Iraqis Draft Law To End Blackwater Immunity
An Iraqi man looks at a scorched car where Blackwater says they were ambushed
BAGHDAD — A draft law that would strip local and foreign security companies of their immunity from prosecution in Iraq has been submitted to a state committee for legal vetting after a deadly shooting involving the firm that protects the U.S. Embassy and its staff, an Iraqi official said today.
The Interior Ministry, which announced the initiative, has been pressing for aggressive action to rein in firms such as Blackwater USA, whose guards were implicated in the deaths of at least 11 Iraqis on Sept. 16. The North Carolina-based company has said its guards were ambushed and responded appropriately to defend the U.S. convoy they were escorting through Baghdad.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who initially demanded that the embassy replace Blackwater, has since agreed to wait for the recommendations of a U.S.-Iraqi commission before acting.
Frustration has been building over the tactics of some companies, including Blackwater, whose employees have been accused in at least six other incidents in which Iraqis were injured or killed.
A directive issued by U.S. occupation authorities in 2004 granted foreign contractors immunity from prosecution in Iraq. The legislation advocated by the Interior Ministry would revoke that protection, Brig. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf told a news conference today.
“These firms will be under the grip of Iraqi law . . . and will be punished decisively for every breach,” said Khalaf, a spokesman for the ministry.
If approved by the State Shura Council, which vets the legal language of draft bills, the measure would still require the approval of the Cabinet and parliament to become law.
LA Times
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What, no remorse or reprieve for the 4 Blackwater contractors burned and hung from a bridge in Falluja?
September 25th, 2007 at 1:35 pmThere’s an easier way to solve this problem (if there is one). Put Blackwater and all other security companies under military control. If they screw up, they get tried under the UCMJ, if convicted they go to Leavenworth.
- Or -
Have Blackwater and the other security companies pack their shit and go home. After every Iraqi official is assasinated by AQ, then invite them back.
September 25th, 2007 at 1:36 pmDan(The Infidel),
That’s bad news. What needs to happen is that Diplomatic police need to work for Embassies and Diplomats not private contractors.
Private contractors should not be controlled by any government agency that creates a bad combination and leads to a government controlled monopoly. Private contractors should protect private interests. They should protect businesses, private citizens, private property, etc. I know you want to protect American contractors from unfair government laws but they are just going to shoot themselves in the foot by limiting the ability for commerce and private property owners to protect themselves not just from criminals who wish tho rob them but from the government who will control them.
September 25th, 2007 at 1:54 pmEgfrow:
I disagree. Blackater & Co are there to suppliment the military. If they are to continue their mission, then let the military assume jurisdiction over them.
If that can’t be accomplished then they should pack up and go home. Let the Iraqi officials and everyone else who has a fucking problem with Blackwater fend for themselves.
I don’t trust the Diplomatic Corps to do anything except that which is PC. PC people get other people killed. Fuck that. A combat zone is no place for PC-minded diplomats. They’re too much a danger to themselves and those trying to protect them.
September 25th, 2007 at 2:25 pmI have to agree with Egfrow in that when we start allowing the government to have the level of control over private contractors that you are alluding to Dan, we are asking for trouble.
Government diplomats and such do not need to be escorted by mercenaries (oops did I say that), I mean private security companies, they should be escorted by the military in a situation such as this.
Right now from what it sounds like they are doing nothing but hurting some of the things we are trying to accomplish.
Having the reputation of letting our private citizens that happen to work for a security company run around killing Iraqi’s is not good. Especially when it is a job that should be left to our military anyhow.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:34 pmOne more comment, then I’m done with this.
If a company wants to play soldier in a combat zone, then they should be subject to the same ROE’s and accountability that soldiers and Marines are subject to.The best venue for said oversight is the US military.
Same rules, same penalties.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:28 pmEgfrow
“That’s bad news. What needs to happen is that Diplomatic police need to work for Embassies and Diplomats not private contractors.
Private contractors should not be controlled by any government agency that creates a bad combination and leads to a government controlled monopoly. Private contractors should protect private interests. They should protect businesses, private citizens, private property, etc. I know you want to protect American contractors from unfair government laws but they are just going to shoot themselves in the foot by limiting the ability for commerce and private property owners to protect themselves not just from criminals who wish tho rob them but from the government who will control them.”
Efgrow, I was a wildland firefighter for a couple years, we were a contract crew and had our own crew bosses and squad leaders, but they took orders from the overall forest service command. They gave us our tasks and would come through every once in a while and check up on us, and they would check our work. It does work, they could do it with blackwater. It doesn’t make a monopoly, the government doesn’t control the company, just the individual crews. And the companies compete for contracts, which usually go to the company with some combination of the most competency and lowest bid.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:39 pmTheir value, to the ones in the know ….. will shit can, what ever Blackwater don’t want…period. That is just the way it is. This is world class terrorism needing world class security teams. In this region where they cut off your head, they are what is needed…I’m sure Blackwater (politely) will pretty much tell them were to stick that draft…The Marines can’t be expected to handle that burden on top of everything else. Nor should they.
September 25th, 2007 at 6:21 pm