State to Blackwater: Nothing You Say Can and Will Be Used Against You in a Court of Law

Apparently there is one set of rights for Blackwater mercenaries and another for the rest of us. Normally when a group of people alleged to have gunned down 17 civilians in a lawless shooting spree are questioned, investigators will tell them something along the lines of: "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." But that is not what the Blackwater operatives involved in the September 16 Nisour Square shooting in Iraq were told. Most of the Blackwater shooters were questioned by State Department Diplomatic Security investigators with the understanding that their statements and information gleaned from them could not be used to bring criminal charges against them, nor could they be introduced as evidence. In other words, "Anything you say can't and won't be used against you in a court of law."

ABC News obtained copies of sworn statements given by Blackwater guards in the immediate aftermath of the shootings, all of which begin, "I understand this statement is being given in furtherance of an official administrative inquiry," and that, "I further understand that neither my statements nor any information or evidence gained by reason of my statements can be used against me in a criminal proceeding." Constitutional law expert Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, says the offering of so-called "use immunity" agreements by the State Department is "very irregular," adding he could not recall a precedent for it. In normal circumstances, Ratner said, such immunity is only granted after a Grand Jury or Congressional committee has been convened and the party has invoked their 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination. It would then be authorized by either a judge or the committee.

Military law expert Scott Horton of Human Rights First says, "What the State Department has done in this case is inconsistent with proper law enforcement standards. It is likely to undermine an ultimate prosecution, if not make it impossible. In this sense, the objective of the State Department in doing this is exposed to question. It seems less to be to collect the facts than to immunize Blackwater and its employees. By purporting to grant immunity, the State Department draws itself more deeply into the wrongdoing and adopts a posture vis-a-vis Blackwater that appears downright conspiratorial. This will make the fruits of its investigation a tough sell."

Ratner says that while what was offered the Blackwater operatives is not immunity from prosecution, prosecutors would need to prove they did not use the sworn statements as part of their investigation. "Even though the person can be prosecuted if independent evidence is relied upon, often this is hard to demonstrate," he says. As an example of the problems such immunity can pose, Ratner points to the case of Oliver North. "He had been granted 'use immunity' and was then prosecuted, supposedly on the basis of independent evidence," Ratner says. "However, his conviction was reversed in the court of appeals because it could not be demonstrated that all of the evidence against him had an independent source outside of his own testimony."

Aside from the fundamental problem that there is quite possibly no legal framework for charging the Blackwater shooters under any legal system--US civilian law, military law or Iraqi law--legal analysts and a former federal prosecutor say the State Department has already tainted the Nisour Square criminal investigation in several ways. The FBI was not dispatched to investigate the case until two weeks after the shootings occurred, meaning that the initial investigation was in the hands of a non-law enforcement agency that just happens to be Blackwater's employer. By the time actual law enforcement, the FBI, was sent to Baghdad, the crime scene had been tainted and some of the perpetrators questioned with the alleged immunity provision. "To rely on non-law enforcement to conduct sensitive law enforcement activities makes no sense if you want impartial justice," says Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who currently serves as Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "This investigation has already taken so long and it looks like the State Department has impeded the possibility of a successful criminal investigation." The Washington Post reported that "Some of the Blackwater guards have subsequently refused to be interviewed by the FBI, citing promises of immunity from State."

This is hardly the first indication that the government's investigation of the Nisour Square shootings was lacking in integrity and impartiality. The State Department's initial report on the shooting was drafted by a Blackwater contractor on official US government stationary. The FBI team initially dispatched to Baghdad to investigate Blackwater was to be guarded by Blackwater until Sen. Patrick Leahy raised questions about the arrangement forcing the Bureau to announce it would be guarded by official personnel and not personnel from the same company it was investigating.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of this story (aside from the loss of Iraqi civilian life) is that even if Blackwater was not so politically connected to the White House and even if there was a truly independent US Justice Department and even if immunity had not been offered and even if there was an aggressive investigation, it may all be totally irrelevant. When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently dispatched a team to Baghdad led by veteran diplomat Patrick Kennedy to review the department's private security force, the team returned with the conclusion that it "is unaware of any basis for holding non-Department of Defense contractors accountable under US law."

