Havana, Cuba. – Blackwaters, the US agency that recruits mercenaries, is back to its old tricks again. The New York Times reported that its security guards have been and remain involved in CIA secret raids against alleged rebels in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The news that circulated last weekend recalled that the agency had to change its name after being repeatedly involved in scandals. Now it operates under the nickname of Xe Services.

The report now hints that the company and the espionage agency have a relation much closer than has been admitted in the past. This arose further questions on the legal implications of involving civil contractors in US government’s most sensitive operations.

We still remember the violent and bloody operations regularly launched in Iraq between 2004 and 2006. The Times asserted that the agency recruiter of mercenaries was then actively involved in carrying out CIA orders.

The scandal is such that a US officer confirmed that Blackwater had even provided security for and supported CIA in its war zone missions. Its reiterated and direct involvement in operations against Iraqi and Afghan civilians and their assassination is public news.

Blackwater, based in North Carolina, United States, changed its corporate name after several accusations of misuse of force, including the brutal killing of September 2007. Five guards of the company participated then in the murder of 17 civilians in Baghdad.

The exposure of new evidence on this agency’s dirty work coincides with the ongoing investigation of the Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives. The Committee is checking out allegations that CIA hired the company as part of a program to kill or capture Al Qaeda leaders.

All of this also coincides with the lightning visit to Baghdad of US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. A couple of days ago, he met Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al Maliki, in order to appraise the security situation in light of the forthcoming elections.

I guess Gates saw through the lies. The highest Iraqi leaders are lying with regard to the local troops’ high efficiency to preserve security and stability and the measures implemented by the Executive to prevent attacks.

In fact, those arguments were refuted last weekend by several suicide bombings in the Iraqi capital, with a death toll of almost 200 and over 400 wounded.

US President Barack Obama has repeatedly announced the beginning of the retreat of his troops from Iraq. However, US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, went to meet his soldiers in the North of Iraq. He tried to convince them that their mission in Iraq remained crucial, although war efforts now concentrate in Afghanistan.

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )