Blackwater not offered immunity, official says

[ProSense]

Blackwater not offered immunity, official says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- No immunity deal was offered to Blackwater USA guards for their statements regarding a shootout in Iraq last month that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead, a senior State Department official told CNN Tuesday.

The statement contradicts comments made Monday by a U.S. government official who said the guards were promised their statements would not be used against them in any prosecution resulting from the September 16 shootings in Baghdad.

The senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authorization to speak on the matter, said the department's Diplomatic Security branch does not have the right or ability to offer any kind of immunity and did not do anything that would inhibit prosecutors if charges are to be pursued.

"We want to see anyone who violated laws or broke rules held accountable," the official said. "Nothing that was done prevents anyone from being prosecuted if they broke the law.

"It's a gross distortion of understanding of the situation to say that anyone at State attempted to shield any of these individuals," the official added.

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[jojo54]

1. Whatever!!!

"the department's Diplomatic Security branch does not have the right or ability to offer any kind of immunity"

We can bet our asses that Georgie will step up to the plate, though.

[ProSense]

3. Whatever?

What Bush will do and the fact they don't have immunity are two different things.

Immunity for Military Contractors Under Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17

[jojo54]

4. Are you saying that because Bush granted the telecom

companies immunity, he won't do the same for Blackwater?

[Bandit]

7. Bush* is asking Congress to grant the immunity, he didn't do it himself

I don't think he can. He can Pardon after the fact but I don't think even the "Unitary Executive" has claimed he can do that..

[ProSense]

8. Bush is not all powerful, you know.

People do get convicted and go to jail: Abramoff, Cunningham and others.

There is a difference between immunity for spying (which isn't settled yet) and immunity for someone convicted of war crimes (if it happens).

[Javaman]

5. Quick! congress write a bill that declares no immunity for blackwater so

moron* can attach a signing statement to it!!!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

2. So, the SD didn't and some other executive official did grant immunity,...

,...per the SD's direction.

That's my guess.

[tom_paine]

6. Yawn. Another Bushie lie.

[xultar]

9. Oh I get it. They weren't offered Immunity...they were offered Immunitay...

[ProSense]

10. There is no immunity for war crimes:

Immunity for Military Contractors Under Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17

[xultar]

11. Must I put a smiley or sarcasm on everything?

jeez.

[ProSense]

12. No, I understood it to be sarcastic, but

did you read the article? It makes some interesting points.

[xultar]

13. I'm just sayin they are wiggling beacuse they said they offered Immunitay

That cracks me up. I crack myself up.

Yes, the article does make some good points but they were going to wiggle anyway when people found out.