Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (78 page)

BOOK: Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
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CHAPTER 8
1
Bing West,
No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah,
Bantam Dell, New York, 2005, p. 58.
 
2
Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.
 
3
Tom Raum, “Stakes for U.S. Much Higher in Iraq Than They Were in Somalia,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.
 
4
Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.
 
5
Ibid.
 
6
Ibid.
 
7
Ibid.
 
8
Ibid.
 
9
Transcript, “Remarks by the President at Bush-Cheney 2004 Dinner Marriott Wardman Park Hotel Washington, D.C.,” White House News Release, March 31, 2004.
 
10
L. Paul Bremer III,
My Year in Iraq,
p. 317.
 
11
Ibid.
 
12
Ibid.
 
13
Tom Raum, “Stakes for U.S. Much Higher in Iraq Than They Were in Somalia,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.
 
14
David Stout, “White House, With Support, Vows to Finish Mission in Iraq,
New York Times,
April 1, 2004.
 
15
Ibid.
 
16
Transcript,
The O’Reilly Factor,
Fox News Network, March 31, 2004.
 
17
Ibid.
 
18
Transcript,
The O’Reilly Factor,
Fox News Network, April 1, 2004.
 
19
Ibid.
 
20
Transcript,
Scarborough Country,
MSNBC, March 31, 2004.
 
21
Claude Salhani, “Analysis: Mogadishu Revisited?” UPI, March 31, 2004.
 
22
Paul McGeough, “Shocked Iraqis Wait for US Retribution,”
Sydney Morning Herald,
April 3, 2004.
 
23
Transcript, “Deputy Director for Coalition Operations Hosts News Conference on Security Operations in Iraq,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.
 
24
Transcript,
CNN Crossfire,
CNN, April 1, 2004.
 
25
Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 1, 2004.
 
26
Ibid.
 
27
Ibid.
 
28
Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 12, 2004.
 
29
Jeffrey Gettleman, “4 From U.S. Killed in Ambush in Iraq; Mob Drags Bodies,”
New York Times,
April 1, 2004.
 
30
Transcript,
Larry King Live,
CNN, April 1, 2004.
 
31
Anne Barnard and Thanassis Cambanis, “Brutality, Cheers in Iraq: Mob Drags Burned Bodies of Four Slain American Civilians Through Streets,”
Boston Globe,
April 1, 2004.
 
32
Paul McGeough, “Shocked Iraqis Wait for US Retribution,”
Sydney Morning Herald,
April 3, 2004.
 
33
Ibid.
 
34
Sewell Chan, “Descent Into Carnage in a Hostile City; In Fallujah, Mob Unleashes Its Rage,”
Washington Post,
April 1, 2004.
 
35
Kevin Johnson, “Fallujah Leaders Set Defiant Tone,”
USA Today,
April 5, 2004.
 
36
Ibid.
 
37
Jack Fairweather, “American Dead Butchered ‘Like Sheep,’”
The Telegraph
(London), April 1, 2004.
 
38
Transcript, White House Press Briefing, March 31, 2004.
 
39
Transcript, “Interview With Maybritt Illner of Zdf German Television,” FDCH Federal Department and Agency Documents, April 1, 2004.
 
40
Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt,” Department of Defense Press Briefing, April 1, 2004.
 
41
Transcript,
CNN Live Today,
CNN, April 1, 2004.
 
42
Joanne Kimberlin, “Three Slain Blackwater Workers Identified,”
Virginian-Pilot,
April 2, 2004.
 
43
Jonathan E. Kaplan, “Private Army Seeking Political Advice in D.C.,”
The Hill,
April 14, 2004.
 
44
Gerry J. Gilmore, “U.S. Firm Mourns Slain Employees,” American Forces Press Service, April 2, 2004.
 
45
Ibid.
 
46
Ben Deck, “N.C. Sheriff: Some Blackwater Workers Ex-Law Enforcement Officers,” Cox News Service, March 31, 2004.
 
47
Transcript, “Hearing of the Emerging Threats & Capabilities Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Federal News Service, April 2, 2004.
 
48
D. R. Staton, “Chaplain Corner 04/05/04,”
Blackwater Tactical Weekly,
April 5, 2004.
 
49
Sonja Barisic, “Deaths of North Carolina Company’s Employees in Iraq Hit Stir Hometown,” Associated Press, April 1, 2004.
 
50
Thomas E. Ricks,
Fiasco,
p. 332.
 
51
Alissa J. Rubin and Doyle McManus, “Why America Has Waged a Losing Battle on Fallouja,”
Los Angeles Times,
October 24, 2004.
 
52
Ibid.
 
53
Thomas E. Ricks,
Fiasco
, p. 332
 
54
Alissa J. Rubin and Doyle McManus, “Why America Has Waged a Losing Battle on Fallouja,”
Los Angeles Times,
October 24, 2004.
 
55
Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio.
 
56
Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,”
The New Yorker,
May 3, 2004.
 
57
Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio. Steele, of course, does not refer to them as “death squads” but rather a “counter-terrorist force.”
 
58
Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,”
The New Yorker,
May 3, 2004.
 
59
Ibid.
 
60
Ibid.
 
61
Peter Maass, “The Salvadorization of Iraq?”
The New York Times Magazine,
May 1, 2005.
 
62
Ibid.
 
63
Jim Steele’s “Premiere Speakers Bureau” bio.
 
64
Jon Lee Anderson, “Letter From Baghdad: The Uprising,”
The New Yorker,
May 3, 2004.
 
 
 
CHAPTER 9
1
David Barstow, James Glanz, Richard A. Oppel Jr., and Kate Zernike, “Security Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq,”
New York Times,
April 19, 2004.
 
2
One of the best and most comprehensive and credible histories of Muqtada al-Sadr can be found in Anthony Shadid’s book
Night Draws Near
.
 
