Iraq aims to end immunity of security firms

[mogster]

Source: Reuters (Alertnet)

BAGHDAD, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Iraq wants to tighten control over security contractors after a deadly shooting incident involving the U.S. firm Blackwater, ending their long immunity from Iraqi prosecution, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

Blackwater guards were back on the streets of Baghdad on Friday after the U.S. embassy eased a three-day ban on road travel by U.S. officials outside the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone.

Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf said the ministry had drafted legislation giving it wider powers over the contractors and calling for "severe punishment for those who fail to adhere to the ... guidelines".

Iraq has said it would review the status of all security firms after what it called a flagrant assault by Blackwater contractors in which 11 people were killed while the firm was escorting a U.S. embassy convoy through Baghdad on Sunday.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21368451.htm

[Robbien]

1. Iraq aims to end immunity of security firms

Source: By Mussab Al-Khairalla and Paul Tait, Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq wants to tighten control over security contractors after a deadly shooting incident involving the U.S. firm Blackwater, ending their long immunity from Iraqi prosecution, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

Blackwater guards were back on the streets of Baghdad on Friday after the U.S. embassy eased a three-day ban on road travel by U.S. officials outside the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone.

Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Kareem Khalaf said the ministry had drafted legislation giving it wider powers over the contractors and calling for "severe punishment for those who fail to adhere to the ... guidelines."

. . .

NEW RULES

Many security firms operating in Iraq have no valid license. A law issued by U.S. administrators after the 2003 invasion which overthrew Saddam Hussein granted them immunity from prosecution and has not been formally revoked.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the interior ministry will also propose that foreign security companies be replaced by Iraqi firms.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092100468.html

[PSPS]

2. Yeah, whatever. Good luck with that!

Unless, of course, you're willing to give blackwater (or whatever they might change their name to) the "no-bid contract."

[saigon68]

49. The Chimp will Tazer his "Iraqi Puppets" back into line.

These Private Thugs and Hoodlums will be employed in amerika to curb dissent next.

[Scurrilous]

3. US resumes Blackwater convoys in Iraq

Source: Associated Press

<snip>

"American convoys under the protection of Blackwater USA resumed on Friday, four days after the U.S. Embassy suspended all land travel by its diplomats and other civilian officials in response to the alleged killing of civilians by the security firm.

A top aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had earlier conceded it may prove difficult for the Iraqi government to follow through on threats to expel Blackwater and other Western security contractors.

The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation into Sunday's shooting was ongoing, said a way out of the Blackwater crisis could be the payment of compensation to victims' families and an agreement from all sides on a new set of rules for their operations in Iraq.

U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the decision to resume land travel outside the heavily fortified Green Zone was made after consultations with the Iraqi governments. She said the convoys will be limited to essential missions."





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq

[hatrack]

4. Well, that was quick.

Not that I'm "surprised" or anything like that.

[0007]

20. Maliki has learned two things .....

1.) jacking off his jaws

2.) taking money to the bank

[no_hypocrisy]

5. The usual * modus operandi: So, what're you gonna do about it . . . .

[tekisui]

6. I don't think this will go well....

[C_U_L8R]

7. money talks

[cascadiance]

16. Our taxpayer money that is!

You know if Blackwater is billed for it, it will be another line item of "expenses" that we the taxpayers are ultimately going to have to pay for!

[donkeyotay]

17. That's right. NO accountability. We get the bill.

"...a way out of the Blackwater crisis could be the payment of compensation to victims' families..."

[C_U_L8R]

18. Like it or not, WE are underwriting Blackwater

[cascadiance]

19. That is.. Until Congress says NO MO MONEY! CALL THEM! MAKE IT HAPPEN!

[annabanana]

8. Maliki has nothing...

...IS nothing.

[chelsea0011]

9. Hmmmm. This doesn't make sense. I thought Iraq was a sovereign,

free, and autonomous nation. How could this happen?:sarcasm:

[Demeter]

10. Give Them a Minute, I'm Sure Iraq Will Amply Demonstrate

that it is and will be a free and sovereign, autonomous nation, with Iran, Syria, and Chinese and Russian assistance. World War III, anyone?

