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In Iraq, Relief After News of Blackwater Convictions In Iraq, Relief After News of Blackwater Convictions
(about 1 hour later)
BAGHDAD — Adel Ali Mehdi was tending his refreshments kiosk on Baghdad’s Nisour Square on Thursday when one of his regular customers stopped by with some important news: After seven years, Blackwater security contractors who had opened fire on the square had been convicted.BAGHDAD — Adel Ali Mehdi was tending his refreshments kiosk on Baghdad’s Nisour Square on Thursday when one of his regular customers stopped by with some important news: After seven years, Blackwater security contractors who had opened fire on the square had been convicted.
Seventeen Iraqis were killed in that fusillade, and the customer, Hassan Jaber Salman, was among more than 20 wounded. Mr. Mehdi, from his kiosk, had seen the whole thing unfold. Both men became witnesses for American prosecutors, and the trial ended on Wednesday with convictions of four of the former guards.Seventeen Iraqis were killed in that fusillade, and the customer, Hassan Jaber Salman, was among more than 20 wounded. Mr. Mehdi, from his kiosk, had seen the whole thing unfold. Both men became witnesses for American prosecutors, and the trial ended on Wednesday with convictions of four of the former guards.
“Alhamdulillah,” Mr. Mehdi, 53, said to Mr. Salman. “Praise be to God.”“Alhamdulillah,” Mr. Mehdi, 53, said to Mr. Salman. “Praise be to God.”
For many of the survivors of that event — the wounded, the witnesses, the relatives of the victims — the verdicts offered some solace after a traumatic event that became synonymous with the worst of the American occupation.For many of the survivors of that event — the wounded, the witnesses, the relatives of the victims — the verdicts offered some solace after a traumatic event that became synonymous with the worst of the American occupation.
Some, in interviews on Thursday, said the convictions by a jury in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C., would also go some way toward repairing the damage that the incident inflicted on the reputation of the United States and its relationship with the Iraqi public. Some, in interviews on Thursday, said the convictions by a jury in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C., would also go some way toward repairing the damage that the episode inflicted on the reputation of the United States and its relationship with the Iraqi public.
“The American administration pledged its support for the Iraqi people in this case,” said a police officer in Baghdad who saw the shooting but requested anonymity because he was not authorized by the Interior Ministry to speak to the news media. “They proved their credibility.”“The American administration pledged its support for the Iraqi people in this case,” said a police officer in Baghdad who saw the shooting but requested anonymity because he was not authorized by the Interior Ministry to speak to the news media. “They proved their credibility.”
Iraqis are grappling with the return of American forces to Iraq, even if this time the American presence is only the faintest echo of the heavy-handed occupation from 2003 to 2011, and is mostly out of public view.Iraqis are grappling with the return of American forces to Iraq, even if this time the American presence is only the faintest echo of the heavy-handed occupation from 2003 to 2011, and is mostly out of public view.
The Blackwater shooting erupted at a far different time, when American troop strength in Iraq had reached its peak, and the international presence was supported by an enormous population of contractors, including firms like Blackwater U.S.A. that provided private security.The Blackwater shooting erupted at a far different time, when American troop strength in Iraq had reached its peak, and the international presence was supported by an enormous population of contractors, including firms like Blackwater U.S.A. that provided private security.
On Sept. 16, 2007, a team of Blackwater guards driving in four armored vehicles entered Nisour Square, in western Baghdad.On Sept. 16, 2007, a team of Blackwater guards driving in four armored vehicles entered Nisour Square, in western Baghdad.
In an interview Thursday, Mr. Salman, a 52-year-old lawyer, described how he was stuck in a traffic jam at the square when the shooting started. “When I heard that gunfire, I didn’t ever expect to get hit,” he recalled.In an interview Thursday, Mr. Salman, a 52-year-old lawyer, described how he was stuck in a traffic jam at the square when the shooting started. “When I heard that gunfire, I didn’t ever expect to get hit,” he recalled.
He tried to make a U-turn out of harm’s way when bullets started hitting his car. Three bullets lodged in his back, a fourth in his arm. Surgeons removed two of the bullets and left the others so as not to risk more damage.He tried to make a U-turn out of harm’s way when bullets started hitting his car. Three bullets lodged in his back, a fourth in his arm. Surgeons removed two of the bullets and left the others so as not to risk more damage.
The defendants claimed in court that they believed they were about to be attacked by a car bomb and that they thought they had come under fire from militants. But prosecutors argued that the shooting was an unprovoked criminal act.The defendants claimed in court that they believed they were about to be attacked by a car bomb and that they thought they had come under fire from militants. But prosecutors argued that the shooting was an unprovoked criminal act.
The Blackwater case was one of several involving Americans killing unarmed civilians, inflaming anti-American sentiment in Iraq. As it wended its way through the American court system, some in Iraq began to lose faith that justice would be served.The Blackwater case was one of several involving Americans killing unarmed civilians, inflaming anti-American sentiment in Iraq. As it wended its way through the American court system, some in Iraq began to lose faith that justice would be served.
Mr. Salman said that being a lawyer himself, his faith in the American justice system — and his belief in the strength of the evidence — had never wavered. “I had no doubt,” he said.Mr. Salman said that being a lawyer himself, his faith in the American justice system — and his belief in the strength of the evidence — had never wavered. “I had no doubt,” he said.
He was among dozens of Iraqis who were flown to the United States to testify for the prosecution; he said he spent 40 days in Washington, he said. An F.B.I. agent who worked on the case sent him a text early Thursday about the convictions, he said. He was among dozens of Iraqis who were flown to the United States to testify for the prosecution; he said he spent 40 days in Washington. An F.B.I. agent who worked on the case sent him a text early Thursday about the convictions, he said.
Saddam Jawad, 32, a government employee whose mother was shot in the incident, heard the news on television late Wednesday. “I know that America is the country of justice, and I had faith in them to realize justice,” he said. “But to be honest, I was shocked when I heard about it.”Saddam Jawad, 32, a government employee whose mother was shot in the incident, heard the news on television late Wednesday. “I know that America is the country of justice, and I had faith in them to realize justice,” he said. “But to be honest, I was shocked when I heard about it.”
Word traveled quickly through the grapevine of survivors and witnesses. The news was met with relief and satisfaction, though some said that nothing short of the death sentence for the defendants would make them happy. Mr. Salman talked to the brother of a man who died in the shooting. He also received a call from the head of the police unit that was patrolling the square on the day of the shooting.Word traveled quickly through the grapevine of survivors and witnesses. The news was met with relief and satisfaction, though some said that nothing short of the death sentence for the defendants would make them happy. Mr. Salman talked to the brother of a man who died in the shooting. He also received a call from the head of the police unit that was patrolling the square on the day of the shooting.
And as he was driving from the courthouse to the Justice Ministry around noon on Thursday — the same route he was taking when he got caught in the Blackwater shooting — he realized he had one more person to touch base with. He wanted to make sure Mr. Mehdi had heard the news. And as Mr. Salmon was driving from the courthouse to the Justice Ministry around noon on Thursday — the same route he was taking when he got caught in the Blackwater shooting — he realized he had one more person to touch base with. He wanted to make sure Mr. Mehdi had heard the news.
The acquaintances, witnesses to a defining tragedy, chatted briefly about those events seven years ago. Then Mr. Salman got back to his car and continued on with his day, a Blackwater bullet still lodged in his arm, another next to his heart.The acquaintances, witnesses to a defining tragedy, chatted briefly about those events seven years ago. Then Mr. Salman got back to his car and continued on with his day, a Blackwater bullet still lodged in his arm, another next to his heart.