No accountability, No Problem!

Iraq is a free for all.  Although a glimpse of accountability has been reported.

“The private security contractor previously known as Blackwater, has agreed to pay $42m in fines for hundreds of violations of US export rules, according to the New York Times.”

Not particularly surprising given the ethical free fall that has characterized the mercenary forces hired by the US government in Iraq.

“The violations included illegal weapons exports to Afghanistan, making unauthorized proposals to train troops in southern Sudan, and providing sniper training for police in Taiwan, the newspaper said on Friday”

Whoops!  But is anyone going to jail for this?  Or course not.  The status quo will be maintained after a fine is payed.

“The New York Times reported that by reaching the agreement with the US state department to pay the fines, the company avoids criminal charges over the violations of US export control regulations.”

Export control violations.  I suppose this is a limping stride toward justice.

‘Paying the fines will allow Xe to continue to compete for government contracts, the New York Times said.  US export rules mandate government approval for the export of certain types of US military technology or knowledge.  But Xe “began to seek training contracts from foreign governments and other foreign organisations without adhering closely to American regulations”, the newspaper reported.

War is a profitable business.

It “also shipped automatic weapons and other military equipment for use by its personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan in violation of export controls, and in some cases sought to hide its actions”, the New York Times said.

Again, rather unsurprising given the lack of oversight and murky chain of command that mercenaries follow.  I mean, they are not bound by military regulations or even the Geneva Conventions.  They are there to ‘get’er done’.  And usually by any means necessary.

Wrist thoroughly slapped, Blackwater Ex, can continue on its merry way, making the world safe for democracy and freedom.

Update:    I’m not sure about RT, but they do get more voices on the air that represent dissident opinion.   Their piece on the US ‘Withdrawal” in Iraq.