Big Noise Films - Blackwater's Youngest Victim

Blackwater's Youngest Victim

Last weekend vice president Joe Biden announced that the US JusticeDepartment would appeal the dismissal of the criminal case against fiveBlackwater operatives accused of being behind the infamous NisourSquare massacre in Baghdad in September 2007. Some 17 Iraqis were killed and more than 20 woundedin fifteen minutes of sustained gunfire. On New Year’s Eve, federaljudge Ricardo Urbina threw out the cases, but not for lack of evidenceor because the men are not guilty. Urbina charged that prosecutors hadcommitted gross misconduct in the case and violated the constitutionalrights of the Blackwater men. Despite Biden’s assurances that the USwould seek justice for the Iraqi victims, legal analysts say the appealis an uphill battle and Blackwater’s lawyers predict it will fail.

NisourSquare was the highest profile deadly incident involving Blackwater--orany private war contractor. And was supposed to be the case that stuck,the case that showed the US would hold private security companiesaccountable for their alleged crimes. The indictment of the Blackwatershooters was the first time the Justice Department had taken anymeaningful action against the company. To the Iraqi victims, the NewYear’s Eve dismissal was shattering. Adding insult to injury, severalof the Iraqi victims say they were pressured into a settlement withBlackwater earlier this month for what many considered a paltry sum. Asit stands now, there is only one remaining legal case againstBlackwater in the United States–a lawsuit brought by Mohammed Kinani,father of the youngest victim that day--his nine year old son, Ali whowas shot in the head and killed by Blackwater forces. Ali’s father maywell be the one man now standing between Blackwater and total impunityfor the Nisour Square massacre.

Democracy Now! correspondentJeremy Scahill, the National Security reporter for The Nation magazine,has conducted an in-depth investigation of the massacre and ofnine-year old Ali Kinani’s death. His story for The Nation this week iscalled Blackwater’s Youngest Victim. He files this exclusive report with Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films.

Originally aired on Democracy Now! , January 29, 2010.

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