| Revision as of 04:46, 7 June 2008 edit141.151.11.116 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:07, 3 July 2008 edit undoLapsed Pacifist (talk | contribs)18,229 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| {{Campaignbox Iraq War}} | {{Campaignbox Iraq War}} | ||
| The '''] ] ] ambush''' saw ] in ] ambush a convoy containing four |
The '''] ] ] ambush''' saw ] in ] ambush a convoy containing four ] ] from ] ], who were allegedly guarding food caterers ].<ref></ref> | ||
| The four armed contractors, ], Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Their burned corpses were then dragged through the streets before being hung over a ] crossing the ].<ref></ref> | The four armed contractors, ], ], ] and ], were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Their burned corpses were then dragged through the streets before being hung over a ] crossing the ].<ref></ref> | ||
| Photos of the event were released to ] worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and ] in the United States, and prompting the announcement of an upcoming "pacification" of the city. | Photos of the event were released to ] worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and ] in the United States, and prompting the announcement of an upcoming "pacification" of the city. | ||
| This led to a |
This led to a US operation to occupy the city in the ] that was halted at midpoint for political reasons, and a later successful attempt seven months later in the ]. | ||
| The families of the victims filed suit (]) against Blackwater USA for wrongful death in January 2005. | The families of the victims filed suit (]) against Blackwater USA for wrongful death in ]. | ||
| == Daily Kos Comments == | == Daily Kos Comments == | ||
Revision as of 16:07, 3 July 2008
| 31 March 2004 Fallujah ambush | |
|---|---|
| Part of Iraq War | |
| Type | Ambush |
| Location | Fallujah, Iraq |
| Target | Blackwater USA personnel |
| Date | March 31, 2004 (2004-03-31) |
| Executed by | Iraqi insurgents |
| Casualties | 4 killed |
The 31 March 2004 Fallujah ambush saw Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah ambush a convoy containing four US mercenaries from private military company Blackwater USA, who were allegedly guarding food caterers ESS.
The four armed contractors, Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, Wesley Batalona and Michael Teague, were dragged from their cars, beaten, and set ablaze. Their burned corpses were then dragged through the streets before being hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates.
Photos of the event were released to news agencies worldwide, causing a great deal of indignation and moral outrage in the United States, and prompting the announcement of an upcoming "pacification" of the city.
This led to a US operation to occupy the city in the First Battle of Fallujah that was halted at midpoint for political reasons, and a later successful attempt seven months later in the Second Battle of Fallujah.
The families of the victims filed suit (Helvenston et al. v. Blackwater Security) against Blackwater USA for wrongful death in January 2005.
Daily Kos Comments
Daily Kos attracted some controversy in April 2004 by publishing comments (written by Markos Moulitsas) about the killings of four private military contractors in Fallujah, Iraq that many considered to be insensitive:
- Let the people see what war is like. This isn’t an Xbox game. There are real repercussions to Bush’s folly. That said, I feel nothing over the death of mercenaries. [sic] They aren’t in Iraq because of orders, or because they are there trying to help the people make Iraq a better place. They are there to wage war for profit. Screw them.
The post was widely criticized on a number of blogs. John Kerry's official blog removed a link to his blog in response. In a subsequent article, Moulitsas attributed his remarks to anger that the Blackwater employees in Fallujah were given more attention than the five Marines who were killed on the same day, as well as to childhood memories of warfare in El Salvador.
References
- frontline: private warriors: contractors: the high-risk contracting business | PBS
- Atrocity in Fallujah - Robert Fisk: 01 April 2004
- kos (2004-04-01). "Every death should be on the front page". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Murderous rhetoric", The Spectator, April 10, 2004. See also Adam L. Penenberg (2004-07-07). "John Kerry and the Lost Kos". Wired News. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - kos (2004-04-02). "Mercenaries, war, and my childhood". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)