3
Robert Fisk, “Iraq on the Brink of Anarchy,”
The Independent
(London), April 6, 2004.
 
4
This would later be official policy with the implementation of Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17, June 27, 2004.
 
5
Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,”
New York Times,
April 5, 2004.
 
6
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
7
Jason Burke, Kamal Ahmed, Jonathon Steele, and Ed Helmore, “Ten Days That Took Iraq to the Brink,”
The Observer
(London), April 11, 2004.
 
8
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
9
Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,”
New York Times,
April 5, 2004.
 
10
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
11
Jeffrey Gettleman, “U.S. Accepts Responsibility, But Not Blame, in Deaths of 2 Iraqi Journalists,”
New York Times,
March 30, 2004.
 
12
Anthony Shadid,
Night Draws Near,
p. 367.
 
13
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
14
Ibid.
 
15
Dan Murphy, “Risks Rise for Iraqi Journalists,”
Christian Science Monitor,
April 5, 2004.
 
16
Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,”
New York Times,
April 5, 2004.
 
17
Mohamad Bazzi (
Newsday
), “U.S. Goes After the Cleric Who Incited Violence, Move Against Shiite Could Spark More Clashes in Iraq,”
Seattle Times,
April 6, 2004.
 
18
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
19
Ibid.
 
20
Ibid.
 
21
Jeffrey Gettleman, “A Young Radical’s Anti-U.S. Wrath Is Unleashed,”
New York Times,
April 5, 2004.
 
22
Anne Barnard, “Cleric Followers Battle US Troops; Shi’ite Protests in Iraq Cities Turn Violent, Kill 8 Americans,”
Boston Globe,
April 5, 2004.
 
23
Anthony Shadid,
Night Draws Near
, p. 369.
 
24
Ibid.
 
25
David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,”
New York Times,
April 9, 2004.
 
26
Unless otherwise noted, Corporal Lonnie Young’s account of the battle at Najaf on April 4, 2004, is drawn from the following: U.S. Fed News, “True Grit: Real-Life Account of Combat Readiness,” U.S. Marine Corps press release, September 2, 2004.
 
27
Anthony Shadid,
Night Draws Near,
p. 370.
 
28
Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,”
Washington Post,
April 6, 2004.
 
29
Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’”
Virginian-Pilot,
September 18, 2004.
 
30
Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,”
Washington Post,
April 6, 2004.
 
31
Anthony Shadid,
Night Draws Near,
p. 370.
 
32
Author copy of video.
 
33
David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,”
New York Times,
April 9, 2004.
 
34
Ibid.
 
35
Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’”
Virginian-Pilot,
September 18, 2004.
 
36
David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,”
New York Times,
April 9, 2004.
 
37
Author copy of video.
 
38
John G. Roos, “1-shot killer; This 5.56mm Round Has All the Stopping Power You Need—But You Can’t Use It,”
The Army Times,
December 1, 2003.
 
39
Ben Thomas aka “Mookie Spicoli,” posting on “Get Off The X” forum, October 12, 2006.
http://getoffthex.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/440107932/m/7871025602?r=6851057602#6851057602
, captured November 21, 2006.
 
40
Ibid.
 
41
Ibid.
 
42
Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,”
Washington Post,
April 6, 2004.
 
43
Robert Fisk, “Three-Hour Gun Battle Leaves 22 Dead as Shia Join Iraq Conflict,”
The Independent
(London), April 5, 2004.
 
44
Dana Priest, “Private Guards Repel Attack on U.S. Headquarters,”
Washington Post,
April 6, 2004.
 
45
Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’”
Virginian-Pilot,
September 18, 2004.
 
46
Transcript, “Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing With Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, Deputy Director for Coalition Operations,” Department of Defense Briefing, April 5, 2004.
 
47
David Barstow, “Security Firm Says Its Workers Were Lured Into Iraqi Ambush,”
New York Times,
April 9, 2004.
 
48
“Deadly Clashes Erupt Between Iraqi Shiites and Coalition Troops,” Agence France-Presse, April 4, 2004.
 
49
Kate Wiltrout, “‘If I Had to Die, It Would Be Defending My Country,’”
Virginian-Pilot,
September 18, 2004.
 
50
Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Anthony Shadid, “U.S. Targeted Fiery Cleric in Risky Move; As Support for Sadr Surged, Shiites Rallied for Fallujah,”
Washington Post,
April 11, 2004.
 
51
Robert Fisk, “Three-Hour Gun Battle Leaves 22 Dead as Shia Join Iraq Conflict,”
The Independent
(London), April 5, 2004.
 
52
Anne Barnard, “Cleric Followers Battle US Troops; Shi’ite Protests in Iraq Cities Turn Violent, Kill 8 Americans,”
Boston Globe,
April 5, 2004.
 
53
Ibid.
 
54
Transcript,
Democracy Now!
August 31, 2005.
 
55
Melinda Liu, “Mean Streets: Inside the Brutal Battle of Sadr City. As a Venue for Urban Warfare, This Is As Bad As It Gets,”
Newsweek
(Web exclusive), April 27, 2004.
 
56
Ibid.
 
57
Hala Boncompagni, “US Brands Radical Shiite Cleric an Outlaw Amid Anti-Coalition Uprising,” Agence France-Presse, April 5, 2004.
 
58
“Warrant Outstanding for Arrest of Cleric Behind Iraq Unrest: Coalition,” Agence France-Presse, April 5, 2004. Note: The CPA claimed that the warrant had been issued months earlier by an Iraqi judge insisting that the timing of the release of the warrant was a decision of that judge and not occupation officials.
 
59
“Privatizing Warfare,”
New York Times
editorial, April 21, 2004.
 
60
Ibid
 

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