CNN: Iraq Gov Will File Criminal Charges Against Blackwater

[kpete]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi government will file criminal charges against employees of U.S. security firm Blackwater who are blamed for a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday.

It is unclear how Iraqi courts will attempt to bring the contractors to trial. A July report from the Congressional Research Service said the Iraqi government has no authority over private security firms contracted by the U.S. government.

The Iraqi government claims that as many as 20 civilians were killed by the private contractors, who were guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy.

Iraqi officials, who claim the shootings were unprovoked, dispute the U.S. claim that the guards were responding to an attack and said on Saturday they had a videotape that showed the Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/23/blackwater.probe/index.html

[spirit of wine]

1. Iraq needs to set new laws that say otherwise

Then we know our services are no longer needed, and their country is showing signs of autonomy. It would, in fact be good to see something like this happen. Will it happen? Time will tell.

[pinto]

2. Good on them. These guys need some oversight, at a minimum.

Another Bremer "legacy" to Iraq - immunity from prosecution for private contractors.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Watch Out...Sherrif Malaki Is On The Job

And where are those charges gonna be filed? Baghdad Circuit Court? Judge Judy?

[frogcycle]

4. the CPA transferred power...

'the CPA transferred power to the newly appointed Iraqi Interim Government at 10:26 AM local time on June 28, 2004. The CPA thus disbanded, L. Paul Bremer left Iraq that same day.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_Provisional_Authority

how can there possibly be any question of the US being able to declare contractors 'untouchable?'


the occupation ended at that moment. from that moment forward our troops have been illegally engaged in police action, and our contractors have had no more or less immunity than they would in Jordan, or France, or Australia

[pinto]

5. Yeah. Some redress of Bremer's CPA 'provisions' would go a long way

towards giving Iraq back to the Iraqis.