US contractors lose immunity in Iraq security deal

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Examiner.com Chicago

Thousands of contractors, both private Americans and non-Iraqi foreigners working in key roles for the United States in Iraq, will lose immunity and be subject to Iraqi law under new security arrangements, Bush administration officials say.

Pentagon and State Department officials notified companies that provide contract employees, like Blackwater Worldwide, Dyncorp International, Triple Canopy and KBR, of the changes on Thursday as the Iraqi parliament continues contentious debate on a security deal that will govern the presence of American forces in Iraq after January.

That so-called Status of Forces, or SOFA, agreement, which gives the Iraqi government only limited jurisdiction over U.S. troops and Defense Department civilians, excludes Defense Department contractors, two officials said.

~snip
"In the future, contractors and grantees can expect to be fully subject to Iraqi criminal and civil laws and to the procedures of the Iraqi judicial system," the official said, adding that contractors faced similar situations in all other areas of the world, including in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/a-1702597~US_contractors_lose_immunity_in_Iraq_security_deal.html

[babylonsister]

1. This is a ray of sunshine! nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. actually, no.

I agree with the result, but here's the reality.

a) Haliburton, Blackwater, and others will leave en masse, creating (deliberately) a mess.

b) previous acts of violence, rape, murder, graft, theft, all done by US contractors will suddenly become public - BUT only after Obama has been in office. Rush, Sean, Billo will bitch and moan and conveniently forget that the crimes occurred during BushII.

c) the GOP & this admin will brag that they brought the rule of law and accountability to Iraq.

grrrrr. Sorry about the depressed view.

[babylonsister]

18. We don't really know what will happen (might I be a bit positive?)

but just the fact that these assholes won't be getting away with any more lawlessness (hopefully) is encouraging.

But yea, bummer.

[Blue_in_Mass]

23. Actually, yes.

Regardless of the outcome in Iraq, the precedent of immune mercenaries cannot be allowed to stand.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

24. which I have been saying for 6 years.

[alfredo]

26. Mercenaries have no rights. They know that their lives are worth less than

nothing if caught. They are the dogs of war. They are despised by both sides of a conflict because they don't fight for their country, they fight for money. There is nothing noble about a mercenary. The only people lower than mercenaries are the people who employ them.

[tekisui]

2. KNR!

[gratuitous]

3. Watch how fast they get out of Iraq

We've been told that it will take a long, long time to evacuate the American presence from Iraq. Without the protection of immunity, watch just how fast the mercenaries get the hell out of the country. What they leave behind might be almost as damning as what they did while they were there.

[knowbody0]

4. ha!

watch your backs, blackwater! I hope you get arrested for jaywalking

[Owl]

5. It's about time.

[balantz]

6. Where will they go from there?

Pakistan? Afghanistan? Africa? South America?

I'm sure new contracts are under way.

[balantz]

11. Oh, I forgot,

Many of the top paid mercenaries have made a couple hundred thousand a year, tax free. They may get stationed stateside to help with the oncoming, widespread homeland security catastrophe that will occur when the Depression is fully realised/released upon us.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

7. K&R!! Very good news n/t

[fascisthunter]

8. Bush's Fascism is Crumbling... good to see

it's like watching the Berlin Wall coming down, bit-by-bit...

[aquart]

9. The times they are achangin'.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Any real justice depends on how corrupt the Iraqi Justice system will be.

Maliki has been a dependable Bush clone. He may put in place a "Just Us" system like bushwaaaa did.
Maliki should also read more history to learn what happens to US puppets who screw up.

[safeinOhio]

12. Might be the right time to ask for a raise.

[Bacchus39]

20. you nailed it. if the money is there, there will be those who stay n/t

n

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Accountability and responsibility...what a concept!!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. The Bush regime is admitting illegal contractor behavior, then.

Withdrawing immunity is same as admitting illegal acts that necessitated the immunity.

[Cronopio]

21. Exactly. It's like the Bushie's argument against constitutional protections.

"If you're doing nothing wrong, what do you have to fear from the loss of habeas corpus, etc.?"

If they had nothing to fear from the law, why did they need an exemption from it?

[shellgame26]

16. about damn time

[1776Forever]

17. Great news but - Pentagon and State Department officials? What's up? Why now?

Just wondering - It is great news! I am just suspicious of the timing.

[DeadManInc]

19. About time!

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Excellent.

[jody]

25. This shows how impotent Bush is in the foreign policy arena. "how long shall the wicked,

how long shall the wicked triumph?" (Psalm 94:3)

And the Democrats answered "Not long, just a few more weeks!"

[No Elephants]

27. So....the contractors that Bush sent all had immunity, but the contractors that Obama sends will not

have immunity.