Sari Gelzer | Truthout
Thursday 12 November 2009

In September 2007, Blackwater Worldwide security guards fatally shot 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square. The New York Times is reporting that following the massacre Blackwater Worldwide executives bribed Iraqi officials with secret payments of about $1 million in an attempt to maintain the company's endangered ability to operate in the country.

The deadly shooting marked a turning point in the Iraqi government's growing concern over the reckless actions of the security firm and led to their refusal to allow them to continue operating in the country. Despite the Iraqi government's refusal to give Blackwater a license to operate, a downsized group of the company's guards continue to to work in Iraq to this day.

Following the New York Times report, Iraq's Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told CNN that commanders are investigating the allegations of bribery.

Jeremy Scahill, writing for the Guardian, believes that amongst all the allegations against Blackwater, this could be the one that results in the most serious blow to the company. Given that the bribes occurred while FBI agents were in Baghdad conducting a criminal investigation of the shooting, the Blackwater executives could face charges of obstruction of justice, said Scahill.

Currently, a federal grand jury in North Carolina is conducting a lengthy investigation of the company. In addition to obstruction of justice, The New York Times reports that Blackwater executives could also face charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bans bribes to foreign officials.

In the Guardian, Scahill said: "The new report, if true, could help explain why Blackwater has survived so long in Iraq. It could also be a window into what may become the most serious legal issue facing Prince and other executives."