There's a story here.
CNN is reporting that 5 US security contractors have been taken by the Iraqi police and are being held in relation to the killing of another American contractor inside the Green Zone who owned a construction company. (Was construction all he was doing?)
The details get interesting. The FBI is investigating,and the US coordinated on the operation, but both allowed the Iraqis to take the 5 men. (Pressure to get them to talk?)
The man was found bound, blindfolded, and stabbed in his car. (Why do 5 men bind him if they're not looking for information or taking him to someone else? Why would 5 trained mercenaries work together when you would think one or two with surprise would be enough? Why did they leave him to be discovered bound?)
Reports also say the 5 "knew" the man.
What's going on?
The details get interesting. The FBI is investigating,and the US coordinated on the operation, but both allowed the Iraqis to take the 5 men. (Pressure to get them to talk?)
The man was found bound, blindfolded, and stabbed in his car. (Why do 5 men bind him if they're not looking for information or taking him to someone else? Why would 5 trained mercenaries work together when you would think one or two with surprise would be enough? Why did they leave him to be discovered bound?)
Reports also say the 5 "knew" the man.
What's going on?
posted by mikevotes at
7:11 AM
8 Comments:
Again, I'm reminded that "contractor" is just a euphemism for mercenary. I wonder if, in addition to the internal Iraqi infighting (sectarian, war-lords), there isn't also a western corporate-military shadow force at play as well. Kind of a blend of international businesses (construction/infrastructure) and mafia-like enforcers.
There's something very cloak-and-dagger going on. And I think it's tied to commercial endeavors for infrastructure contracts. But this is just wild ass speculation on my part.
By
-epm, at 8:28 AM
Don't forget the Death Squad...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090622/bauer
The new liberated Iraq has something for everyone.
By
Anonymous, at 10:41 AM
EPM, That's one of the questions is whether this construction guy was really some kind of front.
Then there's also the possibility that the other guys caught him in something and were extorting/offering protection.
I don't really know what's going on here. That's why I posted it as interest.
...
Anon, the forces in that article are official US. I'm sure there are mercenaries doing similar work, though.
But to me, this smells more like crime or espionage.
By
mikevotes, at 11:00 AM
Official US? Oh that's OK then.
By
Anonymous, at 11:05 AM
Well, what I'm trying establish was the level of "black op" tied to my post, not the article.
By
mikevotes, at 2:57 PM
And I'm going the opposite direction of black op espionage and wondering about private, corporate, criminal stuff.
By
-epm, at 5:38 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
By
-epm, at 5:38 PM
Yeah, with some of the procurement stuff that's gone on, I could see a straight criminal money angle, too. Maybe even protection extortion. maybe services for hire....
Who knows, that's why it's interesting.
By
mikevotes, at 10:07 PM
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