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Iraq cancels Blackwater’s license

U.S. private security officers are shown in 2003 in a Chinook helicopter that was guarding L. Paul Bremer, Iraq's U.S. civilian administrator at the time, as he ventured near the city of Basra. Tens of thousands of such employees operate in the war-torn country. Today, the Interior Ministry canceled the license of the American security firm Blackwater USA after officials charged that eight civilians were shot and killed Sunday by company bodyguards accompanying a U.S. State Department motorcade. American officials are launching an investigation in conjunction with Iraq, a spokeswoman said.

U.S. private security officers are shown in 2003 in a Chinook helicopter that was guarding L. Paul Bremer, Iraq’s U.S. civilian administrator at the time, as he ventured near the city of Basra. Tens of thousands of such employees operate in the war-torn country. Today, the Interior Ministry canceled the license of the American security firm Blackwater USA after officials charged that eight civilians were shot and killed Sunday by company bodyguards accompanying a U.S. State Department motorcade. American officials are launching an investigation in conjunction with Iraq, a spokeswoman said.  (Karel Prinsloo / AP)

Iraq pulls Blackwater license

Blackwater USA contractors secure the site of a roadside explosion in central Baghdad in 2005. The U.S. Embassy said a Blackwater convoy accused of killing eight civilians during a shootout in the capital Sunday had come under fire, and some local Iraqi television stations reported an exchange of gunfire at the scene.  (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP / Getty Images)

Blackwater

Then-U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is shown in 2005 surrounded by Blackwater bodyguards.  (Patrick Baz / AFP / Getty Images)

Iraq pulls Blackwater license

Blackwater contractors, shown in 2005, have an arsenal of helicopters, turreted armored vehicles and automatic weapons at their service.  (Marwan Naamani / AFP / Getty Images)

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