New Law May Spell End To Iraq Contractors Immunity

[DeadCanDance]

Well, it looks like the Iraqi government is going to finally pass a law:

The government of Iraq has notified private security firms their immunity from Iraqi law is about to end...

The title of a letter sent by the interior ministry - and obtained exclusively CBS News - says it all: "Removing the legal immunity." Until now, security firms like Blackwater have operated under a grant of immunity issued in 2004 by the then-top American in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer.

Naturally this news is not welcomed by the contractors:

"There’s no question it’s a disaster if this got passed," said Carter Andress...He is not willing to let his employees be subject to arrest by an Iraqi police force he believes is riddled with corruption and infiltrated by enemy fighters.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/09/eveningnews/main3482676.shtml

 

[Diuretic]

Well, it looks like the Iraqi government is going to finally pass a law:



Naturally this news is not welcomed by the contractors:




http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/09/eveningnews/main3482676.shtml

If the contractors don't like the new rules then they can leave any time they wish.

 

[actsnoblemartin]

They have not been even tried, let alone convicted of any crime

did they serious have immunity?

Well, it looks like the Iraqi government is going to finally pass a law:



Naturally this news is not welcomed by the contractors:




http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/09/eveningnews/main3482676.shtml

 

[DeadCanDance]

They have not been even tried, let alone convicted of any crime

did they serious have immunity?

This isn't about law, justice, or habeus corpus.

You can't apply american legal standards to iraq. Its about iraqi sovereignty. And it further exposes the false claims of "victory" in iraq. Blackwater's CEO can get on a soapbox and proclaim that we're on the verge of winning it iraq. But, beyond simple rhetoric, in the real world where the rubber meets the road, american contractors know the truth. They know if they were arrested by iraqi police or security forces, it might be dangerous, perhaps even lethal to them. Because, as they say themselves, they know the iraqi police are riddled with enemy fighters, and militia who at best have their own agenda, or who at worst are anti-american. Which suggests that no american in iraq feels safe outside the sphere of american influence: american army bases, the green zone, or outside protection by US troops.

 

[Gunny]

Well, it looks like the Iraqi government is going to finally pass a law:



Naturally this news is not welcomed by the contractors:




http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/09/eveningnews/main3482676.shtml

The government of Iraq whose arm of enforcement is the US military?

 

[Psychoblues]

Guilty or not?

If the contractors don't like the new rules then they can leave any time they wish.

I sincerely hope the American Peoples will someday realize the atrocities and crimes as committed by the so-called "contractors."

 

[Gunny]

This isn't about law, justice, or habeus corpus.

You can't apply american legal standards to iraq. Its about iraqi sovereignty. And it further exposes the false claims of "victory" in iraq. Blackwater's CEO can get on a soapbox and proclaim that we're on the verge of winning it iraq. But, beyond simple rhetoric, in the real world where the rubber meets the road, american contractors know the truth. They know if they were arrested by iraqi police or security forces, it might be dangerous, perhaps even lethal to them. Because, as they say themselves, they know the iraqi police are riddled with enemy fighters, and militia who at best have their own agenda, or who at worst are anti-american. Which suggests that no american in iraq feels safe outside the sphere of american influence: american army bases, the green zone, or outside protection by US troops.

This isn't about American contractors in Iraq, nor what their particular jobs are, it's about taking yet another unsupported stance against the administration.

As has been pointed out on countless occasions, the "victory" that was claimed, and has been dishonestly misquoted by "Bush-bashers" since referred to the initial military invasion that removed Saddam and his goverment from power.

Now DO tell us more about Americans have no right to defend themselves while existing in a hostile environment. That has nothing to do with Iraqi sovereignty and everything to do with surviving in a war zone.

You're just hell-bent on stacking the deck against the US as best you can and criticising anything that works, then sitting back and innocently asking why nothing's working.

Nothing's working because of people with your mindset.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

This isn't about American contractors in Iraq, nor what their particular jobs are, it's about taking yet another unsupported stance against the administration.

As has been pointed out on countless occasions, the "victory" that was claimed, and has been dishonestly misquoted by "Bush-bashers" since referred to the initial military invasion that removed Saddam and his goverment from power.

Now DO tell us more about Americans have no right to defend themselves while existing in a hostile environment. That has nothing to do with Iraqi sovereignty and everything to do with surviving in a war zone.

You're just hell-bent on stacking the deck against the US as best you can and criticising anything that works, then sitting back and innocently asking why nothing's working.

Nothing's working because of people with your mindset.

Actually the entire " Mission Accomplished" bullshit was a specific event aboard a Carrier that HAD finished it's mission and was leaving the war zone. The Carrier HAD in fact ACCOMPLISHED it's mission and the President was aboard to thank them.