Blackwater sours United States-Iraqi political relations

It seemed that up until this past week all we could hear about from the majority of lawmakers in the federal government and some military personnel was how unorganized the government of the Republic of Iraq's (the updated name for the country) Prime Minister and Parliament are.

However, on Monday, that same government, of the United States' protégé nation, through quite the curve ball to President Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when they revoked the license of one of the biggest private security firms in the United States, Blackwater USA.

Heads turned in the west as they asked themselves, "Did they really just so that?"

The decision stemmed from an incident the previous day, Sunday, Sept. 16, in which, according to CNN, private security contractors from Blackwater were escorting their clients in SUVs in West Baghdad to their destination, when a car bomb exploded outside of their end point. Shooting ensued between Blackwater's men and eight to 10 unidentified shooters.

The shooters were said to have been wearing civilian clothing as well as Iraqi police uniforms.

When it was all over, there were eight Iraqis dead and 14 wounded. And most of these were civilians.

According to the State Department, one or more of the vehicles were disabled.

And when push came to shove, the ex-Navy SEALs that were contracted did what they do best.

As of Friday, Blackwater resumed normal operations, but are now the target of a federal investigation for the killing of the civilians.

But there was nothing new about this scenario.

Private security firms have been in Iraq protecting government contractors and diplomats since the United States successfully invaded Iraq.

So then why is the U.S. government taking what happened in Western Baghdad and the subsequent Iraqi government ruling so seriously?

It is because the clients Blackwater was escorting were members of the State Department.

These events have two demonstrative purposes: showing the emphasis the federal government has placed in the hands of private security firms and, yet again, the edginess that exists between al-Maliki's and the U.S.'s governments.

With their numbers ranging in the area of 25,000 people, these security firms have allowed themselves to cover the terrain of the desert country, to a point, where, most of out government officials are protected by private guards, and not the United States military.

This might seem strange at first, as it did to me.

However, after looking a little deeper I found out what made choosing these people other than the military more attractive, politically, (and would allow for less headaches).

All facets of the United States military have to report to their hierarchy, and in the case of a firefight gone awry, a court martial.

However in the case of private security firms, whom do you think they report to?

The answer, no one.

That's because a law was passed regarding these firms, stating that they are immune from Iraqi law.

And who do you think was responsible for drawing up and passing this law in 2004?

It was the United States of America. The country who just so happens to be Blackwater's biggest and most generous client.

Just how friendly are the two? Well, if you look at the staggering numbers, Blackwater has about 1,000 employees in Iraq, and was given a whopping $800 million in government contracts.

Now, if you ask me, that really is a good friend.

Now, with no one to legally police them, some extreme critics might say that Iraq is Blackwater's playground.

With the Iraqi law enforcement very immature and being employed by contractors, private guards have tremendous leeway.

All of this leeway that has led to multiple complaints by the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people, with four of these complaints lodged against Blackwater.

The controversy continues into the Iraqi government, where, the can legally revoke the registration of a private security company -- an action they were not hesitant about taking after this controversial shootout involving civilians.

I am not one to take the extreme view on this issue.

But am, however, concerned when I look at the connection our government has with Blackwater and other private security companies and the immunity given over Iraqi law.

It makes me believe that the government's priorities lie in a form of cronyism and less so in holding these private firms more accountable for, in layman's terms, "the law of the land."

This incident also brings up to the forefront the questionable faith the U.S. government is placing in the Iraqi Parliament.

They seem so eager to give them political independence.

But,on top of passing laws that grant immunity for a select group of Americans, it seems that as soon as the Iraqi government starts showing off political muscle contrary to the likings of the United States government, all of a sudden there a big problem arises.

It is time that we put pressure on these firms, just as Congress was beginning to do last week -- the same government that has allowed almost $4 billion in government contracts for Iraq's "rebuilding" to pass, with no slowing down in sight.