A federal grand jury is said to be investigating the role of Blackwater Worldwide security guards in the shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.

The Blackwater guards involved in the Sept. 16 shooting at Nisoor Square in west Baghdad initially were given limited immunity from prosecution by State Department investigators in exchange for their statements about what happened. FBI sources are claiming that there may be evidence supporting the claim made by Iraqi officials that the shooting was unjustified.

Blackwater contends that its convoy was attacked before its guards opened fire, but the Iraqi government’s investigation concluded that the shootings were unprovoked.

I hope this doesn’t turn into some kind of witch hunt. Just because the Iraqi’s have concluded that the shootings were unjustified, doesn’t make it so.

However, I suspect this is more of a dog and pony show for the Iraqi government. In the end, it’s highly doubtful that any of the Blackwater personnel will be charged with anything.

-Chris Jones