Iraq War Inquiry Resumes

Iraq inquiry: we have every right to know why we went to war

The Iraq inquiry has resumed this week, promising crucial witnesses — Tony Blair, Jack Straw, Lord Goldsmith and possibly Gordon Brown.

And so it begins again, will we see some more little tidbits of information on this Countries, the once United States, as we did before the Holiday break.

This opportunity is essential and long overdue. It comes at a critical moment for our democracy. For many people, the ballot box has become a spent force. The single most significant factor in this disenchantment has been the decision to plunge a coalition of nations into a war, not only in the face of worldwide public opposition but also on an entirely unproven basis.

And why is the above being stated by those across the pond and not here, for we bear the greatest guilt for allowing ourselves to be pushed into a War of Choice against an Innocent People and causing our other invasion and occupation to stagnate and fester with the growing hatreds where we're now left with expanding it some eight years later!

The rest of that piece can be found here

And the player list of testimonials about the Brits involvement might be growing not only in bodies but in interests:

Iraq Inquiry urged to call Charles

The News of the World says Prince Charles secretly campaigned against the 2003 Iraq War

Campaigners have urged the Iraq Inquiry to call the Prince of Wales as a witness after reports emerged that he lobbied against the 2003 invasion.

Anti-monarchy pressure group Republic said Charles should give evidence and any correspondence between him and Tony Blair about the war should be submitted to the inquiry.

The call comes after The News of the World reported at the weekend that the Prince campaigned against the invasion of Iraq behind the scenes.

A source told the paper: "The Prince thought Blair was making a big mistake and he made his stance clear to influential people and politicians."...>>>>>

This would be an interesting addition to the witness list, as the royal family are required to do service in the British Military, and if he has any of the correspondence or good memories of any discussions with Blair that can be added to the record.

How Tony Blair made daily calls to instruct our man in Baghdad

Sir William Patey arrives to give evidence in London at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

What could be delivered on Powerpoint could not necessarily be delivered on Earth, says former ambassador Sir William Patey.

Tony Blair personally briefed Britain's ambassador in Baghdad, with Downing Street calling almost every day as tension grew between political demands at home and reality on the ground in Iraq, the Chilcot inquiry was told today.

"The politics here demanded instant results," said Sir William Patey, who was ambassador in Baghdad from 2005 to 2006. He told the inquiry in London that the almost daily briefings from No 10 came throughout his time in Iraq.

"The first time I have ever had instructions as an ambassador directly from the prime minister was: help get a constitution that the Iraqis would vote positively for, the formation of a new government, create the conditions for the withdrawal of British troops," Patey said. "It was quite simple."

Snip

Patey added: "I think the level of ambition was probably higher than the ability to deliver. What could be delivered on Powerpoint could not necessarily be delivered on Earth."

There were tensions with the US over the timing and scale of a phased withdrawal of British troops from Basra after 2006 as UK military chiefs increasingly worried about their ability to operate in two countries - Iraq and Afghanistan - at the same time, the inquiry heard.

"We did not have the means to deliver on the objectives (in Afghanistan)," said General Sir Nick Houghton....>>>>>

UK troops were 'sitting ducks' in Basra, Chilcott inquiry on Iraq war told

General Sir Peter Wall with Tony Blair in 2003. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Contingent became focus of Shia militia violence and Iraqi army commander wanted them out, says former chief of defence staff

The inquiry in London questioned top defence and military officials about three controversial events leading to the final withdrawal from Iraq. They were the decision to leave Basra Palace, secret talks with the Mahdi army, a prominent Shia militia, and the Charge of the Knights, a US-led operation with the Iraqi army, drawn up unbeknown to the British in 2008, which crushed most militia activity.

General Sir Peter Wall, deputy chief of the defence staff at the time, was asked about whether British troops at the Basra base were "sitting ducks". He replied: "Yup." But he added that General Mohan, the Iraqi army commander in Basra, also wanted the British to leave the base as their presence there was "unwelcome for the general security of the environment and the impact it was having on innocent people ….>>>>>

Great expectation, trying to even figure out how to handle public tickets to the Inquiry room this session, on the coming testimony of Tony Blair, the bush good buddy and seeming lap dog to the Neo-Cons wishes.

