Matters Blackwater (Merged thread)

[MikeF]

Ran into this article this morning. Thought it maybe of interest.

Logs Suggest Guards Fired In Defense
Washington Times
By Matt Apuzzo and Lara Jakes, Associated Press
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008...ed-in-defense/

Reported incoming fire from police, insurgents

Radio logs from a deadly 2007 shooting in Baghdad cast doubt on U.S. government assertions that Blackwater Worldwide security guards were unprovoked when they killed 14 Iraqi civilians.

The transcripts of Blackwater radio reports, obtained by the Associated Press, describe a hectic eight minutes in which the guards repeatedly reported incoming gunfire from insurgents and Iraqi police.

Five guards face manslaughter and weapons charges for their roles in the shootings. A sixth has pleaded guilty. Prosecutors said the men unleashed an attack on unarmed Iraqis, including women, children and people trying to escape.

But the radio logs from the Sept. 16, 2007, shooting suggest otherwise. Copies of the logs were turned over to prosecutors by Blackwater.....

v/r

Mike