While there are currently moves afoot in the US Congress to adjust language in the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act to allow for prosecutions of State Department contractor crimes in US civilian courts and although there is a debate over whether the court martial system could be applied, the reality is that the political will to prosecute contractors has been totally absent since day one of the Iraq occupation. Not a single armed contractor has ever been prosecuted for crimes committed in Iraq--not under US civilian law, not under military law and certainly not in Iraqi courts, which have been banned by the US occupation authorities from going after private contractors.

What is so often lost in this new debate on accountability and oversight is this fact: private contractors now outnumber regular soldiers on the Iraq battlefield. The military--with its massive bureaucracy--has been unable or unwilling to effectively monitor the actions of its soldiers and prosecute them for crimes. Who will effectively oversee the 180,000-strong shadow corporate army? Will FBI teams really be running around Iraq chasing allegations (ever increasing) of contractor crimes and misconduct? Who will guard the investigators? Who will interview Iraqi witnesses? Where will the funding come from? Who will arrest the heavily-armed mercenary alleged to have committed a crime, particularly when he was doing exactly what he was supposed to do in keeping VIP US officials alive in Iraq?

While there may be some token prosecutions that stem from the recent uptick in reporting on contractor crimes in Iraq, the reality is that without private forces from Blackwater and its ilk, the US occupation of Iraq would be untenable. Nothing will be done that would actually jeopardize the use of such forces in the war zone. While Blackwater's conduct in Iraq is horrifying, it is important to remember that US ambassadors--all four who have served under the Iraq occupation--owe their lives to Blackwater's shoot-first-and-never-ask-questions cowboy tactics. They are the reason the company can brag it has never lost an American life it was protecting. Blackwater does its job and while it is essential to prosecute its operatives for their crimes, the ultimately responsible party is the entity that hired them and deployed them armed and dangerous in Iraq.

Follow Jeremy Scahill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeremyscahill

Comments

[daddysboy]

Americans currently engaged in Iraq have taken over saddam's role almost as effectively; it's too bad almost every action they are taking there is outside the rule of law. My biggest fear is not atom bombs exploding in my home town, it's that the boundaries of our system of laws have been so weakened by false arguments that our government is irreparably broken leaving a power vaccum for even more heinous abuse of people and power.

[normathumb]

Contract merc work for the Department of State is a de facto license to kill. Questions raised but no answers given and these mercs are proud. You dont like it your an unAmerican unpatriotic traitor. Damn them and their chickenhawk masters. They leave the service for big dollars to work for a bunch of draft dodgers. And I suppose they want a medal for their "service". And we wonder why people around the world dont appreciate our leadership. Why aren't they responding to our love? Dont they understand our president is responding to god's call on these matters? And he wants to talk about other countries human rights issues. Bush accuses Iran of meddling in Iraqi affairs with no sense of irony whatsoever. But then again, we are the Americans.

[WebGuy]

It used to be okay to verbally attack American soldiers (baby killers etc...), but recently became politically incorrect. Anyone who tries gets labeled unamerican or not-for-the-troops. However, attacking military contractors (made up of American Vets) is the way around this. Once American soldiers leave the military and begin working in Iraq they lose their hero status and become villains.

[boyd]

"It used to be okay to verbally attack American soldiers (baby killers etc...)"

When was this exactly?

[WebGuy]

Some people felt very comfortable with criticizing Vietnam Vets as they came home. It's not as accepted these days...tha­nkfully.

[fact finder]

Correction WebGuy; Blackwater is made up of ex military from all over the world not just the U.S. Most of them are the scum of the earth, . Many were dishonourably discharged from foreign service for crime of one kind or another. Most of the dis honorable discharges were from Latin America. All this information is available on the web . do your own research.

[BritPatJax]

Absolutely correct factfinder and no different to the notorious French Foreign legion who were the scum of the world escaping the police most often and slit your throat as soon as look at you. Wars make legitimacy out of barbarism. Anyone who wants to go kill for money must have something wrong with them.

[WebGuy]

I appreciate your reply. I reread my post and it does sound like I was saying that ALL the contractors in Iraq are American. I agree this is not the case and the contractors are from an international pool. With that said, according to Blackwater, they employ many retired American soldiers - the owner himself is a retired Navy Seal.

