

March 27th, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 11. This action is being brought against Xe, formerly Blackwater, in all of its various corporate incarnations. These companies (including a Xe-Blackwater company called Falcon that continues to operate in Iraq), are all component parts of a single private company wholly owned and personally controlled by a man named Erik Prince. Prince and his corporate entities earn billions of dollars selling mercenary services.

 

“12. On September 9, 2007, heavily-armed Blackwater mercenaries (known in Blackwater parlance as ‘shooters’) working in Iraq fired, without justification, on a crowd of innocent Iraqi persons in and around Al Watahba Square resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Mr. Jarallah was among those killed in this massacre. This senseless slaughter on September 9, 2007, was only one in a series of recent incidents in Blackwater’s lengthy pattern of egregious misconduct in Iraq resulting in the deaths of innocent Iraqis.

 

“13. Xe-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 September 9, 2007 shooting is one episode in a lengthy pattern of egregious misconduct by Xe-Blackwater acting in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. This action seeks compensatory damages to compensate the family of Mr. Sa’ad Raheem Jarallah, who was gunned down and killed by Xe-Blackwater shooters. This action seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish Erik Prince and his Xe-Blackwater companies for their repeated callous killing of innocents. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit V re Killing of September 9th, 2007

 

 

Civil Suit VI

Estate of Sabah Salman Hassoon et al vs. Erik Prince, XE, Blackwater Worldwide et al

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case No.: 1:09-cv-618-LMB-IDD

Filed on June 2nd, 2009

 

Prior to June 2nd, 2009:

Estate of Sabah Salman Hassoon et al vs. XE (Blackwater) et al

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Case. No.: 3:09-cv-00647-L-JMA

Filed on April 1st, 2009

 

Recent Filings:

 

June 30th, 2009 - First Amended Complaint

 

“[…] July 2007 Shooting

 

“50. On July 1, 2007, a driver named Wala’a was driving a minibus for three related families who were going to Baghdad airport to apply for passports. The three families included (a) parents with four children, including a three-month old baby; (b) an uncle; and (c) a cousin and his wife.

 

“51. As the families were returning from the airport, six Xe-Blackwater vehicles, including three with turrets, surrounded the minivan and opened fire for absolutely no reason.

 

“52. The Xe-Blackwater shooters killed the nine-year boy.

 

“53. The Xe-Blackwater shooters shot the mother in the back as she bent over, trying to protect the three-month old daughter from being shot. She was unsuccessful, as the baby was shot in the face. […]

 

“[…] February 2007 Shooting

 

“57. On February 4, 2007, Suhad Shakir Fadhil, a 37-years old female was driving to office, which was located near the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Suhad Shakir Fadhil worked in media relations, including at times working within the Green Zone for the United States Agency for International Development (‘AID’).

 

“58. Xe-Blackwater shooters shot Suhad Shakir Fadhil in the head as she drove to work. Ms. Fadhil died shortly after being shot. […]

 

“[…] March 2005 Shooting

 

“74. On March 22, 2005, Messrs. Al Qaysi and Al Rubae as well as another person were picked up at the Baghdad airport by a paid driver driving Mr. Al Rubae’s BMW.

 

“75. As the BMW traveled from the airport to Baghdad, Xe-Blackwater shooters began to fire on the BMW for no reason.

 

“76. Xe-Blackwater shooters shot Mr. Al Qaysi in the head, killing him.

 

“77. His widow and six children suffered and continue to suffer from the senseless and violent slaughter of Mr. Al Qaysi. […]”

 

June 12th, 2009 - Order Granting Enlargement of Time for Defendants to Answer Complaint

 

“[…] This matter having come before the Court on the Joint Motion of the parties for an enlargement of time, until and including July 13, 2009, within which Defendants may answer or otherwise respond to the Complaint, and good cause being shown therefor, it is hereby ordered that the motion is granted; and it is further ordered that Defendants shall file an answer or other response to the Complaint on or before July 13, 2009.

 

“So ordered. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Complaint

 

“[…] 22. On February 7, 2007, approximately 20 Xe-Blackwater employees in four SUVs escorted a U.S. diplomat to a meeting at the Iraqi Justice Ministry outside the Green Zone. During the meeting, Blackwater shooters took up positions on the Justice Ministry’s roof.

 

“23. Across the street from the Iraqi Justice Ministry sits the compound of the Iraqi-Media Network, a state-owned and operated enterprise, which operates newspapers, radio stations and the al-Iraqiya television station. (The United States provides assistance to this network.) The rear gate to the Iraqi Media Network compound sits across the street from the Iraqi Justice Ministry. A traffic circle known as King Faisal Square separates the two compounds.