Iraq inquiry restarts as Blair appearance looms

A burning mask of Tony Blair outside the conference centre

The public inquiry into the Iraq war resumed on Tuesday after the Christmas break, as questions grew about the looming appearance by Tony Blair, who led the country into the controversial conflict.

Blair is expected to give evidence to the inquiry in the second half of January or early February, while his former communications chief and close ally Alastair Campbell will appear next week, on January 12.

Snip

Meanwhile, an Internet campaign has been launched for Blair to face tough questions about why he took Britain into the unpopular war, amid criticisms the probe, led by a retired top civil servant, has gone too easy on some witnesses.

"When it comes to Tony Blair, we can't let this happen," said activist group 38 Degrees, which is inviting people to submit questions they want the inquiry to put to the ex-premier.

"Blair made the decision to commit us to a war in Iraq. We deserve to know the real reasons he went ahead."

Snip

The first witness to give evidence to the resumed probe Tuesday was William Patey, Britain's ambassador to Baghdad between 2005 and 2006.

He said he had received almost daily telephone calls from Downing Street, acknowledging that politicians may have set over-ambitious targets for what could be delivered.

"There was a tension between the desire for instant results and the realities on the ground," said Patey, now ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

"What you could achieve in the sort of timescales that London needed for political reasons -- there was a disconnect."...>>>>>

Hope he's been practicing his spin because if the tough questions come he'll need it. Though he did probably open up to much, a conscious maybe, on softball questions from a BBC reporter in a taped interview, prior to the holidays, that caused him allot of problems and received widespread condemnation.

Former Iraq ambassador queries post-war ambition

Sir William said violence in Basra had increased during his time in Iraq

Ambitions for reforming Iraq after the war were "probably higher than the ability to deliver", the former UK ambassador to the country has said.

Sir William Patey, in the job from 2005 to 2006, said there was no "quick fix" for changes such as setting up a police force and drafting a constitution.

The Iraq Inquiry heard that "what could be delivered on Powerpoint couldn't necessarily be delivered on Earth".

Snip

Sir William recalled that he had written at the time that "the prospect of descent into civil war... was probably more likely than the transition to a stable Iraq unless certain things happened".

These included getting Iraqis involved in self-government and handling their own policing and security arrangements.

Sir William said: "What we couldn't quite expect was the level of historic baggage we found when we got there.

Snip

"In a sense we became a target and people tried to portray us as occupiers."

This, along with corruption and infiltration by militia groups, made it more difficult to set up an effective police force in the area, Sir William said.

He told the inquiry: "I think we were planning on the job. I think we started by thinking we would look [to set up] a Surrey Constabulary in Basra and ended up with the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary]." ...>>>>>

Iraq: oh, just one more thing…

A day heavily-draped with political drama, of bitter recriminations but also an impassioned self-defence, a day the nature of which the Inquiry has not seen before nor will likely see again.

Followers of twitter.com/iraqinquiryblog will have realised by now that that day wasn’t today.

Snip

Actually that’s not entirely fair of me – there was a little drama right at the end of today’s session, and true to form it came via Roderic ‘Silent Assassin’ Lyne. The man displays what can only be described as Columbo tendencies in his last minute, ‘Just one more thing’ approach to witness-mugging....>>>>>

Watch the Inquiry Live when in Session

Written Transcripts by Date

Oral: The Video's by Date

See how the Inquiry is unfolding on the Sky News Timeline

BBC Iraq inquiry - day by day timeline of evidence given

Helping Afghan Farmers

US military boosts efforts to help Afghan farmers

The American military is expanding its efforts to rebuild Afghanistan's agriculture after decades of war left the nation's farm-based economy in ruins.

Once a major exporter of dried fruits, nuts and exotic crops such as pomegranates, Afghanistan is now known mainly for growing poppies for the opium trade.

