Blackwater Guards Given Immunity in Shootings »
Posted by: Beau7890 9 months, 3 weeks ago155 Comments Report this Story
The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month's deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned. As a result, it will likely be months before the United States can--if ever--bring criminal charges in the case that has infuriated the Iraqi government.
Read Full Story at washingtonpost.com
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Comments So Far: 155
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bumbaklotartattack9 months, 3 weeks ago
That's right. Don't believe it. Just live in denial. Just ignore that your politicians are a bunch of open freaks and you still re-elect them. Just ignore that your country sends women and young men to wars based on lies. Just ignore that your leaders openly preach hate and war. Just ignore that you spend trillions on wars based on lies while your own children live without proper care and education. Just ignore it all. It'll go away.
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Blackacereturn9 months, 3 weeks ago
I have to tell you, these guys are unreal. I guess if you can get away with why not. These people are such a bad reflection on this nation they make me long for Ronald Regan* and I am a true DEM at lease he had the smarts to not look like an out and out bully.
This guy and the people he has aroung are truely the stupid set. they are like parris hilton shocked that she was going to jail, their dads have bailed them out of so much that they don't think the law is there for them...
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aceofspades19 months, 3 weeks ago
The rest of the story is that they were given immunity by a part of the dep't that didn't have the power to grant immunity- but DOS said it will stand behind it for reasons I don;t quite understand.
Since the gov't of Irau is an independant freely elected entity as Busnh has stated - I see no reason for Iraq to prosecute this. but then there are lots of soldiers there getting in the way.
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Candida9 months, 3 weeks ago
I assume you mean that you see no reason for Iraq NOT to prosecute this. In other words they should. I agree.
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gamahuche9 months, 3 weeks ago
Why should anyone have immunity - with the exception of soldiers who are following superior's orders. Even then there should be a code to be followed and the requirement to refuse an illegal order.
Of course in the surreal world of warfare there's often not a whole lot of time to deliberate..
In an illegal war prima facie every action is illegitimate.
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dandt16129 months, 3 weeks ago
Sadly once again I'm not surprised. Crooks protect crooks. Once a member of the gang always a member of the gang....and so on and so on.... shameful.
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JohnQPublicComment removed: User banned.1 Reply
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BravoSierra9 months, 3 weeks ago
This is excellent evidence that there are no 'insurgents' in Iraq. An insurgency is an action taken against the legitimate, SOVEREIGN, government of a nation. International law declares any government forced onto citizens by an external power as illegitimate and illegal. The distinction is critical, because in one case a person in an 'insurgent', in the other he/she is a citizen rightfully throwing of the imposed government of an occupying force. That an external government such as the US can give its citizens freedom to operate in another country with impunity is a prima facie case that there is no sovereign govenment in Iraq and that the government meets the condition of being imposed by an external occupying force.
By definition...there are no insurgents in Iraq, only citizens embroiled in a civil war as they try to oust the US and negotiate a form of government of their own choice.
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BravoSierra9 months, 3 weeks ago
The Vatican declared this war and unjust war from the beginning. It continues to be prosecuted by illegal means.
The evidence: that a foreign government has such control of Iraq that the Iraqi people cannot hold the foreign government accountable for its actions.
This is in and of itself the definition of an illegally imposed government and an imperial force illegally occupying a foreign country.
Understand?
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BravoSierra9 months, 3 weeks ago
By doing things this way we give the 'insurgents' legitimacy and energy. If you are going to be immoral..then go all out...slaughter and kill until you have destroyed the enemy or their will to resist. If you are going to fight 'justly'...then follow the rules completely. Half-assed measures in either direction fail.
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Charlson9 months, 3 weeks ago
But why would you need immunity if you are innocent? They only give immunity so you can't be charged for any admissions of guilt to get information for prosecuting those higher in the chain of command. Now do you see this actually happening? Nope, they got away with murder so their leaders could get off too.
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rightfromwrong9 months, 3 weeks ago
Of course...Blackwater mercenaries are Bush's thugs. Funny how they get immunity and 2 border guards who are doing their job get jail.More B.S from the Whitehouse
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PollM9 months, 3 weeks ago
Iraqis must come together and take control of their own government. They would lose face if they do not go after Blackwater. They first need remove the immunity law implemented by Bremmer, second they should legally go after every individual involved. It's obvious that our State Department will hide the truth, cannot trust them. Use international courts and Interpol to hunt down these rogue murders.
Do you believe Blackwater killings were premeditated or not?
----------- /> http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=835
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allasam9 months, 3 weeks ago
Funny how certain people are using LAW to make their case. The State Department is such a law obiding entity, yet they violate any law they want when they kidnap suspects and fly them off to some third world country for torture! Where's the law then?
Oh wait, silly me, I was thinking about America and civilized behavior, for a minute there I forgot it is Bush-Cheney law.
