House OKs making private security in Iraq subject to U.S. prosecution

[William769]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hired to protect U.S. diplomats, private security companies like Blackwater can own their own helicopters, buy their own body armor and set their own rules of engagement. Their guards don't answer to the U.S. military or, as recent cases suggest, anyone else.

This reality has aroused Congress, where the House passed a bill Thursday that would make all private contractors working in Iraq and other combat zones subject to prosecution by U.S. courts. It was Congress' first major response to a deadly shooting last month involving Blackwater employees.

Democrats called the 389-30 vote an indictment of the shooting incident there that left at least 13 Iraqis dead. Senate Democratic leaders said they planned to follow suit with similar legislation and send a bill to President Bush as soon as possible.

"There is simply no excuse for the de facto legal immunity for tens of thousands of individuals working in countries" on behalf of the United States, said Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/05/blackwater.congress.ap/index.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. *Sniff* Is that a pending veto I smell?

Come on, be real. The Junta will never, EVER allow this bill to become law.

[William769]

2. So what is the House and Senate suppose to do?

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. So if purely token gestures are a good thing

Why in the bloody hell can't they make a similar token with regards to war spending, or impeachment?

[redqueen]

5. Cause those might hurt the party with "moderates"

Principles go by the wayside when they conflict with poll numbers, didn't you know?

[William769]

6. Why so it can be vetoed?

[mmonk]

4. Thank you David Price.