Many farmers who knew how to successfully raise food crops were killed or fled the country during the past three decades, said Col. Martin Leppert, who oversees the Army National Guard's Afghan agribusiness effort from offices in Arlington, Va.

"Imagine if everyone who was a farmer got up and left Kansas - we'd have to re-teach those people who are still there. That's what we're trying to do in Afghanistan," Leppert said...>>>>>

This reminds me of a few of the programs used during our 'Nam occupation, maybe it'll work now. But these types of programs should have started after taking down the Taliban and while still searching for the criminal element al Qaeda, not in creating more and more hatreds making it extremely dangerous for NGO's to work effectively in these countries in trying to help the residents of, more dangerous by enhancing the Taliban movement as well as the al Qaeda network of criminals!!

Reaching Out to the Afghan Women

Female Marines Reach Out to Afghan Women

Marine Capt. Stacy Blackburn-Hoelscher and her all-female team in the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade have a unique mission: Reaching out to the women of Afghanistan. (CBS)

Marine Team Military Formed Last Summer Tasked to Gain Intelligence From Afghanistan's Female Population

Marine Capt. Stacy Blackburn-Hoelscher and her all-female team in the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade have a unique mission: Reaching out to the women of Afghanistan.

"We're the first ever that's actually been able to tap into that population," Blackburn-Hoelscher told CBS News Correspondent Mandy Clark. "This culture is pretty sensitive about men talking to their women."...>>>>>

Laying Peaceful Foundation

Women of the U.S. Marines are on a special mission to win over the hearts and minds of Afghan women. As Mandy Clark reports, these links with Afghan women are essential.

These are the type of good works, with intelligence gathering as only a small part of, after ground is already lost by invasion, death, destruction and occupation, that can help in securing stability within an occupied country. But as soon as a war atrocity or perceived by those living there as an atrocity all that good will and help is almost totally lost making it harder and harder to start over in winning the Hearts and Minds of a population that mostly will support those trying to rid it's country of the forces occupying it and the support grows.

It would be a much different World today if after 9/11 and the invasion of Afghanistan, seeking out the criminal leaders and their bands, the military forces had stayed in that country, the western countries had kept their promises of help in rebuilding and similar connections were made with the population of innocent beings. Instead of quickly seeking out to destroy another country and it's people and leaving this one to fester and grow it's hatreds from occupation!

Added 01.05.2010

Wounded warrior women come together

Jan. 4: The military provides rehabilitation programs for veterans, but for many, the physical and mental challenges linger for years. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports on a new program that caters to the unique needs of female service members.

Remember Chemical Ali.......

CHEMICAL ALI IRAQ INQUIRY OFFER

Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, will give evidence at the inquiry into the Iraq War
THREE of Saddam Hussein’s most hated henchmen have volunteered to give evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War.

A lawyer acting for Saddam’s former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, his ex-interior minister Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali ,and his private secretary Humad Humadi wrote to Sir John Chilcot last week.

Giovanni di Stefano said his clients were all prepared to testify and be cross-examined via video link from their prison cells in Iraq....>>>>>

Now that Saddams gone, still wondering whatever happened to all those look a likes he had, this might be really interesting to hear, unless they ramble on senselessly, as to any relationships here with their once good friends, any friend of our good friend Saddam was a friend of ours, and what might have been going on behind the scenes or what might not have!

And more voices are being heard, across the pond, as the Iraq War Inquiry on break for the holidays is set to resume soon.

