Military hearing opens for contractor charged in Iraq

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - A military hearing began Tuesday for a civilian contractor charged with aggravated assault while working as an Army translator in Iraq — the first such military prosecution since the Vietnam War.

Alaa "Alex" Mohammad Ali, who holds dual Iraqi-Canadian citizenship, is accused of stabbing another contractor four times during a fight Feb. 23 on a base near Hit, 85 miles west of Baghdad. The victim received chest wounds.

In 2006, Congress gave the military authority to prosecute crimes committed by civilians working for the armed forces.

The investigating officer, Lt. Col. Charles E. Febus, heard testimony from a Criminal Investigation Division agent and military and civilian witnesses via video teleconference in a courtroom at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad, according to a military statement.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_contractor_hearing_1

[maddezmom]

1. Wrongdoer or whipping boy?

Wrongdoer or whipping boy?Posted by Hannah Allam

Tue Apr 15, 7:08 PM ET


Hearings began in Baghdad today in the case of the first civilian contractor to face court-martial proceedings since a 2006 decision by Congress that gave the military the authority to prosecute crimes committed by civilians working for the armed forces. The AP noted that this is the first such military prosecution since the Vietnam War.

ADVERTISEMENT


For the past five years, we've heard (and sometimes reported) stories about civilian contractors -- almost always Americans -- acting out of bounds. Sure, plenty of contractors are just here to do their jobs, serve their country and bring home six-figure paychecks. But there's no shortage of stories about contractors stealing cash and jewelry from Iraqi homes during raids, using deadly force against civilians, brawling on base with fellow contractors, breaking fraternization orders by soliciting prostitutes, embezzling funds and abusing detainees.


Who's the unlucky first contractor to stand trial on charges related to such behavior?


An Iraqi.


Specifically, he's an Iraqi-Canadian named Alaa "Alex" Mohammad Ali, a military interpreter who is accused of stabbing a fellow translator four times on Feb. 23 at a combat outpost in the city of Hit in the western Anbar province. The man survived, with chest wounds. Ali was charged with aggravated assault and has been detained at Camp Victory since Feb. 29, according to a U.S. military statement released today.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcb_cairo/20080415/wl_mcb_cairo/wrongdoerorwhippingboy