Blackwater

September 26, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ decision to investigate the role of security contractors in Iraq:

“Secretary Gates’ decision to investigate the Pentagon’s oversight of security contractors in Iraq is a welcome development, but it’s important for the Bush Administration to provide a more complete accounting of the role of contractors generally in Iraq.”    » read more »

23 September 2007 -- An Iraqi government official says throwing the Blackwater security company out of Iraq would leave a security "vacuum" and divert troops from battle to security duties.

Two panels made up of key Iraqi and U.S. officials are investigating a deadly incident involving Blackwater security a week ago that left 11 Iraqis dead.    » read more »

Asks for Answers from Pentagon on Blackwater; Obama bill would promote contractor accountability and transparency

September 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) sent the following letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, calling on him to answer questions about the Blackwater incident and the role of private security contractors and the impact of their operations in Iraq.    » read more »

19 September 2007-- The U.S. and Iraqi governments are setting up a joint commission to examine the controversial role of private security companies operating in Iraq. The action follows a lethal incident Sunday involving the American security contractor Blackwater USA.

Officials here say the joint commission will not investigate the Sunday shooting incident, which is already the subject of parallel U.S. and Iraqi inquiries.    » read more »

18 September 2007 -- The U.S. State Department is promising an open and transparent investigation of a Baghdad shooting incident Sunday involving an American security contractor that left 11 people dead. The Iraq interior ministry says it is withdrawing the license of the company, Blackwater USA, but officials in Washington say no formal notice of the action has been received.    » read more »

September 17, 2007 -- Oversight Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement this afternoon following the press accounts that Iraq had revoked the license of U.S. contractor Blackwater:

“The controversy over Blackwater is an unfortunate demonstration of the perils of excessive reliance on private security contractors. The Oversight Committee will be holding hearings to understand what has happened and the extent of the damage to U.S. security interests.”

Source: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform