After a Baghdad security incident in which numerous bystanders were killed, two leaders gave orders in the Middle East's newest democracy. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki revoked Blackwater Security's license to operate in the country and U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice ordered another famous Bush investigation to get to the bottom of what happened. Guess which one stuck? Condi's did as the firm continued working in Iraq on Friday.
Blackwater continues to operate in country, escorting U.S. State Department teams under normal operations. So how does this happen? Besides the gaping holes provided private security firms in U.S., Iraqi and international law, Blackwater works for the State Department. They can leverage international diplomatic agreements and the undemocratic practice of diplomatic immunity. Consider it a double shot of unaccountability. When you add in the Bush administration's intransigence toward existing laws and disdain toward the basics of a competent investigation, it turns into an alcoholic's dream with abundant shot glasses of hubris.
So good try, weak Prime Minister al-Maliki. When you can't control who does business in your country, someone else is running the show. So that's where Condi's been hiding!
Blackwater continues to operate in country, escorting U.S. State Department teams under normal operations. So how does this happen? Besides the gaping holes provided private security firms in U.S., Iraqi and international law, Blackwater works for the State Department. They can leverage international diplomatic agreements and the undemocratic practice of diplomatic immunity. Consider it a double shot of unaccountability. When you add in the Bush administration's intransigence toward existing laws and disdain toward the basics of a competent investigation, it turns into an alcoholic's dream with abundant shot glasses of hubris.
So good try, weak Prime Minister al-Maliki. When you can't control who does business in your country, someone else is running the show. So that's where Condi's been hiding!
