Blackwater

The New York Times is running an article entitled, "Iraqi Inquiry Says Blackwater Shooting was Unprovoked." The article begins, "A completed Iraqi government inquiry found that employees of the American security company Blackwater USA shot unprovoked at Iraqi civilians at a downtown traffic circle three weeks ago, an episode that killed 17 people and wounded more than 20 others, a government spokesman said Sunday." The article also reports, "In recent days, American military officials here have once again made a point of highlighting suspected Iranian influence or involvement in planning and executing attacks against Iraq’s government and the American military here."

Read the Article!!

Discussion Starters for Younger Children

• Do your students think that anybody has ever hit another person for no reason? Why might somebody hit another person for no reason?
• Do your students know what a bodyguard is? What kinds of people have bodyguards? Why might these people need bodyguards?
  
• What kinds of questions do your students think a teacher should ask if he/she is trying to find out who started a fight?
  
• What kinds of things do your students think that people should do to avoid fighting with one another?
  

Discussion Starters for Older Students

• Vocabulary terms to discuss: Inquiry; "Joint Commission"; Mission; and, Accusation.
  
• What kinds of questions do your students think that the Iraqi commission that investigated the Blackwater incident likely asked to determine who was at fault? How might your students find out exactly what the commission did to complete its report?
  
• How do your students think that General David Petraeus might have determined that the Iranian ambassador to Iraq is a member of the Revolutionary Guards? How might this information have been procured?
  
• Ask your students to imagine that they were members of the press, speaking with General Petraeus. How might they have tried to convince him to reveal the information he used to determine that the Iranian ambassador is indeed a member of the Revolutionary Guards? Why would they try to convince him in this way? How do they think that the general would respond? Why do they think the general might respond in this way?