 

“24. The three deceased were guards for Iraqi Media Network, and were manning their guard stations on February 7, 2007.

 

“25. Xe-Blackwater shooters located on the roof across the street opened fire on Nibrass Mohammed Dawood, who was stationed on a balcony overlooking gate. The Xe-Blackwater shooters hit him, and he fell to the balcony floor. Xe-Blackwater shooters had no reason to shoot him.

 

“26. Several other guards heard the shot and saw Nibrass Mohammed Dawood fall. As they ran to his side to assist him, they too came under fire from the Xe-Blackwater shooters.

 

“27. Azhar Abdullah Ali and Sabah Salman Hassoon were among those who ran to assist Nibrass. Xe-Blackwater shooters shot them both as they were assisting Nibrass.

 

“28. The Iraqi Army commander at the site, Captain Ahmed Thamir Abood, received a phone call from the Justice Ministry telling him that the shots were coming from the Americans stationed on the roof of the Ministry.

 

“29. Captain Abood rushed toward the Justice Ministry, where he confronted the Xe-Blackwater shooters as they were preparing to leave. Captain Abdood questioned them about the shootings.

 

“30. Xe-Blackwater personnel refused to identify who was in charge or to answer Captain Abood’s questions. They joked among themselves, giving contradictory statements regarding to whom the Captain should speak. Instead of answering questions posed by the Iraqi military captain, Xe-Blackwater shooters loaded up their vehicles, released smoke grenades and sped off toward the Green Zone.

 

“31. The families later discovered from Iraqi police reports that Xe-Blackwater had been involved in the shootings, and that the shootings were described as ‘an act of terrorism.’

 

“32. Xe-Blackwater failed to conduct any investigation whatsoever into the shootings.

 

“33. Instead, Xe-Blackwater conspired with the shooters to protect their identities from discovery and to evade any accountability. […]”

 

June 2nd, 2009 - Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

 

“[…] Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(i), Plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss without prejudice their claims against all Defendants. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit VI re Killing of February 7th, 2007

 

 

Civil Case VII

Estate of Husain Salih Rabea & Ali Kareem Fakhri vs. Erik Prince, Xe, Blackwater Worldwide et al

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Case No.: 1:09-cv-00645-CMH-JFA

Filed on June 10th, 2009

 

June 10th, 2009 - Civil Complaint

 

“[…] 5. Plaintiff is the Estate of Husain Salih Rabea. On August 13, 2007, Xe-Blackwater shooters shot Mr. Rabea, a 72-year old Iraqi, for no reason, and departed without stopping to offer any medical aid. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Rabea died from the gunshot wounds, leaving behind five sons and three daughters.

 

“6. Plaintiff Ali Kareem Fakhri is a student at the Babylon University College of Biology. On August 13, 2007, as Mr. Fakhri was driving on a public roadway in Hilla, Xe-Blackwater shooters opened fire on him for no reason. Mr. Fakhri watched in horror as the Xe-Blackwater shooters hit an elderly man in a nearby car. […]

 

“[…] 13. On August 13, 2007, Xe-Blackwater shooters fired their weapons without care or cause. Such willful and wanton conduct on that date is part of larger pattern of misconduct by Xe-Blackwater that evinces a conscious disregard for the safety of others.

 

“14. Xe-Blackwater has a pattern and practice of recklessness in the use of excessive and deadly force.

 

“15. Xe-Blackwater hires persons known to have been violent in the past, including former military officials known to have been involved in human rights abuses in Latin American and elsewhere. […]

 

“[…] 19. Xe-Blackwater videotaped and audiotaped reckless and dangerous behavior by its shooters. Yet Xe-Blackwater did not investigate, report or punish the demonstrable misconduct. Instead, Xe-Blackwater intentionally destroyed the tapes.

 

“20. Xe-Blackwater constantly operates in an illegal fashion, sending a clear message to its personnel that they should consider themselves free to act with impunity. As but one recent example, Xe-Blackwater continues to provide armed protection services in Iraq despite the fact the Iraqi government has refused to grant Xe-Blackwater the licenses needed to do business and carry weapons in Iraq.