[Susanholmes]

Imagine a "Blackwater" style contracting firm in New Orleans after something like Katrina.

Scary, eh?

[Susanholmes]

And also, apparently, something that actually happened. I thought I was just being paranoid..­.

[Hume]

There was one, Susan. It was, however, an Israeli private security firm protecting a gated community , Audubon, on St. Charles Ave. Their helicopters landed in Audubon Park just across the street from the community. (See, Shock Therapy, Naomi Klein)

[Rand]

Nope. Blackwater was there in FAR greater numbers than the couple of Israelis who were hire to scare people away from one gated community.­.. Not that I'm in favor of THAT, either!

[Ronwanless]

There is not only a dangerous precedent legally for our actions in a foreign country in which we have premtively struck; there is also a precedent for contracting "protection without accountability" within our own boundries.

The moral repugnancey of such Blackwater actions is nothing compared to the justification for the same which points to a hierarchical view of human life that rejects the preamble to the constitution.

We see deep wihtin the soul of this administration the holy war in which they are engaged. Their "crusade mentality" is cothed in "Christian" language and yet is the height of practical atheism. What is moral is whatever is needed to enforce our world view on others.

There is, within this frame work, little or no place for hope, future or God.

[GJKBEAR]

I don't think that atheists would agree that it is practical atheism. Although I agree with what you say up until that point, the majority of atheists are quite ethical and moral. They, for the most part would not go along with enforcing our world view on others. Nor would many real Christians fall into that category.
Some Blackwater mercenaries are "soldiers of fortune" and some are loyal, hardworking Americans. The blame for this mess sits in the White House. He can claim Christianity all he wants, as can Cheyney - but they are both phoney.
I choose to believe, like Sam in Lord of The Rings, that there is some good in this world left. And that someday soon, the pendelum will swing the other way and sanity will come back to America. Congress will act to correct these wrongs and overturn all this mess only when 85%-95% of the American populace let them know either by voting them out or mass mailings and protests that: "We are mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore."

[demigod]

Absolutely WRONG. Don't bring atheism into this at all - Blackwater is CHRISTIAN through and through, and the Christians are absolutely blindly committed to world domination and the spread of their beliefs to an unbelieving world, by any means possible. It is not the abandonment of Christian beliefs that led to the Blackwater massacre, it is BECAUSE of them that this company feels it has license to do whatever is necessary. Atheists would never BE in Iraq in the FIRST PLACE, because this invasion was unnecessary, illogical, unprovoked, illogical, barbaric and expensive. It picks a fight that cannot be won, for no reason. Atheism is ALL ABOUT REASON. It is always the RELIGIOUS people who will do ANYTHING for God. Which puts the lie to God's existence, because He certainly wouldn't need human assistance to make the world as He wanted it. And yet it is an eternal battlefield among humans, the most dangerous animal on earth.

[Ono4Hoopono]

Your post about the reminds me of this quote:

"To think that we, out here in this little corner of this immense universe, could OFFEND its Creator, is the HEIGHT of ARROGANCE!"

Paraphrased from one of the speakers (Ramtha) in the popular DVD "What the (Bleep) do we Know?" (actual title), a discussion of the universe and our place in it.

Judging from the words that come out of their mouths, that is what these right wing types go around thinking all the time (about sin and sinners and people who don't think like them), and to boot, they think THEY, with their killing and waterboarding and hypocrisy and avarice, please Him...a further height of arrogance.

Religious fanatics of all kinds aggrandize THEMSELVES, not the creator, thinking only THEY please God. They have found the perfect ruse for fancying themselves to be selfless while actually being immensely egotistical.

But it's a relatively harmless self-deception in the big picture...­having very little impact on the rate of expansion of the universe or the mean half-life of the proton. We were given this tiny opportunity to experience consciousness out here in this out-of-the-way little corner of the universe, and if it goes badly, we will just be drawn back into the energy processes that surround us, and the Universe will be just as amazing and spectacular to behold, without us to behold it.

No offense, none taken. Just a huge missed opportunity.

[Verity1025]

To Ronwanless

"the height of practical atheism"?

