Can someone explain this Blackwater "immunity" deal?

[Canuckistanian]

How can a government agency offer immunity (from prosecution, I imagine), when there is NO court case?

Isn't immunity offered only by prosecution lawyers or US Attorneys in the course of difficult trials?

Or is this some different version of "immunity" that I've never heard of before?

Or, if this IS a legitimate immunity deal, then who is offering it?

[Demeter]

1. I Doubt Anyone Can

They just make up this shit as they go along---remember Scooter's pardon?

A clear case proving a nation ruled by one man's whim instead of by law.

[Canuckistanian]

2. I find this bizarre in the extreme

Have all three branches of government melted into one large putrifying lump?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. It's Darth Cheney's private death squad,

he decides who gets immunity and who doesn't. Duh! :smoke:

[Canuckistanian]

7. I don't think the man understands

How much he'll be hated for generations in Iraq (and elsewhere).

[WinkyDink]

4. It was written into Iraqi law, I thought.

[Canuckistanian]

5. Oh, no. Not another one of Bremer's "Laws"

It thought it was referring to US laws.

Things are starting to clear up for me.

[walldude]

12. Yup Order # 17 of the 100 orders of Bremer...

This immunity thing has been in place since the beginning of the war..

Edit to fix spelling of Bremer.. I guess A-s-s-h-o-l-e didn't quite do it.

[mmonk]

6. Immunity from possible prosecution or legal action.

[Canuckistanian]

9. But by whom? The DOJ?

Iraqi justice?

And how can you have "pre-emptive immunity"?

Can you REALLY grant immunity even before charges are laid?

[mmonk]

10. Anyone. The government (executive branch) is saying it isn't playing ball

on the issue.

[Canuckistanian]

11. OK. Alright, I get it now.

This isn't "immunity" in the normal sense.

It means "Relax guys, false alarm". Nobody's about to be prosecuted soon.

Right?

[mmonk]

13. Pretty much.

They will run interference on efforts.

[foo_bar]

14. the State Department (going over the DOJ's head)

They've deemed it "limited immunity", meaning they can be charged with crimes but not as a direct result of their testimony, so prosecutors can still lodge a case but most of their evidence is off-limits:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Limited immunity has been routinely offered to private security contractors involved in shootings in Iraq, State Department officials said Tuesday, denying such actions jeopardized criminal prosecution of Blackwater USA guards accused of killing 17 Iraqi civilians. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined to discuss specifics of the agency's role in the investigation, but said any immunity deals should not stop the Justice Department from prosecuting.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4ySQ0eV_qZefmRQD8SJS39G0

The FBI took over the case early this month after prosecutors in the Justice Department's criminal division realized they could not bring charges against Blackwater guards based on their statements to the Diplomatic Security investigators, officials said.

Officials said the Blackwater bodyguards spoke only after receiving so-called "Garrity" protections, requiring that their statements be used only internally and not for criminal prosecutions.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYgmhcK7MrwQHLVu9sDyh9tYHsZw

one last link:

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is the security and law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State. DS is a world leader in international investigations, threat analysis, cyber security, counterterrorism, security technology, and protection of people, property, and information.

http://www.state.gov/m/ds/

[Canuckistanian]

15. Thanks for this

A totally UN-Constitutional mess.

Looks like a situation for the SCOTUS to figure out.

IF it ever gets there.

[Rex]

8. It means the fix is in.

Obvious coverup of murder and massacres by our federal government.