WP: U.S. Immunity In Iraq Will Go Beyond June 30

[kskiska]

Thursday, June 24, 2004; Page A01

The Bush administration has decided to take the unusual step of bestowing on its own troops and personnel immunity from prosecution by Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying local property after the occupation ends and political power is transferred to an interim Iraqi government, U.S. officials said.

The administration plans to accomplish that step -- which would bypass the most contentious remaining issue before the transfer of power -- by extending an order that has been in place during the year-long occupation of Iraq. Order 17 gives all foreign personnel in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority immunity from "local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their parent states."

U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer is expected to extend Order 17 as one of his last acts before shutting down the occupation next week, U.S. officials said. The order is expected to last an additional six or seven months, until the first national elections are held.

(snip)

The administration is taking the step in an effort to prevent the new Iraqi government from having to grant a blanket waiver as one of its first acts, which could undermine its credibility just as it assumes power. But U.S. officials said Washington's act could also create the impression that the United States is not turning over full sovereignty -- and giving itself special privileges.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A757-2004Jun23.html

[Spazito]

1. OMG! We will just excuse ourselves and give ourselves immunity....

unbelievable!!! There is no way in hell this is gonna have ANY meaning in real terms, imo. Again, what is it they want to do that is obviously going to be considered war crimes that they would go to this surreal length?

[struggle4progress]

2. Whew! What IS that horrid smell? eom

[Spazito]

3. Kick because this is fucking unbelievable!

*

[tlcandie]

4. You don't say!!!?!?

I really want to laugh because this is so ludicrous, but these people are just so vile! :puke:

The word cynical must have come about due to people like this!

[KoKo]

5. Bush doesn't get UN Authority to be exempt from War Crimes extended so

he extends his own orders and WaPo as usual reports it as if it's ....nothing to see here, move along.

WaPo is really making it hard for me to read them.

On Edit: I read the whole article, and it's better than I thought. Robin Wright lays it all out and the failed UN Resolution. The title of the article is misleading, though because it assumes it's a done deal, but the article seems to say much is under negotiation.

The part that stands out is the coverage for the mercenaries. I'll bet the Bushies are more interested in immunity for their private contractors than for our soldiers.
Quote:

The United States hopes to include some foreign contractors, many of whom are engaged in security operations, the Iraqi official added, while Iraq is pressing to retain sovereignty.

[Tellurian]

7. I feel sorry for the troops...

They're caught between the rock and the hard place not really having much say in the matter. Bush extending his arms skyward, granting immunity to the troops is ludicrous. As unbelievable as it seems, just when you thought rejection would be a wake up call, they come up with another fantasy driven solution. Hmm.. "you all have immunity"..(because, I said so..)

[Spazito]

10. It is only the scope of "immunity" that is under discussion not...

the key point of the US immunizing itself from war crimes. According to this:

Bush's top foreign policy advisers, including Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, are still debating the scope of immunity to be granted. "The debate is on the extent or parameters of coverage -- should it be sweeping, as it is now, or more limited," said a senior U.S. official familiar with discussions, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the issue."

What was unknown to me was that this is an extension of a "self-immunizing" bill already in place according to this:

... by extending an order that has been in place during the year-long occupation of Iraq. Order 17 gives all foreign personnel in the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority immunity from "local criminal, civil and administrative jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention other than by persons acting on behalf of their parent states."

The difference as I see it is that there was a legitimate cover in the UN resolution on immunity that will expire on June 30th.

[onehandle]

6. It's a "handover". The Iraqis are in total control.

No war here. Move along citizen.

[farmbo]

8. Its "Total Sovereignty"...with one, tiny exception: 140,000 troops...

...and 40,000 contract mercenaries... will occupy the country, backed with armor and tactical air support. They can go anywhere they want, whenever they want and apprehend, kill or execute anyone they want.

And there isn't a thing the Iraqis can do to stop or punish them.

This will be one sorry brand of freedom.

And Maybe Gerald Ford was right in the 1976 debates...Poland WAS free from Soviet domination in 1976.

[Solly Mack]

9. I bestow upon myself immunity for anything I do after June 30th

I do this in good faith.

hehehehehehe