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Washington: Amid questions of reckless behaviour by US contractors, the FBI is sending a team to Iraq to investigate the role of Blackwater USA in last 11 months before shoot-out in Baghdad that killed at least 11 Iraqis, an FBI spokesman said on Monday.
Special Agent Richard Kolko said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was making the move at the request of the State Department to examine evidence in the September 16 shooting and to pursue possible criminal charges in light of allegations that guards working for Blackwater might have shot innocent Iraqi citizens.
"The results of the investigation will be reviewed for possible criminal liability and referred to the appropriate legal authority," Kolko said.
Private security contractor Blackwater USA has had to fire 122 people over the past three years for problems ranging from misusing weapons, alcohol and drug violations, inappropriate conduct, and violent behaviour, according to a report released on Monday by a congressional committee.
That total is roughly one-seventh of the work force that Blackwater has in Iraq, a ratio that raises questions about the quality of the people working for the company.
The report, prepared by the majority staff of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also says Blackwater has been involved in 195 shooting incidents since 2005, or roughly 1.4 per week.
In more than 80 per cent of the incidents, called "escalation of force," Blackwater's guards fired the first shots even though the company's contract with the State Department calls for it to use defensive force only, it said.
"In the vast majority of instances in which Blackwater fired shots, Blackwater is firing from a moving vehicle and does not remain at the scene to determine if the shots resulted in casualties," according to the report. The staff report paints Blackwater as a company that's made huge sums of money despite its questionable performance in Iraq. Blackwater has earned more than $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) from federal contracts since 2001, when it had less than $1 million (Dh3.67 million) in government work.
Witness says: 'They opened fire without provocation'
Abdul Wahab was leaving the bank where he works and wanted to head towards the Mansour district in Baghdad on the afternoon of September 16.
There was an Iraqi National Guards road block on the street, so he had to take a detour which led him to Al Nusour circle. On the circle there were three armoured vehicles close to the Al Harithia Palace, where there was a group of photographers taking pictures of the newly re-built vicinity.
There was also a traffic jam. Abdul Wahab was patiently waiting for the traffic to move. "Everything was calm, but the next thing we all saw was Blackwater USA helicopters opening fire haphazardly, shooting at civilians caught up in the traffic and around the nearby houses, the armoured vehicles started shooting as well, and one civilian car close to the armoured vehicles caught fire."
The whole incident took about 15-25 minutes. In the midst of the chaos, Abdul Wahab was trying frantically to push through towards a side road close to Al Ameerat Street.
The armoured vehicles were behind him and he felt his car was hit by a heavy body. Soon afterwards, he felt a bullet had hit his right arm. He threw himself out of the car, where he was further hit by splinters.
His car was hit by several bullets. "I had my car windows down, and I can assure you, no explosion took place before the helicopters and the armoured vehicles started shooting at us".
- Mayada Al Askari, Staff Reporter
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