Tony Blair's Predecessor Criticizes Him Over Iraq War

John Major says the current inquiry into the war raises some very big, important questions regarding the British government's stated aims for invading Iraq

Snip

"I supported the Iraq war because I believed what the prime minister said. I had myself been prime minister in the first Gulf war and I knew that when I said something I was utterly certain that it was correct and I said less than I know," he said. "I assumed the same thing had happened and on that basis I supported reluctantly the second Iraq war."...>>>>>

And in this report at the Voice of America site, also found at other sources, we get this quote from Mr Majors:

"The argument that Saddam Hussein was a bad man and therefore must be removed simply will not do," he added. "There are many bad men around the world who run countries and we do not topple them...>>>>>

Boy did he hit that one out of the park, especially as to here in the once United States. We readily go after attempts to topple those we hire, and have their fingers on the buttons of war, with such evil doings, against our National Security, as 'blowjobs' that leave stains on dresses. Making those attempts the prime issue so our other hires, Congress, can stay away from doing anything towards the many needs of the country, like say over site, investigative hearings especially into government corruption, and regulations to keep the extremely greedy dishonest in check, upholding the laws and regulations they make for us all and more. You know, that which we hire them to do in representing us.

Nope, instead of seeking Impeachment and Indictments for the growing list of possible crimes, especially possible War Crimes against others, Crimes against Our Constitution and International Law, we helped establish, and they are sworn to uphold all, as they send our military into occupations of others and the proof of the suspected trumped up reasons for doing so start coming forward rapidly as the lies they were corruption in the extremely shady deals with corporate powers and their lobbyist. Just because the opposition political party fears loosing upcoming elections and the supporters of those possible criminals quickly try and erase the thoughts of criminal actions and their own blatant hypocrisy and shift any blame on others. We've also got a huge problem in overlooking the blatant corruption taking place between our representatives and the corporate powers and army of corporate well paid lobbyist.

The just above quote leads directly to this one:

And indeed, in earlier years we had actually supported Saddam when he was fighting against Iran....>>>>>

Which in turn leads us back to the request from ours, and the Brits, once friends Chemical Ali, Tariq Aziz and Humad Humadi.

And an interesting request especially in light of the recent judges ruling as to our very own personal, high paid high price, personal private army of civilian security contractors, Mercenaries, there's this piece:

Don’t Call Them Mercenaries

Modern security professionals have been referred to in the media as “mercenaries”. This is a derogatory reference, and is inaccurate; a mercenary sells his services to the highest bidder – a purely mercantile relationship – and their activities may cover the entire operational spectrum, outside of legal constraints. In serving the U.S. DoD overseas, independent contractors are limited to a defensive role, and – contrary to commonly-held belief – are fully accountable under U.S. and international law.

There is an unwritten code of ethics amongst security professionals; we are not criminals or “soldiers of fortune”. Amongst my colleagues, an operator who conducts himself as some kind of flamboyant gunslinger is regarded as a potential loose cannon, to be avoided.

We possess a unique skill set and we perform a vital service. Like professional athletes, we are paid exactly what we are worth and it is never enough – for example: try to get a life insurance policy in this line of work...>>>>>

Right, Uh Huh!!

That's why most of you were military soldiers and quickly got out at the first chance joining these private armies for those meager six figure incomes in occupation theaters and wherever else you're sent on this planet, it's called War Profiteering, instead of re-enlisting in that professional military you left covered by the laws of, in this country, the UCMJ and the Constitution, as well as the Laws of the countries and militaries you came from as well as possibly the laws of those occupied!

Hell you didn't even take a look see at the intelligence agencies within your countries, which would be similar to actual service to same, you knew you might be able to work with them and not have to worry about answering to any chain of command for anything you do, and if fired for whatever reason you can quickly find another private army or the highest bidder!

Then you can write about how Patriotic and Professional you are and even like Professional Athletes, that one probably to justify those huge blood money pay checks!

But you might have even more of a problem then the possible involvement of any soldiers or government workers in War and Occupation issues and actions like these:

Defence probe into secret Army unit accused of torturing Iraqis

Probe: A secret British Army unit operating near Basra is being investigated over allegations of torture by Iraqis

A secret British interrogation unit is being investigated after dozens of Iraqis claimed its members had tortured them, it emerged today.

The Iraqis' British lawyers claim the Joint Forward Intelligence Team (JFIT) was made responsible for interrogating suspected insurgents at a base near Basra - and given free rein to act without control from British Army generals in Iraq.

Snip

The former detainees name individuals from the unit they say were responsible, while their lawyers claim the JFIT was formed of a variety of military, MI5 and military staff who took orders from London, rather than superiors in Iraq...>>>>>

Or this:

Afghans rally against rising civilian killings

Afghans protest against the recent killings of 10 civilians allegedly by coalition forces

Afghan students have rallied in Jalalabad and threatened to "take up guns instead of pens and fight occupation forces" if the Karzai regime fails to stop the indiscriminate killing of civilians by occupation troops.

Hundreds of university students blocked main roads in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province to protest over the latest deaths - 10 civilians, mostly schoolchildren, who were apparently gunned down execution-style by US special forces in the Narang district of Kunar province on Saturday....>>>>>

If you 'non-mercenaries' had any type of involvement in, or the many other possibilities of tragic, atrocities of war, events that occur in occupation theaters and put the lives of the soldiers into even more danger by your actions, You might or you might not have a big problem.

But you can print out the above sites explanation and pass it on to any judge, gee you think that Chemical Ali, Tariq Aziz, Humad Humadi and the oh so many others anywhere would try and use your defense, and these were government officials. Didn't work for Saddam to well now did it, and he, like you're saying, was a hired gun, CIA and probably others, before many helped him into power to rule over Iraq!!

Iraq to support Blackwater lawsuit in U.S. courts

Iraq will help victims of the 2007 shooting of civilians in Baghdad to file a U.S. lawsuit against employees of security firm Blackwater, an incident that turned a spotlight on the United States' use of private contractors in war zones...>>>>>

Watch the Inquiry Live when in Session

Written Transcripts by Date

Oral: The Video's by Date

See how the Inquiry is unfolding on the Sky News Timeline

BBC Iraq inquiry - day by day timeline of evidence given

The bush/repub Years

As the old saying goes, "Read it and Weep!"



ZERO Net Jobs Created Since 1999

For most of the past 70 years, the U.S. economy has grown at a steady clip, generating perpetually higher incomes and wealth for American households. But since 2000, the story is starkly different.

The past decade was the worst for the U.S. economy in modern times, a sharp reversal from a long period of prosperity that is leading economists and policymakers to fundamentally rethink the underpinnings of the nation's growth.

Snip

There has been zero net job creation since December 1999. No previous decade going back to the 1940s had job growth of less than 20 percent. Economic output rose at its slowest rate of any decade since the 1930s as well.

Middle-income households made less in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, than they did in 1999 -- and the number is sure to have declined further during a difficult 2009. The Aughts were the first decade of falling median incomes since figures were first compiled in the 1960s.

And the net worth of American households -- the value of their houses, retirement funds and other assets minus debts -- has also declined when adjusted for inflation, compared with sharp gains in every previous decade since data were initially collected in the 1950s. ..>>>>>

There wasn't a month in those eight years that went into positive job creation numbers, for a very short time that was being reported, then it quickly stopped and never mentioned again!

With two occupations started they even kept changing the numbers of recruiting monthly goals to show them as continuing reaching the military numbers needed for National Security and Two Occupations. They also raised the recruitment age and lowered the criminal backrounds!

Will add:

Though many will say the Democrats took over Congress in '08 so maybe they should share any blame for the last couple of years all one would need do is visit the Congressional Records to see that they've been trying to clean up the total mess, in a number of area's, that preceeded them from the No working repubs. Just take the Veterans and Military, i.e. Walter Reed and Base living etc.. They were finally doing oversite and investigative hearings into what wasn't done or didn't concern the previous congresses as they waged two long running occupations with their rubber stamping of that administrations wants!!

Oh ya, they were also telling us that with the new, after 9/11, Homeland Security Agency that intelligence sharing was working better then ever before!! We saw how good on Christmas Day!!

