US extends Blackwater deal
2008-04-06 20:20
Washington - US private security firm
Blackwater's deal to protect American diplomats in Baghdad will
be extended for a year while the FBI investigates a 2007
incident in which the company's guards are accused of killing
17 Iraqis, the State Department said on Friday.
"I have requested and received approval to have task order
six - which Blackwater has to provide personal protective
services in Baghdad - renewed ... for one year," the head of
diplomatic security, Gregory Starr, told reporters.
The September 2007 shooting incident in Baghdad enraged the
Iraqi government and triggered an investigation by the US
Federal Bureau of Investigation into what happened and whether
any crimes might have been committed.
A measure issued by the US-led Coalition Provisional
Authority in 2004 prevents foreign security contractors from
being prosecuted in local courts. It is unclear whether they
could be prosecuted under US law.
Contract changed
After the incident, the State Department changed several
elements of the contract, including tightening up rules of
engagement, putting cameras on all convoys and having a
diplomatic security officer ride along with the detail.
Starr said Blackwater was operating with the agreement of
the Iraqi government and he did not know when the FBI's
investigation of the incident would be completed.
Asked whether the Blackwater Baghdad deal could be scrapped
if the FBI investigation found wrongdoing, Starr said: "We can
terminate contracts at the convenience of the government if we
have to."
"I am not going to prejudge what the FBI is going to find
in their investigation. I think really, it is complex.
"I think
that the US government needs protective services," he said.
"Essentially I think they do a very good job. The September
16th incident was a tragedy. It has to be investigated
carefully," he added.
"I am concerned (about the Iraqi response) and yet at the
same time there have only been about three incidents, three
escalation of force incidents, since September 16," he said.