Andrew J. Moonen

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Andrew J. Moonen is a former employee of Blackwater Security, accused by the Iraq government of murdering Raheem Khalif, a security guard of the Iraqi Vice-president, Adel Abdul Mahdi.[1] Khalif died from three gunshot wounds.[2] Moonen, originally from Kalispell, Montana, served previously in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army; he received an honorable discharge afterwards.[3] In the wake of the killing, the United States State Department and Blackwater USA had attempted to keep his identity secret.[4] Currently, Moonen lives in the South Park section of Seattle, Washington near Boeing Field.[5]

The drunken employee was identified on October 4, 2007 by the New York Times as Andrew J. Moonen, of Seattle, Washington, and federal law enforcement is investigating the case, which the Iraqi government considers a murder.[2] In Congressional hearings on October 2, 2007, Blackwater USA CEO Erik Prince testified that Moonen was fired for "violating alcohol and firearm policy."[6]

Despite the Blackwater incident, Moonen found subsequent employment. From February to August 2007, he was employed by US Defense Department contractor Combat Support Associates (CSA) in Kuwait.[7] In April of 2007, the US Department of Defense tried to call him back to active duty, but cancelled the request because Moonen was overseas.[6]

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[edit] Shooting incident

On August 12, 2007, an MSNBC report noted the largely unaccountable and unsupervised nature of security contractor activities, and the high number of casual or indiscriminate civilian killings attributed to them. According to the State Department, on December 24, 2006, a drunken Blackwater employee shot and killed a bodyguard who was protecting the Iraqi vice president. Within 36 hours, Blackwater USA had arranged with the U.S. State Department to have Moonen flown from Iraq.[8] The US State Department was aware of the incident and recommended that a $250,000 payment be made to the victim's family. Blackwater claimed that such a payment would be "too large" and would encourage other Iraqis to "try to get killed". They offered to pay out $15,000, which the State Department agreed to. The Blackwater employee was fired but no criminal charges were brought against him initially.[9]

[edit] United States Congress memo of incident

A memo dated October 1, 2007, from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform detailed the incident that led to the death of the Raheem Khalif:[3]

“On December 24, 2006, a 26-year-old Blackwater security contractor shot and killed a 32-year-old security guard to Iraqi Vice President Adil Abd-al-Mahdi during a confrontation in the ‘Little Venice’ area of the International Zone in Baghdad. This incident sparked an angry reaction from the Iraqi government.
“According to documents obtained by the Committee, the Blackwater contractor, who worked as an armorer, had attended a party on the evening of December 24, had consumed several alcoholic beverages and was described as drunk by witnesses who encountered him that evening.
“The Blackwater contractor, carrying a Glock 9 mm pistol, passed through a gate near the Iraqi Prime Minister’s compound and was confronted by the Iraqi guard, who was on duty. The Blackwater contractor fired multiple shots, three of which struck the guard, then fled the scene.
“The Blackwater contractor fled to a guard post operated by Triple Canopy, another private military contractor. He told personnel there that he had gotten into a gunfight with Iraqis and that they were chasing him and shooting at him.
“The guards had not heard any gunshots. He fumbled with his firearm, which was loaded, until one of the guards took it from him. Although he appeared visibly intoxicated and smelled of alcohol, he denied that he had any alcoholic beverages that evening...”
“On December 25, the day after the shooting of the guard, Blackwater terminated the contractor from the State Department contract based on its policy against possessing a firearm while intoxicated. That same day, only hours after the shooting, Blackwater arranged to have the contractor flown out of lraq...”
""Following the incident and contrary to popular rumor, Blackwater employees individually wrote requests to the U.S. Attorney that Mooney be prosecuted. The Blackwater employees cited it was, "...the only way we can hope to maintain integrity".""
“Immediately following the incident, the State Department determined that Blackwater should send a letter of condolence to the victim’s family along with a cash payment."

[edit] Congressional and criminal investigation

The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation of murder charges against Moonen due to the outcry from Iraqis over the shooting death of the Iraqi man, in October 2007.[5] On October 5th, 2007, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman wrote a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requesting Moonen's personnel records.[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, "Seattle Man At Center Of Blackwater Probe Declines Comment", October 4, 2007.
  2. ^ a b John M. Broder, New York Times, "Ex-Paratrooper Is Suspect in a Blackwater Killing", October 4, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Greg Barnes, Fay Observer, "Blackwater contractor ID’d", October 6, 2007.
  4. ^ Robin Wright and Ann Scott Tyson, Mercury News, "Iraq reveals $100 million purchase of Chinese arms", October 4, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Mike Carter, Seattle Times, "Charges for Blackwater ex-guard? Lawyer doubts it", October 4, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Contractor involved in Iraq shooting got job in Kuwait, October 4, 2007.
  7. ^ CBS News, "Waxman Questions Rice About Blackwater's Christmas Eve Shooter", October 5, 2007. Retrieved 10-09-07.
  8. ^ Kate Randall, Global Research, "Iraqi probe finds Blackwater mercenaries fired without provocation in Baghdad massacre", October 8, 2007. Retrieved 10-08-07.
  9. ^ Yahoo News, "Blackwater portrayed as out of control"
  10. ^ Waxman Questions Rice About Blackwater's Christmas Eve Shooter by Patrick O'Connor, CBS News, October 5, 2007.

[edit] External links

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