American court closes investigation into (Blackwater) killing (Iraq) VP’s guard

[sabra]

Source: Voice of Iraq

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The general prosecutor of the Washington State closed on Tuesday the investigation into the killing of the bodyguard of Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi, according to a source from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

“The Attorney General decided today (Oct. 19) to close the investigation into the killing of Rahim Saadon, the bodyguard of the Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi, for lack of evidence in that case,” Jim Dalarouth told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle, in a letter to Andrew Moonen’s criminal defense attorney, said that there is “no question that the shooting … was a tragic event,” but that after sending two senior prosecutors to Baghdad and gathering evidence and statements, the government decided it could not build a case.

Forensic evidence is difficult to obtain in the war zone, according to the letter from Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Westinghouse, and while Moonen has admitted he was intoxicated and armed, in violation of Blackwater policy, the government stated it “would likely be required to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Moonen was not acting in self-defense,” a hurdle prosecutors found they could not clear.

...

Blackwater, now known as Xe Services, arranged to have the State Department fly Moonen to the United States within hours of the shooting. Upon his return, Moonen was fired and fined, and Blackwater paid the slain bodyguard’s family $20,000.

Read more: http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=138123

[ixion]

1. typical...

:(

[librechik]

2. in case anyone was wondering, the coup happened long ago

we just live in it

[OnyxCollie]

3. Asshole Eric Holder

and the rest of the politicized DoJ.

Fascist motherfuckers.

K&R.

[cal04]

4. Efforts to Prosecute Blackwater Collapse

Source: James Risen

Nearly four years after the federal government began a string of investigations and criminal prosecutions against Blackwater Worldwide personnel accused of murder and other violent crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, the cases are beginning to fall apart, burdened by a legal obstacle of the government’s own making.

In the most recent and closely watched case, the Justice Department on Monday said that it would not seek murder charges against Andrew J. Moonen, a Blackwater armorer accused of killing a guard assigned to an Iraqi vice president on Dec. 24, 2006. Justice officials said that they were abandoning the case after an investigation that began in early 2007, and included trips to Baghdad by federal prosecutors and F.B.I. agents to interview Iraqi witnesses.

The government’s decision to drop the Moonen case follows a series of failures by prosecutors around the country in cases aimed at former personnel of Blackwater, which is now known as Xe Services. In September, a Virginia jury was unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of two former Blackwater guards accused of killing two Afghan civilians. Late last year, charges were dismissed against five former Blackwater guards who had been indicted on manslaughter and related weapons charges in a September 2007 shooting incident in Nisour Square in Baghdad, in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed.

Interviews with lawyers involved in the cases, outside legal experts and a review of some records show that federal prosecutors have failed to overcome a series of legal hurdles, including the difficulties of obtaining evidence in war zones, of gaining proper jurisdiction for prosecutions in American civilian courts, and of overcoming immunity deals given to defendants by American officials on the scene.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/world/21contractors.html?_r=2&hp

[Octafish]

5. This should bother a lot of DUers.

And if there were JUSTICE in the land, and news media with integrity, it would bother a lot of the nation.

Some people are above the law. They're called rich Republicans.

[EFerrari]

15. autorank christened it "the money party" and he's so right. n/t

The Money Party series

http://electionfraudnews.com/MichaelCollins.htm

[Angry Dragon]

6. Time to stop all payments and hiring of outside armies

If they want to kill, let them do it on their own time and dime

[sadbear]

7. Justice in this country is a charade, isn't it?

Seriously, is there anything redeeming about America anymore?

[annm4peace]

8. DOJ isn't going after those who authored and ordered torture

Obama says that Attorney Generals have immunity


DOJ supportes FBI raiding and going after Peace Activists.


Why should it surprise anyone they aren't going after Blackwater.



**** we need other countries to prosecute Americans for WAR CRIMES.

[glinda]

13. That whole immunity thing is bs. And dangerous logic.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. They ahem contaminated the cases

From word go.

That was on purpose in my view, and yes it bothers me.

[Bobbieo]

10. Why am I NOT surprised?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. This makes me sick! .....

I just started reading Jeremy Scahill's book Blackwater.

If we don't demand the end of these private armies being used by our government and DOD now ...we are doomed.

It' is prob too late now ....I remember screaming from the roof top about this 15 years ago.

[Blacksheep214]

12. Do you really want to see our federal government prosecute?

Let me light this joint!

The priorities this country has are completely fucked up!

I really want to retire to a free country when the time comes. This system is a joke!

[EFerrari]

14. What a big steaming pile. n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Big Business---all the rights of a citizen (even if it's foreign) none of the obligations.

[defendandprotect]

17. Disgraceful .... justice in America? where?

[JDPriestly]

18. We need an international war tribunal that can try cases such as the Blackwater cases.

You must remember that, not only are the crimes unpunished, but a dark cloud hangs over the defendants in these cases because even though an American court has not convicted them, internationally, that court will probably not have much trust or credence and their reputations have been seriously harmed.

[Solly Mack]

19. k/r

snort

[flyarm]

20. where has my country gone..long time passing..where has my country gone, long time ago..

I feel nothing but shame ..I can no longer say I am proud to be American..because I am not.

When will we all realize there is only one party in this country..with one money pot in the middle..and they all protect each other...not we the people..they only use our money to kill and murder and fight wars for the greedy corporate whores..and steal our jobs and our homes..and what we used to have pride in..now we are left with nothing but a steaming pile of horse shit!


WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
words and music by Pete Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?