Follow up to previous postings on private military contractors in Iraq, this State Department press release, October 5, 2007: “Secretary Rice has received an initial assessment of Blackwater operations in support of Embassy Baghdad from the first two team members. The balance of the team – General Joulwan and Ambassador Roy – will arrive in Baghdad next week, and they will work to finalize the assessment and report as soon as possible. Based on the initial findings, the Secretary has directed the following actions to improve operational accountability and control: First, Special Agents from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security will begin accompanying Blackwater protective details. Additional agents are en route to Baghdad and we will continue to deploy agents to supplement existing assets. Second, she has directed the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to increase our capability to review material after a reported incident. We currently monitor radio transmissions; we will begin recording them. We will also mount video cameras in security vehicles, and begin archiving electronic tracking of movement data. Third, she has directed the expansion of existing communications links to U.S. military units operating in the same area.”
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