Wire: State Dept. Will Not Renew Blackwater Contract for Iraq

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2009 -- The Associated Press today reported senior U.S. official says the U.S. State Department will not renew Blackwater Worldwide's contract to protect American diplomats in Iraq when it expires in May.

The official tells The Associated Press that the contract will expire because of the Iraqi government's decision to deny Blackwater a license to operate.

The Iraqis informed the State Department last week of the cancellation, which came amid lingering outrage over a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad's Nisoor Square that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.

The State Department said Friday that it is still considering its options in the wake of the denial of Blackwater's license.

Blackwater was founded in 1997 to support the training needs of the United States military and law enforcement communities.

Blackwater has trained more than 100,000 local police officers, SWAT team members, homeland security professionals, military personnel and others to help prepare them to serve and protect U.S. citizens at home and abroad.

Blackwater trains approximately 500 members of the military and law enforcement agencies every day.

(Report from commercial media sources.)

Related:
AP: Official: Blackwater contract for Iraq not renewed
Blackwater Web site

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