Inquiry details Blackwater firings
The private security contractor has sacked 122 of its armed guards in Iraq, a congressional investigation says.
By Peter Spiegel
Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- Blackwater USA, the private security contractor under scrutiny for killing civilians in a Baghdad shootout last month, has fired 122 of its armed guards in Iraq since it started protecting U.S. diplomats, according to a congressional investigation.
The firings, most frequently the result of weapons-related incidents, amount to more than once-seventh of Blackwater's current workforce in Iraq. None of those fired have been subject to any legal proceedings or other sanctions, the investigation found.
The disclosures came today in a memo by the staff of Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Beverly Hills) sent to members of the House Oversight Committee, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on Blackwater on Tuesday. Erik Prince, Blackwater's founder, is scheduled to appear at the hearing.
In the 15-page memo, Waxman's staff said the State Department had either ignored misconduct by Blackwater or, as in one high-profile incident, was involved in making sure a Blackwater employee accused of killing an Iraqi guard while intoxicated was flown out of the country less than 36 hours after the shooting.
"Even in cases involving the death of Iraqis, it appears that the State Department's primary response was to ask Blackwater to make monetary payments to 'put the matter behind us,' rather than to insist upon accountability or to investigate Blackwater personnel for potential criminal liability," the memo said. "The most serious consequence faced by Blackwater personnel for misconduct appears to be termination of their employment."
The State Department and Pentagon are investigating the latest shooting involving Blackwater, which took place Sept. 16 and resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Iraqis. FBI officials said today that the agency would take part in the investigation.
Of the 122 firings, 28 were for weapons-related incidents, including two for improperly firing at Iraqis and one for threatening Iraqis with a firearm. Twenty-five were dismissed for drug and alcohol violations and 16 for "inappropriate/lewd conduct."
Blackwater and State Department spokesmen said that they would not comment on the specific allegations made in the memo, but expected them to be addressed by officials at Tuesday's hearing.