Practical atheism is exactly the opposite of what you are describing.

I don't know any atheist who believes in "a hierarchical view of human life that rejects the preamble to the constitution" or "What is moral is whatever is needed to enforce our world view on others."

In fact, quite the opposite is true. Please think before you make comments like that. I agree with "demigod"---atheism is all about reason. Generally atheists value all human life, because they don't believe that when you die you get some sort of otherworldly reward.

I am taking issue with this because I keep seeing false and derogatory comments about atheists which are not true any more than assuming that all Christians are like our administration and Blackwater.

[escobar]

I recall looking at a photo of Pres. Reagan gazing admiringly at Gen. Pinnochett.
I felt it odd that a man who led the USA wold look at that monster so lovingly..­then I realized it was the power that Pinnochet could weild with such impunity that Reagan so admired.
Bush has actually said,"Things would be a lot easier if I were a Dictator".
What we see with Blackwater is no different from the way things have been done to out south.
Right now thee is a man running for President of Guatemala who was involved in the human rights atrocities against the Mayans.
He is implicated in the murder of Bishop Conedena. The Bishop was willing to testify against right wing mercinary groups and the army in human rights cases. He was beaten to death before he could speak.
What we see here is the same thing only it is in Iraq.
It is only a matter of time before Blackwater is allowed to act this way within the US, since tour army cannot. Poor people were murdered after Katrina, that was a start.
This is all part of the New American century...­one devoid of Democracy.­..an oligarchy and a type "Republic" of limited represation where the corporations and wealthy kill anyone they feel stands against them.
Blackwater and groups like it are part of the plan.

[DoctorDoctor]

actually, firms like dysan and blackwater look, salivating madly, at their prospects for "guarding" our southern border. So they already anticipate expanding onto domestic soil. my thought? krystalnacht.

[davy]

Just right for Halloween!! America has become a very scary place.

An X pat in disbelief

[SURRYMARK]

Try this scenario:
1
To maintain some local credibility, the Iraq government sends troops or police to arrest Blackwater people.
2
Blackwater shoots up the Iraquis, on the ground and with their helicopters.
3
What are your alternate endings?

[GJKBEAR]

Here is 1 - Bush says that these were loyal Americans and that they were only doing America's work in fighting "TERRARISM" . He futher says that these were not Iraqi troops - they were "AlQeda" and that they were all Iranians.
Iraq and Iran then have little choice but to band against us. WWIII begins and Bush declares martial law - declares himself the only person who can keep America safe. The election ends. Bush gets declared War President for the duration of the conflict. 25% of the populace is OK with that 75% are pissed but the Supreme Court passes a majority vote to support Bush's claim.
Blackwater comes home to America and some of their members begin systematically killing the 75% majority - because they are only beholden to the almighty dollar - not the constitution or America.
Pockets of resistance form - and we have revolution - right here in the good ol' US of A.....

[BritPatJax]

Jeremy Scahill:
While Blackwater's conduct in Iraq is horrifying, it is important to remember that US ambassadors--all four who have served under the Iraq occupation--owe their lives to Blackwater's shoot-firs­t-and-neve­r-ask-ques­tions cowboy tactics. They are the reason the company can brag it has never lost an American life it was protecting. Blackwater does its job and while it is essential to prosecute its operatives for their crimes, the ultimately responsible party is the entity that hired them and deployed them armed and dangerous in Iraq.

Consider another outlook? One that the rest of the world might be inclined to consider?

"While The Gestapo's conduct in Paris is horrifying, it is important to remember that 'German' ambassadors--who have served under the French occupation--owe their lives to Gestapo shoot-firs­t-and-neve­r-ask-ques­tions Nazi tactics. They are the reason the company can brag it has never lost a German life it was protecting. Gestapo do their job and while it is essential to prosecute its operatives for their crimes, the ultimately responsible party is the entity that hired them and deployed them armed and dangerous in Paris".

The other side of the street view maybe? Not one that is ever perceived here unfortunately?
Is it not time to take a Global perception of Foreign Policy?

