Breaking: Iraq Revokes All Contractor Immunity!

[KoKo]

Breaking: Iraq Revokes All Contractor Immunity
By Spencer Ackerman - October 24, 2007, 11:00AM

The metaphorical statue of L. Paul Bremer III has come crashing down. Today the Iraqi government formally revoked one of the Coalition Provisional Authority's enduring vestiges -- a decree of immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts for U.S. security contractors.

The Iraqi government announced on Wednesday that it has decided to formally revoke the immunity from prosecution granted to private security companies operating in the war-ravaged country.

"The cabinet held a meeting yesterday and decided to scrap the article pertaining to security companies operating in Iraq that was issued by the CPA (Coalition Provision Authority) in 2004," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement.

"It has decided to present a new law regarding this issue which will be taken in the next cabinet meeting."

Expect a massive controversy to follow. What will the State Department do if Iraqi judges issue arrest warrants for American contractors? Will heavily-armed contractors submit to Iraqi warrants, or will they openly defy the law of an allegedly sovereign country? More to come.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004543.php

[spanone]

1. kick - can they do the same for AT&T & Verizon?

[jody]

2. KIck. If Iraqi politicians to do this, they can bring a measure of peace to Iraq if the US leaves.

[slipslidingaway]

3. Thanks K&R n/t

[1620rock]

5. Hmm, a tiny spark of freedom and justice is on the march.

[slipslidingaway]

11. Yes, when the immunity laws were passed in Iran in the '60's

it was used as a reason to oppose the US and that resentment just continued to grow. I'm happy to see the Iraq Parliament fight back on this issue.

[porphyrian]

4. Good, but they shouldn't hold their breath for compliance. - n/t

[begin_within]

6. It's about time... Blackwater was operating with virtually no laws

The Uniform Code of Military Justice doesn't apply to them, and Order 17 issued by Bremer gave them immunity, so they were basically operating outside of all laws.

[dysfunctional press]

7. let's wait and see what the "new law" says...

the mercs may still end up being just as immune to any type of realistic prosecution.

[tuckessee]

8. Now if they'd just do the same concerning regular US troops

they'd be on the way to getting their country back.

[Richard Steele]

9. K&R

[wicket]

10. K & R

:kick:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

12. Well, that's ONE step...

towards taking their country back. I applaud them! Now, kick our asses out of your country. We are begging you.

[WinkyDink]

13. Now can they lend their courage to Nancy Pelosi?

[Old and In the Way]

14. Time to reinvade!

Between Turkeys oil grab in the North, investigation of war-profiteering corruption scandals, and Iraqi politicians acting like a sovereign nation....things just aren't breaking the Decider Guy's way.

[PinkyisBlue]

23. We invaded Iraq to bring them democracy and freedom--the freedom to do what we tell them to do.

Uh, the invasion was supposed to open up a free market utopia with oil revenues aplenty for any and all corporate elites involved. The invasion wasn't supposed to instill an actual democracy, whereby the Iraqi government would make its own laws and regulations. How dare they set rules to protect the Iraqi people from foreign militant thugs?

It's time for the decider to tell the American people that this new Iraqi government has been developing weapons of mass destruction and needs to be taken out.

[Marrah_G]

15. They need to get every damn American contracter out of there now

They should not be there in the first place.

Want to drum up some national unity and bloodlust..... just wait until the public sees Americans swinging at the end of a rope after being convicted in what is a joke of a judicial system there.

Yes I think contractors who commit crimes should pay.... but the American public is NOT going to look kindly on the sight of some American father and husband getting a bizzare trial in a far off land and being hung publically.

I think something like that would create more support for the war and not less.

It's sort of like siblings.... you can hit your sister but if anyone else does..... Ooooooo watch out!

[milkyway]

16. This might be why Blackwater is thinking about getting out of Iraq.

They'll guard the Mexican border instead. Can't get in any trouble shooting up some illegal Mexicans.

[Marrah_G]

18. Actually you can

[robinlynne]

17. I wonder what will happen if Iraq decides it owns its oil....

[endarkenment]

19. The Iraqi government is delusional. nt.

[democrank]

20. Good.

Now, if the Iraqi government could teach our Congress how to stand firm on principle, we might get somewhere!

[CyberPieHole]

21. I'm surprised it took them this long to do it.

They have every right to expect foreigners to respect the lives of Iraqi citizens. It's outrageous that mercenary soldiers were allowed to kill without accountability.

[Jacobin]

22. Get the helicopters ready!

[incapsulated]

24. Good for them.

They had better defend themselves or they will continue to be raped and pillaged.

[me b zola]

25. k&r

[ClayZ]

26. Whoo Hooo! Good for them. K and R

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. GOOD FOR THEM!