InfoAnda - Blackwater out of Iraq? No, not yet

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Comedian Joan Rivers works voodoo magic in New Orleans | | 24 August 2012
Yemeni President Saleh Is Out, But Yemen’s Future Uncertain | 5 June 2011
Belgium back in crisis as mediator quits | | 5 September 2010

Paramore To Headline 2010 Honda Civic Tour | 13 March 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Blackwater out of Iraq? No, not yet

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Blackwater out of Iraq? No, not yet By MATTHEW LEE and MIKE BAKER,Associated Press Writers AP - Tuesday, April 21 WASHINGTON - Armed guards from the security firm once known as Blackwater Worldwide are still protecting U.S. diplomats in Iraq, even though the company has no license to operate there and has been told by the State Department its contracts will not be renewed two years after a lethal firefight that stirred outrage in Baghdad. ADVERTISEMENT Private security guards employed by the company, now known as Xe, are slated to continue ground operations in parts of Iraq long into the summer, far longer than had previously been acknowledged, government officials told The Associated Press. In addition, helicopters working for Xe's aviation wing, Presidential Airways, will provide air security for U.S. diplomatic convoys into September, almost two years after the Iraqi government first said it wanted the firm out. The Washington Times first reported that Blackwater, or Xe, signed a $22.2 million deal in February with the State Department to keep the company working there through most of the summer. The company's continued presence raises fresh questions about the strength of Iraq's sovereignty even as the Obama administration urges the budding government to take more responsibility for the nation's future. Iraqis had long complained about incidents caused by Blackwater's operations. Then a shooting by Blackwater guards in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in September 2007 left 17 civilians dead, further strained relations between Baghdad and Washington and led U.S. prosecutors to bring charges against the Blackwater contractors involved. That deadly incident was the end, Iraqi leaders said. Blackwater had to get out. But State Department officials acknowledge the company is still there. The company declined to comment about a timetable for leaving. "We follow the direction of our U.S. government client," Xe spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said. Last February, Blackwater changed its name to Xe _ pronounced ZEE _ in a bid to leave its controversial reputation behind. Defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute in Arlington, Va., said Iraq's ability to enforce bans on companies like Blackwater may provide an early measurement of the strength of its internal sovereignty. As the Iraqi leaders gain more control, he said, the final exit for Blackwater will be inevitable. "But let's face it, they're not entirely their own masters yet," he said. In Baghdad, an Iraqi security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said that while Xe will not be allowed to work in Iraq, the company needs "some time" to fully shut down its operations there. The official did not give further details on the timetable. The State Department's continued reliance on Blackwater also underscores the difficulties facing the U.S. government in finding other options to protect its diplomats in dangerous areas. Department officials said this month that Blackwater guards would stop protecting U.S. diplomats on the ground in Baghdad on May 7, when the company's contract for that specific job expires and a new security provider, Triple Canopy, takes over. But in its statement following the Iraqi government's decision to prohibit Blackwater from operating there, State did not reveal that the firm has two other contracts _ known as "task orders" _ that do not expire until August and September respectively. Blackwater guards will remain on the ground protecting American diplomats in al Hillah, Najaf and Karbala, all south of Baghdad, until Aug. 4, according to the department. And Presidential Airways _ which operates some two dozen helicopters _ will continue to fly until Sept. 3, it said. After the Nisoor Square deaths, Iraqi officials ruled that North Carolina-based Blackwater would be barred from operating in the country. Despite the ban, the State Department renewed Blackwater's contract seven months later, in April, 2008. It wasn't until January of this year, when Iraqi authorities denied the company an operating license, that the Obama administration said it would not renew the company's existing task orders. On Jan. 30, the department said it had informed Blackwater in writing that it "did not plan to renew the company's existing task orders for protective security detail in