Larry Bailey

In a big victory for Blackwater, federal prosecutors have narrowed their wrongdoing probe to only 3 guards involved in the September 16 shootout at Baghdad's Nisoor Square.

The Associated Press reports, "two weeks into a federal grand jury investigation, people close to the case told AP that authorities have focused the number who could face charges to about three." There were nearly 35 or so security personnel who participated in various phases on the action that day, before, during, and after the incident in the square. There were just over 900 Blackwater professionals in Iraq in September and nearly 3,500 have rotated through that troubled country over the last 4 years.

At least 90 of the Blackwater security professionals are former U.S. military veterans. The remainder are former U.S. veteran law enforcement officers. A great percentage have prior combat experiance while in uniform and many are rated as disabled veterans. All must have at aminimum a State Department Secret clearance which requires deep background investigation and U.S. Government certification. The media have assasinated the character of these men, honorably discharged but volunteering once against for dangerous duty in the service of their country. Blackwater has lost 30 KIA and 4 times that many wounded protecting U.S. diplomats since 2004.

This is a sure sign that federal prosecutors do not believe that the company itself acted improperly, and that wrongdoing, if any, on September 16 was a very rare exception to the rule. Blackwater has provided more than 17,000 diplomatic security missions successfully in Iraq since 2004. US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker - one of the nation's most respected career ambassadors - has strongly stood by Blackwater and its practices that are credited with saving the lives of American diplomats and others.

Being the subject of a criminal investigation does not, under US law and custom, mean that the individuals are guilty. If any Blackwater personnel are charged they would be afforded their full legal rights as Americans during the judicial process. They would be and should be considerered innocent until proven guilty.Evidence backs up Blackwater's original reports that the diplomatic convoy under the company's protection was indeed fired upon at Nisoor Square on that day.