The Blackwater shootings in Nisour Square highlight at least two problems that Americans must grapple with. First, some American security contractors in Iraq appear to lack the sound judgment and restraint required to carry out their mission (see the Blackwater shootings, the DynCorp Int'l shootings and the Unity Resources Group shootings). Second, these contractors have operated for years without sufficient scrutiny or legal consequences to their actions.The Blackwater security contractors involved in the incident have claimed they retaliated after being fired upon, which resulted in the deaths of 17 Iraqis. The evidence against Blackwater has slowly mounted since this initial claim. In a recent NPR report, Philadelphia attorney Susan Burke said, "We have not found anyone, anyone at all, who has come forward to say there were any shots fired or any kind of threat made upon these Blackwater shooters". In addition, Iraqi civilians have filed civil lawsuits accusing Blackwater guards of disobeying orders by going to Nisour Square instead of staying with the State Department official they were supposed to be guarding, and accusing them of taking steroids.
Equally disturbing is the fact that no law has been found--U.S., military or Iraqi--that holds these contractors accountable for their actions. The following is from a November 28 NPR report:
"The more immediate challenge for Justice Department officials and prosecutors has been to find an American law that applies to the parameters of this incident.Any and all Americans abroad represent their country at all times, whether a diplomat, a businessman or woman, a backpacker or a security contractor. We must determine whether or not the actions of American security guards in Iraq have been excessive or irresponsible, and there must be legal recourse to address those actions. Doing so will show Iraq and the rest of the world that the U.S. is strongly dedicated to the legal system and that no one is above the law.
Bob Chadwell, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle, says prosecuting the Blackwater guards isn't a slam dunk.
'They are going to have to shoehorn the facts into a statute that wasn't designed to address that concern, and that is a problem," he said, referring to Justice Department lawyers. "If the law isn't meant to address something, it is sometimes like trying to pound a square peg into a round hole. Sometimes it just can't be done.'
...A federal grand jury is hearing from witnesses this week, and the Justice Department has said it could be months before it seeks an actual indictment.
Photo: Nisour Sqaure; Khalid Mohammed for the New York Times
1 comment:
We hire these men because they will go where others wouldn't because of fear for their life.
We expect them to do good, but we want them to be badder than the enemy they face. We want a man who can kill another in the line of his job. We won't sign up for that duty no matter how much it pays. They however do and they do it for the money. Don't play at who is guilty when you weren't there to see the action unfold. You can't find a single person who will addmit there were gunmen that attached the crew. IS THAT SURPRISING. Some have filed law suits. IS THAT SURPRISING. If you look hard and bend every little thing you may yet be able to put blame on someone. BUT, your acts will be as troublesome as the act that you are trying with all your might to conjure up to find these men guilty, whether they are or not.
When this is over you will come home to a land that you can feel safe in, and lay your selfrightious head on your pillow and feel you have done humanity a service. But, what you will have really done is make the next poor bast..d hesitate just a little when attached and he will pay with his life. Oh thank you so much, what would we do without people like you.
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