[vegipot]

While comparing us the Nazis is sure to raise a howl of outrage from some, I think, in many ways, it is all too apt an analogy. Hitler and his minions were masters of drum beating blind patiotism with fear of contrived enemies to rise to power. With Hitler, it was Jews. With Bush, it was gays, abortion rights supporters, and the dreaded "liberals.­" Water boarding was an accepted interrogation technique at Gestapo headquarters. An all powerful executive, impervious to any legislative or judicial restraint, had total control of the military, and pre-emptive invasions of other sovereign counties, based on pretext, were accepted. Government secrecy and obliviation of the privacy rights of citizens prevailed. Where is America's ablility to recognize and learn from History? Blackwater IS Bush's Gestapo.

[BritPatJax]

I love America and was in Germany post war and have German friends but I would ask them and they denied any knowledge of atrocities. Their economy was booming at first and then it became treasonable to object or criticize. It was somewhat like that here for a while after 9/11. I know that Americans are not like Nazi's but being too busy to care? Having 'dinner' on your mind instead of what is going on in your name? Giving kids with guns 'carte blanche' in a foreign country is all going to bring about 'haditha's' and 'Abu Graibs' to haunt the security of America for decades and decades to come.

[MAGLATINA]

REMEMBER THAT BUSH'S GRANDFATHER HAD A NAZI MENTALITY.­.. MOST PROBABLY HIS VISION HAS BEEN INGRAINED IN THE FAMILY. MAY THE UNIVERSAL SUPREME PROTECT US!!!

[richardgordon]

No wonder the Arab world hates America. But it doesn't get any better with the American Military. I was amazed and appalled to watch on 60 Minutes last Sunday that the American Military has an allowable "collateral damage" ratio of 30 to 1.

It is permissible for the American Military to kill 30 civilians in order to get one terrorist in Afghanistan. Think about this for one minute. If one Arab came to the United States and killed 30 Americans he would be considered to be terrorist Satan. But it appears that Afanni lives are considered worthless in American eyes. Is it any wonder that we are losing Afghanistan to the Taliban?

America really has to re think its military role in the world. On the one hand Americans put themselves up on a pedestal as being the good guys, but on the other hand you feel that you have the right to go in and slaughter 30 innocent civilians in order to get 1 "bad guy".

It is well to remember that you may have all this incredible military technology that allows you to destroy a building from thousands of miles away. But these insane policies that govern your military will not win you wars. Vietnam and Iraq are cases in point. You have two impoverished nations who are in the process of defeating the mighty American military machine.

Americans need to put a stop to their leaders insanity.

[BritPatJax]

Not only this but being a 'bad guy' is simply fighting 'occupation' frequently and certainly in Iraq. The French Resistance were terrorists to the Germans and heroes to the free world? Also, can you rely on the Military even knowing who the bad guy is? quite often it is pure speculation. More hatred and more orphans ready to join the radical group everyday and people talk of being safer? The military make sure of turbulence and 'requirement' and 'job security' indefinitely.

[fact finder]

Robertgordon; Very true but how.?

[MAGLATINA]

IT REALLY MAKES ME FURIOUS AND SAD THAT OUR MILITARY FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS POSITION. I RESPECT AND LOVE THE MILITARY ... BUT THE SHRUB AND HIS CABAL HAVE TAINTED THEIR IMAGE... WHY ISN'T IMPEACHMENT ON THE TABLE?

[Babatunde1945]

Now it's very clear, the U.S. send these murderers in these countries to murder innocent people at will. No wonder they are becoming hated all around the world because they (US) justify these thugs to rape and murder whoever they want to, with no fear of
being punished for the evils they commit against innocent people, they have a license to murder.

[Bongborg]

what's clear is you are blaming all of us for what Dick Cheney did.

[BritPatJax]

That is like a German saying 'you are blaming us for what Hitler did' right? Do YOU blame the Germans? Or do you just blame Hitler for it all? Think about it? You ARE what you vote?

[Purple Girl]

And we'll be the ones who get the wrath- business as ususal for this adminisrtation. Wehave carried their sins (OIL & AUTO) on OUR Backs for Decades!!! I wnat not only Hallibuton Blackwater held responsible for their current crimes- I want ALL involved with this Middle East problem brought to justice. Cheney as a Halliburton big wig, and all the rest of his cronies past & present and still in the corporate world or who infiltrated US from a Gov't position.T­his crap has been going on for decades. Middle easterns don't hate US- they hate them, and so should we.9/11 happen in direct response to These industries disreagard for their citizens too. thier using our reputation. money, resources and blood to wage their private War. THIS MUST STOP & INDICTMENTS MUST BE HANDED DOWN NOW !! first up- DICK. then Rummy, Wolfie, Bushie (shlepp),.­...