Iraq." On Feb. 2, though, the department signed a revised task order for Presidential Airways that allowed the Blackwater-owned airline to operate through Sept. 3, according to a federal public procurement database. Department officials deny any impropriety in the move because the change in the task order was a revision of an old contract. Karl Duckworth, a State spokesman, said the Iraqi government did not tell U.S. officials until March 19 that it would bar Presidential Airways' flights. "Based on the government of Iraq's decision, the department notified Xe in writing that it did not plan to renew the company's task order for aviation services in Iraq," Duckworth said. Duckworth said that State would "re-compete the aviation task order," allowing Xe and Virginia-based DynCorp and Triple Canopy to bid for the air security contract. Xe is technically allowed to rebid under federal law because it holds the existing task order. But State would not grant the company a contract because it lacks an operating license in Iraq, officials said. The State Department has not yet selected a successor to Blackwater for ground protection in al Hillah. But both Triple Canopy and DynCorp have the capability to do the job. Some of the same security personnel who worked for Blackwater might simply transfer to the new companies operating there, industry experts say. "As Triple Canopy's work expands, the logical place to start looking and interviewing and evaluating employees will be those who are already there, those who have some skills and are already employed by Blackwater," said Alan Chvotkin, a senior vice president and counsel for the trade group Professional Services Council. Xe, DynCorp and Triple Canopy are all members of the council. Chvotkin added that in view of the controversies over Blackwater's role, "Triple Canopy and other security companies are making an independent assessment of any individual before deciding whether to hire them." The Iraqi official also said that some former Blackwater officials could remain in Iraq, depending on their experience. The transition from Blackwater to a new air security firm may be even more complicated. Chvotkin said it will not be easy to find a firm with Blackwater's air resources. Blackwater should not be ruled out as an option, he said. "Since the nature of the work is so very different, there may actually be authority for them to operate the air services contract even though they don't have a license for private security," Chvotkin said. Blackwater has been shifting its focus to other lines of business, including international training and air support in places like Afghanistan and Africa. ___ Mike Baker reported from Raleigh, N.C. Associated Press Writer Brian Murphy contributed to this report from Baghdad. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article 0 users recommend Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: World NY Times wins 5 Pulitzers amid financial crisisAP - 35 minutes ago Oversight panel has bailout questions for GeithnerAP - 35 minutes ago FBI's newest 'Most Wanted' terrorist is AmericanAP - 36 minutes ago Divided committee to vote on health secretaryAP - 38 minutes ago PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama and black farmersAP - 39 minutes ago Most Popular – World Viewed Police nab Norwegian pair during high-speed sex Physicist Stephen Hawking 'very ill': university 'Beginner's luck' may lay trail to Cleopatra tomb PepsiCo beats profits forecast Bank of America profits roar, but loan losses loom View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Tuesday, 21 April 2009
NATO release of pirates sends wrong signal: Clinton | International |
Russia gives cautious response to Obama nuclear plan | International |
Cartel tells smugglers to live clean life | International |
Ties to poor boost Ecuador's Correa before vote | International |
Germany reports worrying rise in far-right crime | International |
Videogamers show signs of addictive behavior: study | Technology |
Oracle to buy Sun Micro, enters hardware market | Technology |
Nokia sells mobile TV technology unit | Technology |
Text query firm launches new media service | Technology |
Microsoft CEO very surprised by Oracle-Sun deal | Technology |
Page Not Found |
Da Vinci Code follow-up due in September | Entertainment |
Israel seeks U.S. cannon to fight Gaza rockets
Friends say imprisoned journalist is Iran's pawn
Newly in Iraq, Army troops heading to Afghanistan
Oxfam predicts millions more victims of climate
Suicide bomb kills at least four at Iraq checkpoint
Robust profits mask problems in bank sector
Israel: Sirens wail in memory of Holocaust
Physicist Stephen Hawking 'very ill': university
UN chief condemns Ahmadinejad speech on Israel
Bank of America profits roar, but loan losses loom
Obama to cut budget by $100 mln
More people live with paralysis than doctors knew