[spotbird]

14. Looks like democracy there

isn't so different from modern democracy here. Bush is the dictator in both places, there are no other laws.

[comtec]

11. I think... we (blackwater) just declaired war (again) on Iraq...

They really don't understand....
before this we HAD the support of at least SOME of the people in power...
we just lost that.
We just lost ANY hope of surviving this.
They just don't understand, now even the people we are training to work WITH
the US troops will get involved in attacking blackwater!!!!!!

To think this cluster fuck could get any worse....

what happens when Malaki gets on TV and says:
"We are not being occupied... RISE UP AND STRIKE!!!"
notice I said when, NOT IF!!!

We are so far beyond fucked, it's not even funny.
The REAL American forces better be pulled out soon, because I
sense a MAJOR blood bath, as the Iraqi's start REALLY fighting
to take back their country.

[MetalCanuck]

12. Iraq is not a soverign country why would they...

think they have a say in Blackwater? Black water is a
preferred profiteer and murdering company so they will be
supported by the US government.

[Javaman]

13. And so it goes...

are any of us really all that surprised?

and so it goes our beloved praetorian guard once again patrols the streets of Baghdad all in an effort to keep shooting them over there with no reason so blackwater doesn't have to shoot them over here with no reason. Terror you say? oh yeah, that too.

[spotbird]

15. recommended nt

[Romulox]

21. Anyone who doesn't like Blackwater needs to:

a) enlist; or
b) demand our representatives get us out of Iraq right now!

As far as I'm concerned we have no right to dictate to young men how they should die while we tacitly support this mindless war from the comfort of our homes.

Don't like Blackwater? WE NEED TO END THIS WAR.

[spotbird]

22. The problem is the deciders

have no problem with Blackwater, both in the Whitehouse and Congress.

[JPZenger]

23. I Thought We "Returned their Sovereignty"

One of the most obnoxious parts of the US occupation of Iraq was to appoint a US viceroy to run the country, without even having the pretense of having Iraqi figureheads. I kept thinking after the occupation - can't they find an Arab-American to serve as Administrator, even if they can't find an Iraqi.

Then, we went through the motions of "returning Iraq's sovereignty." It was like we were saying "here are your balls back."

The original name for the invasion Iraq actually used the word "crusade." Rumsfeld was pissed that the Arabs were upset with the name, forcing him to change it. He said snidely "we're use this new name unless somebody has a problem with it."

Now we find that Iraq is still not a sovereign nation. They could at least set up a paper company and transfer the Blackwater people to that.

The fact that Blackwater was able to call in their own attack helicopters to shoot up Iraqi civilians I find amazing.

[Bonobo]

24. At least they are not being brutalized by Sadam!

[Jokerman]

25. "convoys will be limited to essential missions"

What the hell have the previous convoys been for? Liquor runs?

[JPZenger]

26. Reminds me of the HAL Computer in 2001 Space Odyssey

Blackwater reminds me of the HAL 9000 Computer in the classic movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. The computer said "No 9000 computer has ever made a mistake."

The astronauts realize that the computer is out of control and plan to disconnect it. This is the dialogue:

Astronaut Dave Bowman: "Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
HAL: I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Dave Bowman: What's the problem?
HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?
HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL?
HAL: I know you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Dave Bowman: Where the hell'd you get that idea, HAL?
HAL: Dave, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move."

HAL then kills off one of the astronauts.

[Seabiscuit]

27. It's now indisputable: Maliki is nothing more than a Bush puppet.

The real leader of a country that says it is revoking a foreign contractor's license would have kicked Blackwater out of the country by now.

Maliki's government is acknowledging they're powerless to do anything about it.

[cyberpj]

28. Bush Admin solution - if you can't kill it... throw money at it!

The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation into Sunday's shooting was ongoing, said a way out of the Blackwater crisis could be the payment of compensation to victims' families and an agreement from all sides on a new set of rules for their operations in Iraq.

[damntexdem]

29. "Convoys will be limited to essential missions."

Like shooting unarmed civilians?

[uppityperson]

30. k&r.

