Nov 14, 2007 1:30pm
Exclusive: Blackwater Turret Gunner ‘Paul’: Why I Opened Fire in Baghdad
EmailA 29-year-old U.S. Army veteran hired by Blackwater last year is at the center of the investigation into the Sept. 16 shooting incident that killed at least 17 civilians, U.S. officials say. Identified in government documents with a first name of "Paul," he was the turret gunner on a Blackwater security detail that day and repeatedly fired at perceived enemy targets, including a bus, according to a sworn statement he gave to State Department investigators three days after the incident. In the statement, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, "Paul" says he feared for his life when, as a turret gunner, he opened fire on multiple vehicles and individuals. Read the full story.
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If you put people in a situation that they are not capable of handling, this kind of thing happens. This guy should go to jail, but the real criminals are the people that created the situation which guarenteed that this kind of thing would happen.
Posted by: Samantha Bumpers | November 15, 2007, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Lock him up. Throw away the key.
Posted by: George Stickers | November 15, 2007, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Why are we paying to train soldiers only to have them taken up by private contractors? They are stealing OUR resources…and we are paying them to do it!
Posted by: Shawn Fassett | November 15, 2007, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
these men are heros. How dare any one question there charachter when they have never been put in a postition when they could die at any moment.
Posted by: joe lanfranco | November 16, 2007, 2:06 am 2:06 am
Id like to say that these guys are ex america service members which i have to say doesnt say alot about the ones serving now.THERE IS A STANDARD AND THEY HAVE’NT GOT THERE YET ITS A SHAME FOR THE GOOD COMPANIES OPERATEING OUT HERE
Posted by: Darren Eccleston | November 16, 2007, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
BLACK WATER IS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION SANCTIONED BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. Simple as that, They are not in Iraq protecting my freedom. The war was never over protecting me. These people are nothing more than Hired Thugs. you know the same thing countries do when they need terrorist’s. Killers deserve no remorse just pitty.
Posted by: Adeeb N | November 16, 2007, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Apparently our troops are not blood thirsty enough to satisfy the demands of this administrations naked grab for the resources of this area of the world. By employing a mercenary army immune from criminal prosecution the cabal that hijacked our executive branch can get away with enriching their cronies with this part of the worlds natural resources. They should be condemned as assasins and prosecuted themselves in the World Court.
Posted by: Michael Morris | November 17, 2007, 12:52 am 12:52 am
SHOOT FIRST, SHOOT FAST AND KEEP SHOOTING UNTIL YOUR ENEMY IS DEAD.
IF IT WASN’T FOR THE COWARDS THAT BELIEVE THEY ARE THE INTELLIGENCIA THAT SHOULD GOVERN FROM THE TOWERS AS THEY LIVE PROTECTED FROM THE DANGERS BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN PROTECTING THOSE WHO CANNOT AND ARE IN FEAR OF EVEN PROTECTING THOSE THEY PROFESS TO LOVE.
WARRIORS ARE THOSE MEN WHO ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE ALL TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE MOST DEAREST TO THEIR HEARTS SAFE; UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS PROCESS OF CIVILIZATION LESS THAN MEN AND WOMEN, BEFREFT OF ANY BELIEF, HONOR OR COURAGE ARE ALSO PROTECTED.
EVENTUALLY, THOSE OF YOU THAT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHILDISH GARBAGE I HAVE READ WILL PERISH AS TRUE HEARTS OF PROTECTORS WILL ONLY DEFEND THOSE WORTHY OF SELF-SACRIFICE.
Posted by: Russ Lissuzzo | November 18, 2007, 12:24 am 12:24 am
Also, though I applaud your use of the semicolon, the second paragraph up there begins with a sentence fragment.
I think you need to spend some time organizing your thoughts more, even though in the end you’re probably too dumb to do so.
Remember while all those tough guy warriors are out there protecting war profiteers, they wouldn’t be very effective without weapons designed by the INTELLIGENCIA [sic].
Posted by: Speak N Spell | November 19, 2007, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
Those of you who speak about this man being a bad guy or SOLDIER know nothing about war or the courage it takes to defend a country of Anti-Americans. It seems to me this man did what he had to do to protect himself and his fellow comrades, and to insure they would see their families again. I am not a person who believes that killing is the only way but much better them, then the Men and Women who protect me and my family’s future. So let this man do what he does best and let him go kick some more ###!!!
Posted by: A REAL AMERICAN | December 16, 2007, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm