Wikileaks reveals extent of mayhem by security contractors

"A British firm, Aegis, is revealed as having suffered the highest losses of any private company. More than 30 of its employees died, according to an analysis by the New York Times, which was given full access to the files.

Most of the dead were Iraqi drivers, guards and other employees.

But it is a handful of American contractors whose actions will come under further scrutiny.

In one incident, employees of a firm called Custer Battles fired at Iraqi security forces at a checkpoint, into a crowded minibus and at the tyres of a car that came too close to their own, all in one spree. No action was taken against them after they paid some compensation money to those affected."

I know I've posted this video a couple of times already, but I think it's important to remember:

Blackwater to be kicked out of Iraq

Good news: State Department Cancels Iraq Contract With Blackwater

Thanks Molly for the heads up. I've posted a lot about Blackwater and I wondered why it took so long for the US government to act. I wonder if they would have done anything if the media (especially Keith Olbermann) had not put so much pressure on them. Still I suppose we should thank the State Department for doing something, even if it is a bit late.

Now I wonder if they will do something about Aegis, the British security firm whose employees did this in 2004:



Interesting that nobody complained nearly as much about Aegis as they did about Blackwater.

Update (2/2/09): I had to find a different source for the video, because YouTube has removed it due to a copyright claim by Aegis.

Aegis wins largest Iraq security contract

British firms battle for Iraq security deals
(Reuters)
1 October 2007

'LONDON - The US government quietly gave a $485 mln security contract for Iraq to a private British firm within the week that US contractors were accused of opening fire on and killing Iraqi civilians.

The highly contested deal, the largest security contract awarded in Iraq, was won by Aegis Defence Services, a 5-year-old company run by a former British army officer one of whose previous companies helped put down coups in Africa.

Industry experts say the deal shows just how well positioned British firms are in the battle to make money amid Iraq’s chaos, as US companies, particularly in the wake of last month’s shooting, come under increasing scrutiny.

The deal was not awarded without controversy—Erinys, a rival bidder, has filed a lawsuit to try to block it and another has said it is ‘considering its options’—but Aegis was expected to retain the contract.

Aegis, which employs about 1,200 people, has now attracted nearly $800 mln in US government contracts, making it one of the most financially successful firms operating in Iraq.' continued

Thanks for posting the link Anand. Aegis Defence Services is the same company whose employees filmed the clips contained in this video: