Dad: Blackwater blew up son's and wife's 'skulls'

[on-ramp]

the war in Iraq has sure kept american families safe from the WMDs and the imminent threat of an Iraqi attack.
What about these families? who's keeping them safe from the outlaw group that is Blackwater, paid for by your tax dollars.

You have to put yourself in their shoes to be empathetic.

Do you know what it's like to have someone blow up your house, and kill your family ?
these people are victims of Bush's/Congress illegal war in Iraq. what a tragedy for generations to come.
God Bless America, where fortunes are made by the death of the hundreds of thousands.

there is no excuse or reasoning. Imagine yourself in that situation. does "sorry" really make a difference ?

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http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/16/dad.blackwater/index.html


BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Haythem could only recognize his oldest boy from his tall and slim physique as well as what was left of his shoes. His son's head had been blown away, his body charred beyond recognition. His wife of more than 20 years was torn apart.


Ahmed and his mother, Mahassen, were killed in the September 16 shootings in Baghdad.

1 of 3 "Only part of her neck and jaw remained," Haythem told CNN. The rest of her was covered by a body bag.

Choking back tears, he said, "Killing them was not enough, blowing up their skulls, they burned them and disfigured them."

Haythem's wife, Mahassen, and his 20-year-old son, Ahmed, were among the 17 Iraqi civilians killed and 27 others wounded in a hail of gunfire September 16 in Baghdad. Watch Haythem's video of the charred wreckage »

Guards working for private security firm Blackwater USA are accused of opening fire on the Iraqis.

The Iraqi government has said the Blackwater guards shot without provocation -- something the U.S.-based contractor has denied, saying the guards were in a firefight with gunmen.

An Iraqi government report has accused Blackwater of "premeditated murder," saying the company's guards randomly fired at civilians. An Iraqi panel investigating the shootings has asked Blackwater to pay the families of each of the victims $8 million in compensation.

"Money will not compensate us for what we have lost, even if it were piles of it," Haythem said. "No one can put a price on the lives of those killed."

Haythem, 46, a doctor who specializes in blood diseases, spoke from his temporary home in an upscale Baghdad neighborhood where he is living with his mother and two remaining children -- daughter Maryam, 18, and son Haidar, 17.

While he spoke, his mother sat in a corner of the room, moaning and sobbing, rocking back and forth on a couch. She wore all black.

All Haythem and the family know about the final moments of their loved ones is what two Iraqi police officers who witnessed the shootings have told them -- that Ahmed was shot as he was driving his car in Nusoor Square and his mother clutched him tight as he was bleeding.

Survivors of Blackwater shooting tell FBI their stories
"Those who witnessed the incident say that my son's head was scattered and my wife held him and hugged him," Haythem said. "She was screaming, 'My son, my son! Help me! Help me!' "

The car slowly rolled forward until Blackwater guards unleashed more shots that turned the vehicle into a fireball, according to the witnesses.

"They understood the call for help. They sprayed her with bullets," he said.

Blackwater has not discussed specifics about the case, saying the FBI is investigating the matter. Blackwater CEO Erik Prince told CNN Sunday one of the Blackwater vehicles was damaged by small arms fire and that his guards committed no "deliberate violence."

Haythem's wife also was a doctor and his son was attending medical school with hopes of becoming a surgeon.

"They destroyed my family and they killed my beloved wife, my better half," Haythem said calmly. "They deprived me of my eldest son who I have raised into a strong, young man. They deprived him of fulfilling his dream to be a doctor and a surgeon. They planted pain and misery in the hearts of my two younger kids."

His daughter and son live in fear that he too will be slain on the streets of Baghdad, leaving them as orphans.

Maryam sat with her father throughout the interview, not wanting to leave his side. She said she and her mother were close friends -- able to chat like sisters and share stories beyond most mother-daughter relationships.

"My friends would always tell me how much they noticed my mom's love for me. She used to always talk to me about my future and her dreams for me," she said. "I hope I live up to her expectations."

Maryam's last conversation with her mom was the morning of September 16. Maryam had a biology exam that day. Her mom woke her up and reviewed the material with her to make sure she was properly prepared for the test.

"She stayed for another few minutes, joking and laughing," Maryam said, tears running down her cheeks.

Haythem was dropped off at work that day by his wife and son. They then picked up a college application for Maryam, who is hoping to enter dental school. At some point afterward they were killed.

Haythem first began worrying when his wife was late picking him up from work. Then calls to her cell phone went unanswered. In the chaotic world of Baghdad -- where violence and kidnappings are common -- anytime a loved one doesn't show up on time fears of the worst begin.

He eventually made it home and began making more phone calls. The worrying intensified as news reports swirled of a deadly shooting in Nusoor Square. He called his brother, a doctor at a nearby hospital, to check the emergency room and the morgue. The brother found no signs of them.

Haythem's brother then went to the scene and found a burned-out car. He called Haythem and asked for the license plate number.

"My brother collapsed and said, 'The family car is burned and may God bless their souls,' " Haythem said.

Despite his sorrow and anguish, Haythem maintains a calm and peaceful attitude, saying he only seeks justice through the courts and that he trusts the U.S. and international judicial systems.

"All we want is the fair judiciary do us justice. We ask the judge who takes this case to think before he rules, to be satisfied with his ruling as if he were, God forbid, personally involved," he said.

Haythem's and Maryam's faces light up when they speak of their loved ones. Ahmed, they said, was an achiever, an ambitious young man who not only was always at the top of his class but who also enjoyed sports and singing and had an interest in languages. He was fluent in English and was learning French and Italian.