On The NewsHour Last Night: Analysis

Pakistan Blast Sharpens Concerns on Taliban

Following a week in which militant attacks killed seven CIA operatives in Afghanistan and at least 75 people at a volleyball match in Pakistan, Ray Suarez speaks with a pair of experts about rising instability in the region...Transcript and Video/Audio

The growth of not only the Taliban but also al Qaeda factions in the border region, Afghanistan and Pakistan can be brought right back at the previous administration and walking out to Iraq while causing Afghanistan to stagnate, but also in the dealings of our government with Pakistan at that time.

That growth as well as the last eight years, also the Israeli actions on the Palestinians, have caused what's seemingly a huge growth in al Qaeda factions, in Somalia and Yemen at the very least, whether directly affiliated or just flying under that banner to be recognized as being a part of the larger enemy of the west. Someone mentioned the other day they really enjoy being called 'terrorist', i.e. warriors, rather then criminals which is what the label 'terrorist' and directed at one name, al Qaeda, gives them.

The cheney/bush regime, with their own extremist rubber stamping congress, gave bin Laden and company just what they wanted, an enhanced radical movement of criminal terror, without borders, that will continue into the coming decades, and we keep feeding it not diminishing it!

I'm still trying to figure out why these News outlets keep using Michael Scheuer as the ex-cia spokesperson, plenty of much better ones to choose from, but he only makes a couple of really short statement points in this report prior to discussion and does no damage.

U.S. Principles??

In the new year, U.S. must live up to its principles

The start of a new year is typically a time for reflection as well as celebration. Most of the resolutions that result from this annual attempt at self-improvement don't survive their first encounter with an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Here is one resolution that should be made, but won't be for two reasons. First, it has to be taken as a nation and not just individually. And second, it requires a greater degree of introspection than we appear collectively capable of.

The resolution itself is simple — that we live up to the principles for which we say we stand....>>>>>

They've become unrecognizable to this old man, who grew up and watched them disappear, the hard fought for by our granparents, parents and many of us as we tried to continue the thought of leaving a better world for those who follow!!

U.S.: 'arranged secret prisoner exchange' {UpDated}

Minimizing the Blowback one step at a time?

According to U.S. sources what's being said by the father is not what happened.

Peter Moore: US 'arranged secret prisoner exchange'

Peter Moore's father claims US agents negotiated a secret prisoner exchange deal Photo: PA

US hostage negotiators secretly arranged a prisoner exchange deal with Peter Moore's captors behind the back of the British Government, Mr Moore's father has claimed.

As Mr Moore flew back to Britain to be reunited with his family, Graeme Moore said he received a text message from a source who said the Americans were arranging a deal with the kidnappers involving the release of the Shia cleric Qais al-Khazali.

He was told the Foreign Office was being kept in the dark about the negotiations to stop them "messing it up".

Snip

The leader of Asaib al-Haq, or the League of Righteousness, was transferred from US to Iraqi custody shortly before the release of 36-year-old Mr Moore, who had been held since May 2007....>>>>>

According to the father, as stated in this report, he was informed about movement in trying to get the release of his son some four weeks ago about secret meetings with the kidnappers and the U.S. as to a swap.

And what the U.S. spokesperson is saying in denying and such secret talks and swap took place:

"Separately, the government of Iraq is carrying out a process of reconciliation with groups willing to renounce violence and enter the political mainstream.

"Since holding hostages is incompatible with reconciliation, we judge that progress on the wider reconciliation effort will benefit hostages held in Iraq...>>>>>

As the Brits are holding the Chilcot Iraq War Inquiry, to resume once again shortly after the New Year, that will help slightly in minimizing blowback from the previous decades extremely failed policies especially as to the invasion, occupation, death, destruction and creation of millions of Iraqi refugee's inside the country as well as fleeing to other countries, but Accountability for the orders givin under fabricated or known lies must take place for all involved, especially the leaders of here in the United States.

If there were negotiations, even if only perceived to be as to the closeness of the transfer of the Shia cleric Qais al-Khazali and the release of Peter Moore, that only can be seen as a positive by many in Iraq and the region.