 

“21. That is, Xe-Blackwater is providing armed protection services under contract to the International Republican Institute (‘IRI’), an American government-funded organization operating in Iraq. Xe-Blackwater, seeking to obscure its continued illegal operation in Iraq, directed its employees to enter into new contracts under the Greystone name rather than the Blackwater name. But Greystone is simply another corporate incarnation of Xe-Blackwater, and is not licensed to carry weapons in Iraq. […]”

 

Case File of Civil Suit VII re Killing of August 13th, 2007

 

 

Recent Government Reports

 

June 2009 - Joint Audit of Blackwater Contract for Personal Protective Services in Iraq

Report by U.S. State Department & Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction

 

“[…] The Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), is responsible for protecting personnel, facilities, and information - both domestic and abroad. Over the years, DS has been unable to provide long-term personal protective services solely from its pool of special agents, and it has turned to contractual support. When, in 2004, on short notice, the Department assumed responsibility for protecting Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) personnel in Iraq, it turned to contractor support.

 

“In mid-2004, the Department negotiated sole-source letter contracts with Blackwater Security Consulting and with Triple Canopy for personal security services in Iraq, which were already providing personal protective services in Iraq to the CPA under Department of Defense contracts. In June 2005, the Department awarded its second Worldwide Personal Protective Services contract to three companies - Blackwater, Triple Canopy, and DynCorp International, LLC. This report focuses on the Blackwater contract in Iraq and associated task orders.

 

“The total estimated costs for the Department’s contracts and task orders with Blackwater for Iraq were over $1 billion as of May 29, 2008. The contracts are funded primarily with Department Diplomatic and Consular Programs (D&CP) funds and about $76 million of Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds (IRRF). A joint audit by the Department of State Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Audits, and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), Office of Audits, was determined to provide an efficient way to review funding and performance under the contract. […]”

 

December 8th, 2008 - Transcript of Blackwater Press Conference

Transcript from the U.S. Department of Justice

 

“[…] We’re here today to announce that a 35-count indictment has been unsealed in the District of Columbia. As you are aware, an indictment is merely a formal charging document notifying a defendant of the charges against him or her. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

“The indictment unsealed charges five Blackwater security guards with voluntary manslaughter, attempt to commit manslaughter, and weapons violations, for their alleged roles in the September 16, 2007, shooting at Nisur Square in Baghdad, Iraq.

 

“Specifically, the defendants are charged with killing 14 unarmed civilians and wounding 20 other individuals in connection with this event. In addition, we can report that a sixth Blackwater security guard has pleaded guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter and attempt to commit manslaughter for his role in the same shooting. This guilty plea also was unsealed today.

 

“While there were dangers in Baghdad in September 2007, there were also ordinary people going about their lives, performing mundane daily tasks, like making their way through a crowded traffic circle.

 

“For the safety of these people, as well as U.S. government personnel and their own colleagues, security guards were obligated to refrain from firing their powerful weapons except when necessary for self-defense. The documents unsealed today allege that these six men disregard that obligation, and in doing so, violated U.S. law. […]”

 

December 2008 - Status of the Secretary of State’s Panel on Personal Protective Services in Iraq

Report by the Office of Inspector General, US State Department

 

“[…] On September 16, 2007, private security contractors working for Blackwater USA conducted an armed convoy through the Nisoor Square neighborhood of Baghdad that resulted in the death of 17, and wounding of 24 Iraqi civilians. More than a year later, the facts are still under investigation, and the incident continues to bring focused attention to the actions of private security contractors operating in Iraq.

 

“In October 2007, the Secretary of State’s Panel on Personal Protective Services in Iraq (The Panel), composed of outside experts, was assembled to review the Department’s security practices in Iraq following the Nisoor Square incident and to provide recommendations to strengthen the coordination, oversight, and accountability of Embassy Baghdad’s security practices. This report examines the status of The Panel’s recommendations and whether changes in operations enhanced the protection of U.S. mission personnel and furthered U.S. foreign policy objectives.

 

“In making this assessment, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) visited Embassy Baghdad and sites throughout Iraq where private security contractors provide movement and personal protection for U.S. mission personnel, including Erbil, Kirkuk, Hillah, Tallil, and Basra. In addition, OIG examined Department reporting on the status of the recommendations and consulted with senior and operational-level officials in Management and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Embassy Baghdad, Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), and the three security companies under contract with the Department to provide protective services in Iraq - Blackwater USA, DynCorp International, and Triple Canopy. The evaluation was conducted according to Quality Standards for Inspections issued by the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency. […]”

 

August 2008 - Contractors’ Support of U.S. Operations in Iraq

Report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office

 

“[…] Private Security Contractors

 

“Providing security for all personnel, including contractors, is an inescapable aspect of U.S. operations in Iraq because of the instability and violence in that country. Under current DoD policy in Iraq, the military provides security to contractors and government civilians only if they deploy with the combat force or directly support the military’s mission […]. Unless special arrangements are made, U.S. government agencies and contractors, such as reconstruction contractors, that do not meet that requirement must provide their own security. As a result, the use of contractors to provide security has increased - a well-publicized and controversial aspect of contractor support in Iraq.