"He was quiet and very popular and a leader. This was all wasted in a moment," his father said. "He was guilty of no crime. What compensation is there for that? There can't be any."

Maryam just wishes she could turn the clock back. "I only wish I could relive last month, my family around," she said. "But they are gone. What can we do? If we die, we will do so in Iraq and hopefully we will all meet in heaven."

[lendaddy]

Obviously you choose to believe the story that it was unprovoked murder. As such I have to ask a simple question:

What would the motivation be for Black Water mercs to blindly murder innocent civilians?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yee-haw.

Because they could. These guys are mercenaries, who tend to have an over-developed "Rambo" complex. I don't trust them for a second. No accountability in a third-world country, blind discretion to "do what it takes" by the U.S. military? Put the pieces together. Inevitable consequence.

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of the Blackwater & Iraqi accounts, but I wouldn't put it past a bunch of overpaid macho-men to have gone "killin' a few o' dem Ay-rabs" for the hell of it. Not for a second.

[TerryBPP]

Its sounds to me like your average low income ghetto talk. My son got shot doing nothing wrong at 3am on Tuesday night. The cops planted a pocket full of crack and a gun lying 10 ft away.

I'm guessing that they will eventually link him to a terrorist group.

If I was doing business over there believe I would want a swarm of merchs around me at all times.

[dd74]

There has to be more to the story than what's reported. I mean, were these civilians in some manner threatening? If this was the norm of the Blackwater guys' behavior, wouldn't there be more instances like this?

[Moneyguy1]

To be honest, mercenaries do not have a good track record historically. While I would like to see a more unbiased rendition of the story, I cannot rule out that this event actually happened and is basically as described. Are there other (hopefully reliable) descriptions of this event or are there other similar events that have been reported?

[Rot 911]

I am not going to judge BW on this story, but how come the Iraquis don't get this worked up over the terrorists that are doing this to their people on a daily basis?

[cashflyer]

Because terrorists don't pay.

[livi]

For every year that goes by I lose another few illusions about mankind while simultaneously growing stronger in my conviction that homo sapience is just another animal on this planet. Civilization is a very thin, fragile surface. Beyond the emediate border lies chaos and survival of the fittest on a terror and cruelty level no other species in the animal kingdom is capable of.

Environmental issues are politically very popular this days. For whome ? For the sake of the planet and all it´s inhabitants ?

I´d say we would do the rest of the planet a good deed by just set off all the nuclear power we have and erradicate every member of homo imbecille. Giving the rest of the planet a fair chance to start over in a thousand years or so.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Blackwater has a bad rep, even amoungst the security contractors. They've been involved with a number of shady incidents. While there might be more to it, if this is the truth there is nothing to justify their actions.

Of course, our good buddy OR would like to have you believe that this is business as usual for Americans in Iraq. Assuming you live in the states, you have to be a very conflicted person. Thus far, I don't believe there's anything you don't despise, at least that is applicable to the average American. The real irony is, you despise things that you yourself are a part of. Or you're just the troll of the month.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by livi

I´d say we would do the rest of the planet a good deed by just set off all the nuclear power we have and erradicate every member of homo imbecille. Giving the rest of the planet a fair chance to start over in a thousand years or so.

Agreed. I'll bring the popcorn. I'm tired of giving humanity the benefit of the doubt, just as I did a few posts up from here. Humanity, the great experiment that's increasingly wearing out its welcome.

How about we take up a collection to have Blackwater visit mor-on ramp's moble home park? I'm in for $100.

[dtw]

I'm in. Also, is there a site where I can contribute to Blackwater?

Rampo must be all fired up after viewing that excellent (and fair & balanced!!!) piece that 60 minutes did on Blackwater a couple days ago.

[Overpaid Slacker]

I'm getting Jenin "massacre" flashbacks, including media's all-to-eagerness to lap it up.

Scott Thomas Beauchamp found a new gig? Think the New Republic will run with this?

JP

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

How about we take up a collection to have Blackwater visit mor-on ramp's moble home park? I'm in for $100.

Just forward them some of his post, they might send you a finders fee

I'm in too

[dd74]

Is that a drunk Uncle Sam hanging off a lamp post engraved on your moneyclip?

Oh, and you really need to wash your fake 100s with poker chips before displaying them.

[Rearden]

America bad. Everybody else good.

By the way, Blackwater employees are not mercenaries. Blackwater is an American company, with American workers, working for the US government. Mercenaries work for foreigners.

[HardDrive]

Again, I simply wish the neocons on this board would step up and say what they really feel:

"Who gives a ***** if a few more sand niggers get killed? Kill them all, let god sort out the good from the bad. Those good old boys at Blackwater are true heros."

[cmccuist]

Blackwater sounds almost as bad as al Qaida, Hamas, Fatah, Isalmic Brotherhood, Hezzbolah, the PLO, and the rest of the Jihadis...only they don't have their own news network (i'm talking about CNN not Al Jazeera).

They should just condemn Israel. Then the UN would give them blue helmets and a seat on the human rights committee.

[911boost]

Do any of you know the hiring requirements for Blackwater, and what the BW operators are doing over there? I know OR doesn't, or won't until he finds it somewhere on the net and believes what he reads as gospel.

There are always two sides to the story.

The Iraqi's are demanding that BW be removed, thats fine, remove all the civilian contractos helping to rebuild their *****hole country as well.

Bill