A private U.S. security firm has been again battered by
the insurgency in Iraq.
Blackwater USA lost seven American employees killed in two attacks in
Iraq on April 20. Six of them were killed in
the downing of a Bulgarian helicopter north of Baghdad.
The Mi-8 utility helicopter was owned by a Bulgarian firm, Heliair, Middle East Newsline reported. The
Defense Ministry in Sofia said the helicopter, on its way to Tikrit, was
downed by a
missile.
"This is a very sad day for the Blackwater family," Blackwater USA
president Gary Jackson said in a statement. "We lost seven of our friends to
attacks by terrorists in Iraq, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their
family members."
"They [Blackwater] were involved in assisting the Bureau of Diplomatic
Security in protecting American diplomats in Iraq," State Department deputy
spokesman
Adam Ereli said on April 21.
Blackwater said the helicopter was operated by Sky Lynk. The company has
been under contract to Blackwater regarding a security project sponsored by
the U.S. Defense Department. Blackwater has been a leading security
contractor in Iraq.
On the same day, a seventh Blackwater employee was killed and a
colleague was injured near Ramadi when a roadside bomb blew up near his
vehicle. The
two were also employed under a Pentagon contract.
Officials said Blackwater has been one of a handful of companies
contracted to protect U.S. officials and diplomats. Another company has been
Dyncorp, three of whose employees were killed in a Palestinian bombing in
the Gaza Strip in October 2004.
"Around the world in dangerous situations, when there is a need for
protection of diplomats or facilities or activities and people connected
with the U.S. government, we routinely hire contractors to provide that
security," Ereli said. "And frankly, the U.S.
Government does not have the resources to do that in all places at all
times. So we contract private entities to help us out."
Officials said private contractors have not replaced security around
embassies. They said the U.S. Marine Corpd remains responsible for that
service.
"The U.S. Marines have a specific function in protecting diplomatic
facilities and that is a function that is a result of an agreement between
the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of State," Ereli said. "But it
extends to a specific function and a specific duty and a specific set of
responsibilities. It does not cover what private contractors do."
