Congress reining in private contractors

[CountAllVotes]

Source: By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Congress is moving to close a loophole in the law that has left private security contractors in Iraq like Blackwater immune to criminal prosecution, despite warnings by the White House that expanding the law could cause new problems.

The House was expected to pass legislation on Wednesday by Rep. David Price, D-N.C., that would extend criminal jurisdiction of U.S. courts to any federal contractor working alongside military operations. Senate Democratic leaders said they planned to follow suit as soon as possible and send the measure to President Bush to sign.

The legislation comes amid a string of allegations involving Blackwater USA employees hired by the State Department to protect diplomatic personnel in Iraq. In one case, a drunk Blackwater employee left a Christmas eve party in Baghdad and fatally shot the guard of one of Iraq's vice presidents. The contractor was fired, fined and returned home to the United States, but no charges have been filed.

More recently, Blackwater guards were involved in a Sept. 16 shootout that left 11 Iraqis dead. The FBI is currently investigating the incident.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071003/ap_on_go_co/congress_blackwater

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[mod mom]

1. PUNISH THE HIERARCHY! END THEIR FUNDING! This appears to target the

individual but those who oversee operations need to be held personally responsible.

Why are we dishing out more contracts to a corporation that has such a poor proven track record? They have a vested interested in escalating the war, they get more $. This is INSANITY!

[CountAllVotes]

2. IMO ...

The reason is simple: They are all cut from the same cloth!

They need to start up a draft and they know there is no support for a draft, hence they keep funding these private contractors that murder people (aka mercenaries).

I agree it is beyond insane!! :mad:

[mod mom]

3. the draft is the death wish of any party that raises it. This is ONE of the reasons

* has opted with a private (read loyal to bu$h) force. * and cheney do NOT want to end the conflict-it's too profitable, so hiring a private contactor who agrees that ending the war would be bad for the bottom line, supports continuing the war. In also helps at some point when the military stands up to * (never elected and one who allowed 24 % disenfrachisement of the troops in '04 and over 50% in 2006), then he has his well trained (at taxpayer expense-of course) personal army ready to protect him and his assets.

Is it any wonder that the US build a base located near the latest * compound in Paraguay? I guess Blackwater will need a base to work from. when the shit hits the fan.

This is the greatest transfer of wealth in history. Whose benefitting? Whose paying the ultimate cost?

[Robbien]

4. Misleading headline. Congress will not pass this.

The GOP is just fine with how mercs are killing off the Muslims. They will probably talk the DLC/BlueDogs into joining them in stopping the bill.

[maseman]

5. Congress will pass this

Chimpy will veto it.
Man the poltical ads for the Dems are being written for them for 2008 POTUS.

[provis99]

6. Agree. Chimpie will veto it

He needs his private armies.

[pinniped]

7. I'll believe it when any of these bw assholes are charged with anything, anywhere.

Sadly, I don't think anything will come of this.

[reggie the dog]

8. it

is about time isn't it?