That was the headline story on cnn.com yesterday morning, and yet I didn't see a single diary on this development. This is a significant development in the ongoing Blackwater debacle, and one that could have disastrous consequences for the U.S. occupation. Indeed this WILL be a defining moment for the Iraqi government, which is finally standing up and demanding some accountability for the atrocities committed daily against their people. Something that IMHO is long overdue.
There's not much to this story that won't be common knowledge to most Kossacks. But I think this seriously ups the ante in this ongoing tragedy, in fact the Iraqis are going one step further and actually calling it flat out murder:
An Iraqi report on last month's shootings involving security contractor Blackwater USA called the incident "pre-meditated murder" and is calling for $8 million in compensation for each of the 17 Iraqis who died, a senior Iraqi government official said Monday.
$8 million per victim, for each of the 17 Iraqis killed would mean that Blackwater - if they are held accountable - is looking at paying a total of $136 million! Of course I'm willing to bet most people here feel the same way I do and don't expect Blackwater to pay a single dime to any of the victim's families.
This incident is sadly nothing new for the Iraqis either, who have had to live with the constant threat of death from all sides for many long years. What makes this different is the damning evidence that has been uncovered and the fact that THIS TIME the Iraqi government is standing up and demanding retribution. The outcome of this debacle will prove once and for all exactly how much validity the Iraqi government has, and if the demands are not met I think it will be such an outrage to the Iraqis that the bombing of a shrine will pale in comparison.
This whole thing feels like another "tipping point" in the occupation of Iraq. If the Bush administration tries to cover their Blackwater buddies' asses yet again they may well push things too far and watch the war spiral further and further out of control.