Blackwater faulted by U.S. military

(Reuters) - U.S. military reports from the scene of a shooting incident in Baghdad involving security contractor Blackwater indicates its guards opened fire without provocation and used excessive force, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

At least 11 Iraqis were killed in the September 16 incident, which has outraged Iraqis who see the firm as a private army which acts with impunity.

Citing a senior U.S. military official, the Post said the military reports appear to corroborate the Iraqi government's contention that Blackwater was at fault.

"It was obviously excessive. It was obviously wrong," a U.S. military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the newspaper.

"The civilians that were fired upon, they didn't have any weapons to fire back at them. And none of the IP (Iraqi police) or any of the local security forces fired back at them," the official was quoted as saying.

The Blackwater guards appeared to have fired grenade launchers in addition to machine guns, the official told the Post. He said U.S. soldiers had reviewed statements from eyewitnesses and video footage recorded at the scene. (More)

LSB: There are, according to another report I read, at least two other security firms operating in Iraq that have not had these problems. Why, then, given the overwhelming number of unprovokes shootings by Blackwater employees as confirmed in earlier reports, has this firm been given the largest security contract for mercenaries in Iraq? It might be instructive to listen to the words of "Deep Throat" from the Watergate error: "Follow the money." Any bets as to where that will lead?