The five Blackwater security guards accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad are expected to hand themselves over to federal authorities by today.
Charges to be brought against them are expected to be for manslaughter.
The five men's identities had been kept secret for more than a year, but were also released yesterday, Dec 7, 2008. They are: Evan Liberty and Donald Ball, both 26-year-old former marines, Dustin Heard, a 27-year-old ex-marine, Nick Slatten, 25, an ex-army sergeant, and Paul Slough, a 29-year-old army veteran.
A sixth guard, who has not been named, has reached a plea bargain deal with prosecutors to avoid a mandatory 30-year prison sentence.
According to Blackwater officials, the guards were returning fire after their convoy was shot at in Baghdad's al-Nisoor Square. However, FBI investigators found in late 2007 that most of the 17 deaths had been unjustified. An Iraqi government spokesman has said that they believed that the attack were tantamount to deliberate murder.
I sincerely hope that the families of these innocent people, gunned down by an arrogant Blackwater private security force, will get justice.
The American people need to know that our military will not condone the actions of a few ‘hired guns’. Actions by this administration have severely damaged the hard fought-for respect that our fathers and brothers in the military died to earn. This nation cannot be associated with ‘soldiers of fortune’ if we are to retain that respect.
The hiring of private security forces is a step towards fascism and in this case was put in place for the financial benefit of current and ex-government and military officials. Bush, Cheney and all Department of Defense officials should be held accountable for the atmosphere created by this misguided and irresponsible decision.
The U.S. made a major mistake in hiring what amounts to a private militia to take over what has been traditionally a military role, and the practice should be abandoned.
Allowing these individuals to go unpunished will be a major blow against U.S. foreign relations and the American people for years to come.
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