Romney Withholds Response To Blackwater Pending Investigation

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said he was troubled that private security guards working in Iraq for his top counterterrorism adviser have been accused of killing civilians. But he said he would wait for the results of an investigation before deciding on a response. Cofer Black, who joined the campaign in April as senior adviser on counterterrorism and national security, also is vice chairman of Blackwater USA, whose workers have been accused of killing up to 11 Iraqi civilians during a Sept. 16 firefight in central Baghdad square. “I think the allegations are very serious indeed and that there is an investigation which is under way,” Romney told reporters in his first public comment on the case. “I don't want to prejudge what will happen from the investigation, but if the investigations go through in a legitimate and appropriate way, then I would expect an appropriate response.” He added, “Clearly, the allegations are troubling.” Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday that such killings are unacceptable and a threat to his country's sovereignty. Earlier Monday, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wrote to President Bush, seeking a report on the number of private security contractors in Iraq and the issuance of rules of engagement, similar to those under which U.S. armed forces operate.“It is our government's obligation to ensure that security contractors in Iraq are subject to adequate and transparent oversight, and that their actions do not have a negative impact on our military's efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan,” wrote Obama, a senator from Illinois. Last week, Bush said he was saddened by the loss of civilian life and would await a report from the investigation before taking any action. The president also said the contractors operate under rules of engagement. Romney met with reporters after addressing about 200 people amid a whirlwind five-day tour of California. The principal focus is fundraising, including an event Monday night at the home of eBay Chairman Meg Whitman, but Romney scheduled public events to help raise his profile in the state. The pace has gotten to the candidate, who canceled a public event set for Tuesday in Bakersfield after coming down with a cold. During the town-hall meeting, Romney played to the Silicon Valley crowd, some of whom work at nearby Google, Cisco Systems and Apple Inc. At one point, the former Massachusetts governor spoke of his effort to provide every sixth-grader and beyond with an inexpensive laptop.
“I want our kids to know how to Google and Yahoo and everything else, so that when they do a report on George Washington, they don't have to go to the encyclopedia but they can go to Wikipedia and they can learn what's happening on an online basis as kids around the world are doing,” he said. The remark brought chuckles from the crowd, since Wikipedia has been criticized for the accuracy of some of the public contributions to its information-sharing Web site. Romney also expressed interest in expanding the number of H-1B visas, which allow employers to seek temporary help from foreigners holding at least a bachelor's degree. “H-1B visas are a great source of a brain magnet, if you will, bringing people into this country who have skill and experience from other countries,” he said. Lamenting that many foreign doctoral candidates must leave the country after graduation, Romney added: “I'd rather staple a green card to your diploma and say that if you can get a Ph.D. from one of our great institutions, we'd love you to stay here.” Romney also said technology from the Bay Area should be used to crack down on illegal immigration, Medicare waste and abuse, and to improve an array of antiquated federal services. “I believe that one of things we have to do is take some of the innovation and technology that you're famous for here and finally apply it in Washington,” he said to applause.