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flyonthewallzz9 months, 3 weeks ago
CHAPTER 31 - AUTHORITY FOR EMPLOYMENT
SUBCHAPTER I - EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 3108. Employment of detective agencies; restrictions
-STATUTE-
An individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or
similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the
United States or the government of the District of Columbia
http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?... uscview t05t08 206 0 () AND ((5) ADJ USC):CITE AND (USC w/10 (3108)):CITE
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flyonthewallzz9 months, 3 weeks ago
"However, since passage of the Anti-Pinkerton Act in 1893, federal law has stated that an "individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia."[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinkerton_National...
I think there is quiet a bit of simalarity beween the Pinkertons and Blackwater.
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flyonthewallzz9 months, 3 weeks ago
Rep. Jim Cooper: Redundancy is a small objection to making sure that you're a loyal U.S. company. Let me ask another question: what if a large company inside the United States of America wanted to hire your company for services, say to break a strike or other purposes like that. Is that allowed in your charter and by-laws?
Prince: That's not something we've even explored.
Rep. Jim Cooper: But it would be permissible under your current company charter? It's a new line of business, possibly, that might be very profitable.
Prince: That's not something we're looking at, not part of our strategic plan at all, Sir.
Rep. Jim Cooper: I know, but you're a mortal human being. Your company would allow it according to its current charter and by-laws?
Prince: Well, I have five boys that I'm raising; so one of them perhaps will take over some day.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/10/121929/74
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flyonthewallzz9 months, 3 weeks ago
"Globalization remains in an expansive phase, so understanding how the Blackwaters of the world replicate many of the same functions played so famously by Pinkerton back after the Civil War helps orient a lot of people's minds to the more correct historical analogies."
http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/archives2...
Perhaps I have overelaberated: if so sorry.
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flyonthewallzz9 months, 3 weeks ago
I have been googling the pinkerton Blackwater thing and have found a bizarre daisy chain.
It turns out that a man named Brian X. Scott attempted a lawsuit against Private military Contractors using the Anti-Pinkerton Act (5 U.S.C. 3108).
http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/298370.pdf
His efforts where shot down based on the decisions from the 1977 Weinberger v. Equifax case (It turns out that the judges son was a lawyer for Equifax). I hit a bit of a quagmire trying to read about this case but my take was that the gist was that it was okay for the government to buy information from Equifax because they did not "hire mercenary, quasi-military forces".
Equifax became ChoicePoint . (Richard Armitage went on to become a director, John Ashcroft is hired as a lobbyist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChoicePoint (please take the time to read a little about Choicepoint)
In 2001 ChoicePoint buys Pinkerton Services
http://www.caslon.com.au/infobrokersnote9.htm
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Jaydee409 months, 3 weeks ago
Do you have SAM's for when they call in the Air strikes?
They have been alright with how many American deaths in grabbing Iraq, what makes you think that the few some gun owners might create if they take over the US would be a deterant. Gun owners have never been realistic, you can't stop an army with a small group of armed civilians with no support. The minute you resist you are a criminal and headed to the likes of Guantanamo. All your money and property seized and your family will be rounded up, you will not have any support to feed you, cloth you, or rearm you. I'm not trying to be mean but the idea the right to have guns is to control the government went out of being realistic the day they decided to keep a full time military,
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agentX9 months, 3 weeks ago
Once again, this administration sinks to new lows.
Immunity for Blackwater murders, but none for US troops stuck following illegal orders.
Scooter gets his sentence commuted but innocents swept up in terror sweeps can't even defend themselves.
Justice in the United States is blind, deaf, and dumb, thanks to the Bush Administration.
At this point, why not just give independent contractors in Iraq a 'license to kill'?
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GHOSTWHOWALKS9 months, 3 weeks ago
I would submit they already have a license to kill anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Just ask anyone from New Orleans.
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KMFDM9 months, 3 weeks ago
Why is the group of mercenaries concidered to be a ligitamate business organization. Its not like they are typical security guard rent-a-cop service. Private armies for rent have a historical habit of becoming, renegade, bandits, raiders, privateers/pirates.
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abntv9 months, 3 weeks ago
Two points
One..They are not a private army for rent, they are a private security company that does business all over the world.
Two...Who would you have provide security for diplomats in a war zone if not a private security company?
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KMFDM9 months, 3 weeks ago
(They are not a private army for rent, they are a private security company that does business all over the world.)
As far as I am concern, a force that goes into a combat zone is a army. If it was a security force, as you call them, then they would be protecting something, and performing in mission where they are attacking.
(The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month's deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians,)
Sorry, actions of mercs not a sercurity company.
(Two...Who would you have provide security for diplomats in a war zone if not a private security company?)
Ok, so private security company has more training and equipment than the state dept? Its possible, a private corp has enough funds for equipment and ex-military personel, but that has yet to have anything to do with the fact that Blackwater is a more of a merc army than a security force.
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