BAGHDAD — The U.S. security firm once known as Blackwater ended its operations in the diplomatic hub of Baghdad on Thursday, bringing to a close a bitter chapter in U.S.-Iraqi relations that began with a deadly shooting by its contractors.
Iraqis welcomed the departure from the capital of the company, which has protected American diplomats in Iraq since the start of the war in 2003. The company, which has changed its name to Xe, will continue to have guards in some southern areas and to run its aviation service and through September.
The end of the firm’s Baghdad operations comes nearly two years after the Iraqi government first demanded it leave after the September 2007 shooting on a busy square in central Baghdad that left as many as 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
It was small consolation for Iraqis.
Iraqis have long complained about the heavy-handed behavior of security contractors for Blackwater and other companies. That anger peaked after the 2007 shootings that killed several civilians.
The shooting strained relations between Baghdad and Washington and became an issue in negotiations over a U.S.-Iraqi security pact that took effect on Jan. 1 as the Iraqis demanded the lifting of the blanket immunity that contractors had.
by the associated press
Iraqis welcomed the departure from the capital of the company, which has protected American diplomats in Iraq since the start of the war in 2003. The company, which has changed its name to Xe, will continue to have guards in some southern areas and to run its aviation service and through September.
The end of the firm’s Baghdad operations comes nearly two years after the Iraqi government first demanded it leave after the September 2007 shooting on a busy square in central Baghdad that left as many as 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
It was small consolation for Iraqis.
Iraqis have long complained about the heavy-handed behavior of security contractors for Blackwater and other companies. That anger peaked after the 2007 shootings that killed several civilians.
The shooting strained relations between Baghdad and Washington and became an issue in negotiations over a U.S.-Iraqi security pact that took effect on Jan. 1 as the Iraqis demanded the lifting of the blanket immunity that contractors had.
by the associated press
No comments:
Post a Comment