[justice4juveniles]

I seem to remember the original reason Bin laden attacked the WTC on 9/11 was because he wanted US soldiers out of Saudia Arabia where they were present at their mosques and other religious places. Apparently this had been a probelm for quite some time. Why were they there? How would Americans feel if armed and dangerous Saudia Arabian soldiers were pacing in front of our churches? Would we think that was ok? Would it unnerve us and anger us? What if we made it perfectly clear to the Saudi government that we wanted those people gone and got no response? Of course that isn't any kind of justification for terrorism, but when you have religious lunatics and extremists there's a real possiblity of extremist responses. I'm sure our govt was warned more than once. Too bad our government didn't try to see their side of things before catastrophic results. Or did Bush just egg them on with some good ole boy, redneck, bring-it-on cowboy talk. Who knows? I'm sure it wouldn't have been the first time his mouth got him in trouble.

[BritPatJax]

A great and courageous comment that would almost have gotten you shot four years ago. I stood on a Pensacola Beach then when all 100,000 were swooning the Blue Angels and I found myself considering what if they were a foreign super Arab power ruling the sky's and dominating my country. As well as Saudi Arabia I don't think that Arabs were 'best pleased' by our blind support of brutality in Palestine by occupational forces. Honestly honestly I love America but doubt that many have the imagination or the pure heart to consider being in a dust bowl hovel with gunships hovering overheard and menfolk shamed into compliance apart from gestures that you call terrorism. se my French Resistance comment about that?

[fact finder]

Purple Girl; ONE MORE TIME ; YOU CAN NOT INDICT A DICTATOR. Try to impeach Bush the Bastard and he will declare martial law.

[newworldman777]

I would warn anyone of daring to reason why the "Islamic radicals" attacked America on 9-11. If you make the mistake of publicly espousing that the sinister global policies of America brought this attack upon ourselves, then you risk being not only ostracized, but also persecuted as well -- perhaps even criminally prosecuted -- in this ever-increasing fascist-leaning country. Just ask Ward Churchill, the professor of ethic studies at the University of Colorado. They fired him (tenure notwithstanding) after he publicly blamed Americans themselves for 9-11, because of our own global sins: our arrogant, ethnocentric and selfish international policies which feed capitalistic corporate greed; our unwavering and biased support for Zionism; and our intrusion into and violation of sacred Islamic religious ground. Of course, the university's official reason for firing him was "research misconduct­." Curiously, they were aware of this infraction a decade previously, but chose to ignore it at the time; it was only after his "unpatriotic public rantings" about 9-11 did they conveniently use that infraction as an excuse to fire him.

As for this criminal organization called Blackwater, they represent the epitome of what is wrong with this administration. They are secretive and criminal, they are bound by no laws and answer to no one but themselves, and their murderous behavior is doing irrevocable harm to America's image in the global community. Question: Why did two weeks pass before the FBI became involved in the investigation? Those Blackwater thugs allegedly murdered 17 innocent people -- an incident with the potential of exponentially increasing extreme Islamic hatred for Americans, creating an exceedingly dangerous environment for our regular troops -- and the FBI lollygags around for two weeks before they decide to do their jobs, giving the guilty plenty of time to destroy evidence and synchronize their stories. Why am I not surprised?

[jpshotwheels]

Jeremy, first of all, you need to be thanked for all of your hardwork and investigation into this company. I have been watching you on Democracy Now since you first started reporting on Blackwater. What is disturbing is how long this issue has taken to get to the major news networks. Our major news media outlets report this story in a back page manner, and seem to be relaying a message of support for immunity for killing innocent people on the streets of Iraq.

These same Blackwater employees are killing innocents on the streets of New Orleans, with no investigations, no news coverage, nothing. If this story was at the top of the News Hour and the incidents in New Orleans were reported, Blackwater would be gone in a New York minute.