Pirate suspect's dad says voyage was boy's 1st
Oxfam predicts millions more victims of climate
Obama given euphoric CIA welcome
Oxfam fears climate change could sink aid
Blackwater out of Iraq? No, not yet
US marks Columbine, 10 years on
US-TECH Summary
Mexico approves Cuban-American as US ambassador
Cyberspies hack into U.S. fighter project: report
Court asked to allow ex-Nazi guard's deportation
Web-only newspapers? Don't junk the presses yet
Obama proposes $100 bln loan for IMF war chest
Boston police arrest 'Craigslist killer': report
Obama moves spark hope and uncertainty in Cuba
Google, AT&T and Twitter executives visit Iraq
Google refines searches for pictures and news
Russia pulls out of NATO meeting over Georgia
IBM net profit down but beats expectations
Russia's Medvedev offers to rewrite energy rules
Fox News taps MySpace for citizen journalists
Adobe's Flash video player leaps from Web to TV
Software giant Oracle buys Java whiz Sun
Nokia sells mobile TV technology unit
Taiwan probing military bribery claims
Somali pirates free Philippine tanker, 23 crew
Japan PM sends offering to war shrine
Malaysian ex-leader decries media coverage of PM
China: success in Olympic anti-piracy campaign
China says planning more dams on troubled Yangtze
KRouge prison chief held 'self-criticism' meetings
Three sentenced over arson in 2008 Tibet riots
Thai state of emergency extended by new protest
Taiwan to test China by meeting allies
India central bank cuts lending rates, growth view
Russia, China finalise oil pipeline deal
India's central bank cuts rates by 25 basis points
Seoul shares end flat; LG Elec up after results
Asia markets stabilise, 'lengthy' recovery ahead
Greeks seek refuge in coffee shops amid slump
Philippine growth in Q1 seen at 2.1-3.1 pct
Serbia taps Westerners for medical tourism
Toyota's domestic output to hit three-decade low
Spokesman: Jackie Chan comments out of context
Japan Airlines seeks two-bln-dlr govt loan
Tourists flock to crisis-stricken Iceland
Report: Toyota sees Japan output at 31 year low
Chinese modern dance enjoys taste of freedom
Japan Airlines mulls state loans as travel slumps
Heir to The New York Herald Tribune dies at 95
For chefs in Canada, a tasty seal of approval
Green Day announces summer tour
Coachella organizers pull plug on the Cure
Downey, Foxx duet memorably in "Soloist"
Iraqi victims outraged at slow Blackwater exit
Iran says U.S.-Iranian reporter appeals jail term
Israel remembers Holocaust; seething over Iran
'Silent' heart attacks go unnoticed: study
Turkish police detain 19 in al Qaeda raids
Happiest European children in Netherlands
Israel wants to buy US missile defense system
UK inflation negative for first time since 1960
Credit Suisse to pay for losses on Lehman products
House hearings heat up debate over climate change
Supreme Court limits warrantless vehicle searches
Court says terror victim family can't claim money
Colleges push tuition aid for illegal immigrants
NTSB: Bus that crashed killing 9 was speeding
Pistachio product recalls
Penguin signs China e-book deal as sales rise in U.S.
DA, Craigslist suspect shared a tool: Computers
Somali pirate arrives in NYC, awaits court hearing
Cisco offers security for "cloud" computing
Cuban prisoners don't want to be traded for spies
Oman punishes Internet writer for govt leak
Stocks fluctuate after lackluster earnings reports
IMF: Losses from global credit crisis mounting
Russia intercepts Georgian spy: reports
Russian oil tycoon Khodorkovsky pleads not guilty
Georgian rebels free OSCE observers: mission
Jailed tycoon Khodorkovsky pleads not guilty
Inter-Korean talks end shortly after starting
Khmer Rouge defendant says guards taught to hate
Sri Lanka rebels: 1,000 civilians die in govt raid
Five killed in Indian Kashmir blast ahead of polls
Two Koreas end rare talks without agreement
UN official says war on drugs has failed
Two Koreas hold rare talks after fight over venue
India central bank cuts lending rates, growth view
Moderate earthquake hits northern Japan
Pakistan boosts police pay as violence grows
SK Energy shuts No.1 unit on weak margins
Sanofi-Aventis widens Asian dengue vaccine trials
Allianz sees 2009 profit in Taiwan, to stay in mkt
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea wins $170m in renewable energy investment
Jimmy Dean, wife unhurt as fire damages Va. home
South Korea exports probably bottomed; outlook tough
Music Web site MUZU signs Universal deal
Kazakh official raises specter of recession
Jay Leno to give free show in hard-hit Ohio city
Thai govt says to cut 2010 spend by 5.6 bln dlrs
Lauryn Hill to headline Stockholm Jazz Festival
Taiwan dlr at near 2-wk closing low on fund outflows
Part-timer joins pop giants on UK Ivor award list
Central Europe shopping map redrawn
Japan stocks tumble on renewed bank fears
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01