Trouble is, as in any occupation anywhere, positive steps forward in trying to correct the wrongs and do good deeds or win hearts and minds of those who live in these occupations are quickly erased and more steps are lost when the extreme negatives occur wiping out not only the small steps forward at the time but those that preceded.

And only a few days after the release of Moore and transfer of the Cleric to Iraqi authorities we get this result from a U.S. judges ruling regarding perceived extreme crimes against innocent Iraqi's, i.e. war atrocities:

Iraq 'to appeal Blackwater verdict'

The Iraqi government will push to appeal a US court ruling dismissing charges of murder against five security guards of the private Blackwater firm, an official has told Al Jazeera.

Saad al-Muttalibi, an adviser to the Iraqi council of ministers, said that if the guards did not receive a just sentence for the killing of 14 Iraqis in 2007, the issue would complicate relations between Iraq and the United States.

"This matter will be appealed in the American court and if not resolved correctly, this will definitely add another strain on the relationship between Iraq and the United States," he said on Friday.

"The legality or the procedures of the court case should not stop the criminals from facing justice and receiving a just sentence.

"This is very bad ... for the overall look of the United States outside its borders. It's very important for the Americans to realize that this will work against their interests in Iraq and other places."...>>>>>

There has already been blowback on American Soldiers because of the perception of this war crime, if they couldn't get to any mercs behind military guards on the bases they lived the blowback came at the soldiers on patrols, will the judges ruling, showing no accountability or even respect for human rights laws by a trial to show whether guilty or innocent of the charges, bring more blowback.

Here's hoping the Iraqi's request for appeal will be honored, according to these blackwater merc statements, all ex-military, they still don't grasp the possibility of what their actions caused and even no apologies have come forth!

General Ray Odierno

commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, echoed the Iraqi government's displeasure.

"Of course we're upset when we believe that people might have caused a crime and they are not held accountable," he told reporters in Baghdad, adding the dismissal might create a backlash against other security firms operating in Iraq.

The shooting happened as a heavily armed Blackwater convoy escorted U.S. officials in downtown Baghdad on September 16 2007....>>>>>

In a spoken statement just on NPR the General not only stated about backlash on other security firms but U.S. Soldiers as well!

Added: Despite What U.S. Sources Say........

Freed hostage says he wasn't in Iran

The British hostage released this week by his Iraqi captors said Iran was not involved in his kidnapping.

Peter Moore, named two locations where he was held during his 2 1/2 years of captivity during a debriefing, The Times of London reported Friday. He also told investigators he last saw the four other men snatched with him about 18 months ago.

Moore's comments bolsters the British Foreign Ministry's stance that it has no evidence indicating Iran was directly involved in the kidnappings or that the hostages were held in Iran, The Times said...>>>>>

UpDate

Iraq to sue ex-Blackwater guards

A woman peeks inside a blood-stained car in Baghdad, Iraq, after the shootout in 2007.

Iraq said Friday that it will file a lawsuit against five Blackwater security guards cleared of manslaughter charges in the 2007 killing of 17 Iraqi civilians, an act a government official called murder.

The Iraqi government also will ask the U.S. Justice Department to appeal a federal judge's "unfair and unacceptable" dismissal of the charges Thursday, spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said...>>>>>

Anything I can do to Help Them, just call, the Iraqi's That Is!!!!
These ex-military Mercs still haven't a clue as to the damage they've done to active brother and sister soldiers nor to this country!!

Blackwater trial:

15 minutes of gunfire which left 17 dead

"It was about noon," he recalled. ''I heard a bursts of fire enter the car in front of me. It caught fire and a lady and her son were killed. I tried to drive away down the wrong side of the road but they shot at me and hit me in the arm."

There was screaming and blood all around as Iraqi police and soldiers tried to return fire on the Blackwater guards who had started the shooting.

"The shooting may have continued for 15 minutes," Abdul-Kahad said. "It's hard to be sure. I was crouched and bleeding in my car for an hour until Iraqi guards came to rescue me. I still haven't recovered from what I went through."...>>>>>