U.S. Sergeant Refuses to Serve in ‘Illegal’ War
May 16, 2008 On Thursday, a group of U.S. soldiers spoke before members of Congress about the failings of the Iraq war and the immeasurable toll it has taken on Iraqis and American troops. Afterward, Sgt. Matthis Chiroux announced that he is refusing to serve in Iraq.
Blackwater Bounces Back
May 11, 2008 Over the last year, Blackwater Worldwide has been under fire from critics at home and abroad, but that hasn't stopped the private security firm. In fact, the State Department has just re-upped Blackwater's Iraq contract, thanks in part to the magic of lobbying. Also, State Department officials don't seem to think they have much choice.
The Imperial Palace of Iraq
Apr 18, 2008 Nothing says permanent U.S. occupation of Iraq more than the construction of the largest embassy in the world, a $474-million compound with 27 different buildings, 619 apartments and an Olympic-size swimming pool -- all, of course, for a country with 26.7 million people and 115 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.Blackwater Gassed Baghdad Checkpoint in 2005
Jan 11, 2008 The questionable actions of Blackwater Worldwide are coming back to haunt the private security contractor once again, this time regarding an incident in May 2005. In that incident Blackwater teams on the ground and in the air near a busy Green Zone checkpoint released CS gas, which is used by the U.S. military only sparingly and only in strictly controlled circumstances. The gas temporarily compromised American troops' ability to maintain security in the area.Rep. Poe: Halliburton/KBR Gang Rape Not ‘Isolated Case’
Dec 14, 2007 Texas Rep. Ted Poe, pushing for a probe into the case of former Halliburton/KBR employee Jamie Leigh Jones, who says she was gang-raped by co-workers in Iraq and then intimidated into keeping silent, urged other possible victims of crimes against U.S. contract employees working abroad to come forward, saying he believes Jones' case is not unique.
Gang-Rape Victim Accuses Halliburton/KBR of Cover-Up
Dec 11, 2007 Over two years ago, Jamie Leigh Jones was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad's Green Zone when she was gang-raped, allegedly by several co-workers. According to Jones, instead of attending to her injuries and bringing her assailants to justice, KBR officials held her for 24 hours in a shipping container without food or water and then told her she would lose her job if she left Iraq. Now, it's unclear whether the case will go to trial, and her attackers may escape punishment due to a legal loophole regarding U.S. contractors working abroad.Blackwater Founder Takes a Beating in Congress
Oct 3, 2007 Blackwater USA founder and chairman Erik Prince stubbornly defended his company Tuesday while members of the House Oversight Committee grilled him with questions such as "Why are we privatizing our military to an organization that has been aggressive and in some cases reckless in the handling of their duties?"
More Bad News for Blackwater
Sep 24, 2007 Any lingering question as to whether Blackwater USA security contractors were to blame in the Sept. 16 shootout in Baghdad that left 11 Iraqis dead and 12 wounded may be cleared up by a videotape of the incident, which was reportedly filmed from a nearby police station.Privatizing Murder
Sep 20, 2007 There is no set piece more emblematic of the tragic farce that is the American involvement in Iraq than the grotesque episode of Blackwater USA and the killing of civilians in Baghdad -- at least nine and as many as 28 -- on Sunday.
