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Defense rests in Blackwater trial

By WTOP Staff

PETE YOST
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Blackwater security guards on Monday rested their defense in the shootings that killed or wounded more than 30 Iraqis seven years ago in Baghdad.

Closing arguments will be later this week in the prosecution of the four guards. One, Nicholas Slatten, is charged with first-degree murder. Three others are charged with voluntary manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and gun charges — Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Evan Liberty.

Slatten could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. The others face a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison if convicted of the gun charge and at least one other count.

The trial in Washington began more than two months ago and prosecutors concluded their case last week. Defense lawyers for the four who are charged called only a handful of witnesses. The last defense witness was a Blackwater intelligence analyst who detailed the daily dangers that the guards faced, including the infiltration of the Iraqi police force by militants and car bombs that exploded with regularity in the neighborhoods surrounding the Nisoor Square traffic circle where the shootings took place.

“It was a very active summer. I didn’t see anything” that could be considered a safe area, said the analyst, Mia Laczek-Johnson.

The prosecution’s case was based largely on the testimony of former Blackwater guards who were colleagues of the four men who were indicted. The defense team said the shootings were in self-defense.

The defense team for four security guards whose job was to protect State Department officials in a war zone says that the Sept. 16, 2007, shootings came in response to incoming shots fired by insurgents.

The Blackwater crew had gone to Nisoor Square to clear a path for a safe return to the Green Zone of a convoy carrying a State Department official.

At the trial, a federal jury witnessed the anguish of more than a dozen Iraqi citizens recounting the loss of their loved ones, a number of them crying for justice from the witness stand.

In all, more than half a dozen of the 19 men in the Blackwater unit called Raven 23 were summoned by prosecutors to testify against their former colleagues.

Former Blackwater guard Jeremy Krueger testified that he didn’t fire his weapon because he didn’t see any threats and did not see anyone firing at the Blackwater convoy. He said he saw Slough firing his weapon into the driver’s side of a white car.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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