WASHINGTON POST: A federal judge Monday sentenced a former Blackwater Worldwide security guard to life in prison and three others to 30-year terms for killing 14 unarmed civilians in a Baghdad traffic circle in 2007, an incident that fomented deep resentments about the accountability of American security forces during one of the bloodiest periods of the Iraq war…
The government entrusts service members and contractors with deadly weapons and provides them with training to use them only when necessary and justified by the circumstances, [U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth] said.
“It is clear these fine young men just panicked,” Lamberth said. “The overall, wild, thing that went on here can just not be condoned by a court.. . . A court has to recognize the severity of the crimes committed, including the number of victims.”… (more)