[Solon]

31. Security firms like Blackwater are no different from Mafia hitmen, killing for money...

is atrocious.

[strategery blunder]

32. Litmus Test of Iraqi Sovereignty: FAILED

I thought we, um, handed over sovereignty to the Iraqi Government? I thought that coalition provisional authority thingie was disbanded?

Oh well. No matter. A *SOVEREIGN* government has the authority to expel a foreign entity that kills its own citizens. Iraq threatened to do so, then was put in its "proper" place, under the thumb of the U$.

Another one of the many "political benchmarks" that Iraq has failed...this time, however, there is no one other than the boooooo$h administration and the $tate Department to blame. :grr:

[pinniped]

33. Look, this so-called sovereign country is still operating under the viceroy's edicts.

Asshole viceroy gave them their own Code of Hammurabi and it ain't going nowhere.

[NeoConsSuck]

34. Blackwater resuming operations in Iraq

Source: CNN.COM

The security firm Blackwater USA is starting to resume normal operations in Iraq after a hiatus sparked by concerns among Iraqi and U.S. government officials over its actions.

Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman, said on Friday that Blackwater and two other security firms that provide protection for U.S. diplomats in Iraq are resuming civilian convoys on a case-by-case basis.

All Blackwater USA operations in Iraq will be back to normal on Saturday, a highly placed industry source told CNN on Friday.

A deadly shooting incident on Sunday prompted the Iraqi government to bar the firm from operating. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has been prohibiting staff-member trips by land outside the Green Zone amid investigations into the incident.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/21/blackwater/index.html

---

the Iraqi government bars the firm from operating, and less than a week later, they're back to full operation? Is this a sovereign or an occupied nation? No need to answer.

[NanceGreggs]

35. No need to answer.

No kidding.

[subsuelo]

45. the people of Iraq should decide

I know, what a thought right?

[pinniped]

36. No shit, they weren't about to go anywhere.

.

[Fridays Child]

37. I wonder if Maliki has been paid off or coerced.

[tekisui]

38. maybe ignored...

[htuttle]

39. I think 'ignored' is more like it

[Fridays Child]

46. His response--if any--to this news might be interesting.

[bluestateguy]

43. Maliki has about as much sovereignty as Poland did from the Soviets during the Cold War

The REAL decisions about the stuff that matters are still made in the West Wing.

[Rageneau]

40. Can't Congress Stop Funding Blackwater?

Maybe the Pugs are too stupid and many Dems are too cowardly to "cut off funding" for the troops, but what about cutting off funding for Blackwater?

They're mercenaries -- in it purely for the money -- volunteers who can go home whenever they want. If Congress stops feeding them and paying them, they'll soon come home. And if Blackwater comes home, then EVERYBODY comes home, because Blackwater is making it possible for us to be in Iraq as it is.

Democrats in Congress ought to be able to stop appropriating money for Blackwater without being accused of 'not supporting our troops, shouldn't they? Isn't this an idea that even the cowards can get behind?

[Ezlivin]

41. Ha, ha, ha

You had me right at "Can't Congress...."

I needed a good laugh. Wow.

Congress actually doing something. That's funny as hell.

Thanks! :rofl:

[Middle finga]

42. But, But I thought the elected govrnment of a sovereign Iraq suspended...

wait.. nevermind.

[JBoy]

44. And now, back to our regular scheduled programming...

This has been a test of the Iraqi democracy system. This is only a test. In the event of a real democracy in Iraq, where the US wasn't calling all the shots,

MONKEYS WOULD HAVE FLOWN OUT OF MY BUTT.

[Blue_Tires]

47. this is BIG business...with guns

they won't just leave that easily because the iraqi government asked them to...bilgewater is too entrenched politically, and they also know where the pentagon's bones are buried (covert ops, contract murder, etc)...

only two real ways to get rid of mercenaries...seal off their income streams, or kill them off....

[ohio2007]

48. video speaks for itself

Iraqi commerce would grind to a halt, unfortunately, if foreign truck driver convoy attacks increase with a decrease of foreign protection .


Convoy attacked by insurgents, locals stone injured driver and rob him

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=667_1190414713