 

“Private security contractors, or PSCs (also referred to as private security companies), protect people and property in Iraq for U.S. agencies, the Iraqi government, and private businesses, namely, other contractors working in Iraq. Virtually all PSCs in the Iraq theater work in Iraq. They provide personal security details for officials, security escorts for government and contractor personnel, security for convoys and at fixed sites, and advice and planning related to security […].

 

“Costs for Private Security Contractors and Subcontractors

 

“CBO estimates that total spending by U.S. agencies and U.S.-funded contractors for private security services ranged between $ 6 billion and $ 10 billion over the 2003–2007 period. Between $ 3 billion and $ 4 billion of that spending was for obligations made directly by the U.S. government for private security services in Iraq. The government’s obligations for those services have amounted to roughly between $ 500 million and $ 1.2 billion annually since 2005. DoD, DoS, and USAID have awarded all of the U.S. government contracts for security services in Iraq. Since Iraq’s transition to sovereignty, DoS’s security contracts have also protected USAID employees, so USAID is not obligating new funds for PSCs in Iraq.

 

“Contractors hired by the U.S. government that are not protected by the U.S. military generally hire PSCs as subcontractors to provide security. Neither FPDS-NG nor officials, security escorts for government and contractor personnel, security for convoys and at fixed sites, and advice and planning related to security […].

 

“CBO estimates that U.S.-funded contractors spent $ 3 billion to $ 6 billion for subcontractors to provide security services over the 2003–2007 period. That spending makes up the balance of CBO’s $ 6 billion to $ 10 billion estimate of total spending for those services. CBO calculated that range by first estimating the value of the government’s service contracts performed in Iraq that required nonmilitary security. That estimate - $ 32 billion - is based on the assumptions that the military provides security for the LOGCAP contract, that contracts for products do not have significant security costs, and that JCC-I/A contracted for products or services at a ratio similar to that for all other in-theater contracts supporting operations in Iraq. CBO then determined that contractors spend between 10 percent and 20 percent of that $ 32 billion on security subcontracts. […]”

 

The Government Reports File

 

The Lead Executives of Blackwater

Erik Prince

Gary Jackson

Cofer Black

Joseph Schmitz

Photo Credits

 

Background

 

1) The burned remains of a car in Baghdad Thursday marked Sunday’s shootings by private security guards that killed at least eight people. - September 21st, 2007 - Ali Yussef/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images;

 

The Accused in the Criminal Case

 

1) This handout photo provided by Evan Liberty’s defense team shows Evan Liberty. - undated - Liberty Defense Team/AP;

2) This handout photo provided by Dustin Heard’s defense team shows Dustin Heard. - undated - Heard Defense Team/AP;

3) This handout photo provided by Donald Ball’s defense team show Donald Ball. - undated - Ball Defense Team/AP;

4) This handout photo provided by Nick Slatten’s defense team shows Nick Slatten. - undated - Liberty Defense Team/AP;

5) This handout photo provided by Paul Slough’s defense team shows Paul Slough. - undated - Slough Defense Team/AP;

6) Blackwater Worldwide security guard Evan Liberty leaves federal court in Salt Lake City. Five guards were indicted for the 2007 shooting of Iraqi civilians. - December 8th, 2008 - Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press;

7) Blackwater Worldwide security guard Dustin Heard and his attorney, David Schertler, rear, leave federal court in Salt Lake City. - December 8th, 2008 - Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press;

8) Blackwater Worldwide security guard Donald Ball, center, and his attorney Steven McCool, right, leave federal court in Salt Lake City. - December 8th, 2008 - Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press;

9) Blackwater Worldwide security guard Nick Slatten leaves federal court in Salt Lake City. Wild, unprovoked gunfire and grenades killed 14 innocent Iraqis and hurt dozens more in a 2007 Baghdad attack, prosecutors said Monday in announcing charges with mandatory 30-year prison terms against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards. - December 8th, 2008 -  Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press;

10) Blackwater Worldwide security guard Paul Slough leaves federal court in Salt Lake City. - December 8th, 2008 - Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press;

 

The Lead Executives of Blackwater

 

1) - 4)  Erik Prince, Gary Jackson, Cofer Black & Joseph Schmitz - undated - The 4 photos were published by the Viriginian-Pilot as part of an article on Blackwater on July 24th, 2006. The original sources of the photos are unknown.

 

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