American killed in Iraq were from Blackwater?

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treeprof

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Just heard on the radio that the civilians killed and mutilated in Iraq were believe to be from Blackwater Security Consulting, part of Blackwater USA. Anyone else heard this?
 
The New York Times reported that they were from Blackwater.
 
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...on_re_mi_ea/civilian_deaths&cid=540&ncid=1480

4 Killed in Iraq Worked for N.C. Firm
52 minutes ago

By EMERY P. DALESIO, Associated Press Writer

MOYOCK, N.C. - The four civilians who were killed and dragged through the streets of an Iraqi town Wednesday worked for a North Carolina subcontractor that is providing security in a hostile area of Iraq (news - web sites).



Blackwater Security Consulting provides security training and guard services to customers around the world. It is one of five subsidiaries of Blackwater USA, based in northeastern North Carolina about a half-hour's drive from the world's largest naval base in Norfolk, Va.


The company referred calls to a spokesman in suburban Washington who declined comment beyond a prepared statement that said Blackwater was a government subcontractor providing security for the delivery of food in the Fallujah area.


The United States has denounced the slayings as "horrific." Jubilant Iraqi residents dragged two of the charred corpses through the streets and hanged them from a bridge.


The names of the victims were not immediately released because family members had yet to be notified.


Privately owned Blackwater USA's range of services include providing firearms and small-groups training for Navy SEALs, police department SWAT teams and former special operations personnel.


"We're very proud of the work that we do. We feel that we support a just cause," assistant training director Chris Epperson said during a visit last month.


On a typical day, a Navy SEALs team practiced shooting in odd positions through doors and windows and cadets from the U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites) Academy learned how to storm through doorways during a room-by-room search. Plainclothes operatives practiced how to escape from a disabled sport-utility vehicle while under fire from attackers.


The company's security-consulting business connects former special forces troops with jobs that may involve protecting people or places, or training foreign militaries.


Epperson said the company's contractors provide protection to Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq.


Other Blackwater USA subsidiaries train dogs and handlers for security work, and train pilots to land airplanes and helicopters on dirt landing strips.
 
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