Blackwater remains Murky

Despite heavy accusations of murder and indiscriminate killings of Iraq civilians – the company formerly known as Blackwater have been granted a $220 million contract under the Obama administration to provide security in Afghanistan.

 

They have had a make over and name change, they are now known as Xe, but their filthy reputation cannot be cleaned up enough to satisfy some of the Congressmen who have taken exception to the decision.

 

This has drawn severe criticism in Congress as they are worried that Blackwater’s cavalier attitude to human life may actually harm the mission in Afghanistan.

 

The Guardian newspaper in UK reported ‘But Leon Panetta, the head of the CIA, has defended the new contracts by saying the company, which changed its name to Xe Services as part of an image makeover, has "shaped up their act.’

 

Congressman Jan Schakowsky said: "I'm mystified why any branch of the government would decide to hire Blackwater, such a repeat offender. We're talking about murder … a company with a horrible reputation that really jeopardises our mission in so many different ways."

 

Blackwater had gained a terrible reputation as a private mercenary army who had no real rules of engagement and had been responsible for countless murders in Iraq. They had no respect for human life. Two former Blackwater patrol men are currently facing murder charges of two Afghan civilians when they attacked them during a car accident in Kabul.

 

Their reputation for bribery, brute force and lack of basic human rights towards the people of Iraq has followed them throughout their presence during this war.

 

A US congressional committee report in 2007 described Blackwater as "being staffed with reckless, shoot-first guards who were not always sober and did not always stop to see who or what was hit by their bullets".

 

They hit the headlines back in 2007 when 17 Iraqis were shot dead by Blackwater employees in Baghdad's Nisoor square.

 

The US government officials say they need a private security company as their service men and women are already stretched to the limits and cannot provide safety for diplomats and US army staff.

 

This mission in Afghanistan is different to the war in Iraq, the Taliban has a better foothold and it’s all down to them being able to discredit the Allied Services on the ground. The Afghans need convincing that the US army needs to be there, it’s not like they have a Saddam to oust, the people change their alliances on a daily basis.

 

A company like Xe (formerly Blackwater) will need to tread carefully and learn some diplomatic rules not to upset the fine balance that is trying to be maintained, especially with the Afghan Army having a constant presence amongst the US and Allied troops.

 

Relentless killing of civilians will have severe repercussions on the already fragile relations with the people of Afghanistan. The US Army doesn’t need anymore reasons to be hated in that country.

 

It stand to reason that if your army is lacking personnel to cover security and has to hire a murderous gang with a facelift and name change, then maybe its time for the Government to start moving out of Afghanistan.