US Embassy in Iraq has a "Claims and Condolence Committee"

[rainbow4321]

(hopefully the link works...finding a working link to cables these days is like finding a needle in a haystack}


Seems Blackwater murders civilians and the embassy pays the $$ to the families.



"The Embassy believes that
Blackwater should also make its own payments in this
incident, and requests the Department's assistance in
conveying this message."


http://cablegate.wikileaks.org.nyud.net/cable/2007/10/07BAGHDAD3504.html


1. The Embassy obtained a copy of with the results of the
Government of Iraq's (GOI) investigation report of the
September 16 incident at Nisoor Square. The report portrays
the incident as an unprovoked attack on unarmed civilians,
references a number of other alleged incidents involving
Blackwater, recommends payments of $8 million and $4 million
for each death and injury respectively, and calls for the USG
to replace Blackwater within six months of the incident. It
is unclear to what extent the GOI is committed to these
recommendations or how it intends to implement them. The
Embassy has begun accepting claims from victims of the
incident, with 15 claims submitted so far. Post has approved
payments of $10,000 for each death, $5,000 for each injury,
and $2,500 for property damage. The Regional Security Office
(RSO) is implementing changes to procedures and increasing
linkages to the GOI for cooperation and information sharing
on PSD issues. The Embassy is awaiting the Department's
determination as to what information about past PSD incidents
can be shared with the Joint Commission, and is developing a
work plan to guide the meetings of the Joint Commission; this
work plan will also form the basis of Post's proposed
structure for the Joint Commission's report.

(snip)


(C) 5. On October 21 the Embassy Claims and Condolence
Committee, chaired by the DCM, reviewed the claims submitted.
The Embassy's claims and condolence program is modeled after
MNC-I's, which typically provides up to $2,500 per incident
(death, injury or property damage) but which permits payments
of up to $10,000 per incident in extraordinary
circumstances, if approved by the MNC-I Division Commanding
General. Consistent with military practice and with the
Ambassador's approval, the Committee agreed to make payments
of $10,000 to the family members of those killed, $5,000 to
those injured, and $2,500 for each instance of property
damage. The Committee agreed to arrange a forum for payment
to the 15 claimants who have already filed paperwork, to
expedite this payment, and to work with the GOI to contact
the remaining potential claimants. The Embassy believes that
Blackwater should also make its own payments in this
incident, and requests the Department's assistance in
conveying this message.

[EFerrari]

1. Not only Blackwater. Remember the Wikileaks release

that showed we were turning over prisoners to the Iraqis, knowing they were going to be tortured and maybe killed?

I just saw a clip about that and PJ Crowley, @sshole/State Department, says it's the Iraq government's responsibility -- as if the Iraq government and not ours was running things at that point.

The clip is in the first interview Amy did with Julian. It's in two parts.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/26/wikileaks_founder_julian_assange_on_iraq

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/26/continued_wikileaks_founder_julian_assange

video w/ transcript

[rainbow4321]

2. Geez..and Iraq's response was to let Blackwater stay on after paying victims

Looks like Blackwater went to the US Embassy and to say "Iraq is OK with us staying if we payoff the victims" in order to get the US gov to keep using them.

Wonder how much our embassy's "Condolence Committee" has handed out over the last nine years. Probably not enough.



http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2008/02/08BAGHDAD357.html


Blackwater is also moving ahead with efforts to
obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Interior
(MOI), and said that through their lawyers' communications
with the MOI they were told that Prime Minister Maliki would
approve the licensing of Blackwater if condolence payments
are made. They have received this same assurance from
members of the Ministry of Interior responsible for
licensing.

¶21. (C) The DCM told Blackwater that the Embassy believed it
was morally correct for Blackwater to make condolence
payments. She also indicated that while the Embassy welcomes
this action by Blackwater, it will not have any effect on the
DOS/Embassy decision on whether to retain Blackwater, and
that in regards to the MOI licensing issue, under no
circumstances could the Embassy approve of or in any way be
part of a bribery effort.