When are our Representatives in Washington going to say no to President Bush and Cheney for their illegal heinous crimes against innocent people across the World. If they don't, we are all in very big trouble across the World and in our own Country. All Nancy Pelosi can say is its a "Waste of our Time & Money." They should be saying NO MORE CONTRACTS, NO MORE BLACKWATER, NO MORE HALLIBURTON, NO MORE MONEY, IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS START TOMORROW. JUST SAY NO.

[fact finder]

jpshotwheels; Try to impeach and Bush will declare martial law.

[americanwhocares]

fact finder: I hope you are wrong, but I think the military is fed up with the COWBOY PRESIDENT. They would not follow an order like that, instead they might arrest this war criminal.

[Rudym]

Here is a political solution to the Democratic problem of Iraq War funding to support American troops.

There are 130, 000 private security personnel in addition to 160, 000 American troops presently in Iraq. The private security personnel are making at least double in salary than enlisted troops. Tax dollars and additional security personnel funding is being smoke screened by use of private security subcontractors by Bush.

Since Democrats have a number of Congressmen fearful to cut funding because they do not want to shortchange the security of American troops while in Iraq, here is the perfect compromise.

Approve Bush’s request for an additional 195 billion for Iraq funding with a contingency that all American troops stationed in Iraq will receive equal pay with amounts paid to private security personnel.

American tax dollars pay the same unequal salaries. The practice of paying more to private security personnel than enlisted personnel is unfair. You are supporting American troops by increasing their pay and since 195 billion will no longer be sufficient to pay all 290,000-security personnel, half of the troops will have to return.

The Democrats will get a lot of respect and support from Americans with this compromise solution.

[Hoosier84]

Actually, for the record there are about 20,000 security personnel, mostly Iraqis. There are less than 2,000 armed American bodyguards, almost all working for the diplomatic security contract. Iraqis doing private security earn market wages, about the same as Iraqi military and police - far less than American soldiers and a very good deal for taxpayers. Even with American security contractors, the short term cost to taxpayers is comparable to U.S. soldiers; the long term cost is far less.

In fact some 118,000 of the estimated 160,000 contractors (according to the LA Times) are Iraqis, the people who most people believe should be the ones doing security and reconstruction in Iraq. Mr. Scahill likes to gloss over just who makes up the overwhelming majority of contractors because it significantly undermines his sensationalistic arguments. Some specialists argue that these contractor jobs are the single most significant counter-insurgency program the coalition has in Iraq.

Ensuring accountability is a critical issue with our industry as well, and our industry endorsed Rep. David Price's legislation (we endorsed his 2004 improvements as well) and we have long urged and testified for improved government oversight. Good oversight and accountability is good for good companies.

-doug brooks, IPOA

[demigod]

Why pay the troops the same as Blackwater ? Pay Blackwater the same as the troops, and make them troops in uniform ! If they're fit, of age, and committed to the "mission", sign them up ! And put them under military control ! It's outrageous that a second private macho army with wrap around sunglasses, bulging wallets and no rules of engagement are shuffling American dignitaries around while our grunts are kicking Iraqi doors down and worrying about paying the bills back home. We shouldn't HAVE diplomats in a country so hostile and dangerous we have to kill their people to move about in THEIR country. Think about it - we have become everything bin Laden says we are. And our government is so corrupt the State Department deliberately stymied the investigation of killers of Iraqi civilians. Even in Viet Nam we didn't immunize the My Lai attrocity participants, we INVESTIGATED it thoroughly, we interrogated our own troops and published an independent report. Lt. Calley did time, as I recall. Why would the Republican State Department throw a wrench in the investigative process, except to protect connected Republican allies ? For that is surely what Blackwater is - the military wing of the Republican Party.

[Macready]

This is so sick . . .these guys are hired killers . . . and that is what they do . .. they never should have been granted immunity . . . they are a disgrace . . .and so is the US and so is most of Congress for not allowing impeachment to be put on the agenda

[killedbynonaction]

One guess who will be the "private army" in the U.S. soon. A.H.needed his private thugs to protect him and his interests and so will the present and future form of govt. that we have here. Paranoid? No. History studies? You bet!