Iraq revokes security contractors' immunity

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

Iraq revokes security contractors' immunity
by Ammar Karim

BAGHDAD (AFP) - 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."

Article 1 of Section 2 of CPA order 17 issued by then US administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, stipulates that the "multinational force, foreign liaison missions, their personnel, property, funds and assets and all international consultants shall be immune from Iraqi legal process."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071024/wl_afp/iraqunrestblackwater

[Fresh_Start]

1. Great first step Iraq

now arrest and prosecute them.
Potential threats are not enough

[Drum]

2. Now that's a step a sovereign nation might take.

Good on the Iraqis...sweep that dirt out your door.

[Kagemusha]

3. Misleading headline. Immunity hasn't been actually revoked yet.

They've decided to go about doing so.. eh, we'll see how long that lasts. I wouldn't be optimistic. But it's some sign of life.

(Edit: As always, blame is to the media, not the original poster. Thank you..)

[gratuitous]

6. This will rouse the corrupt Bush administration

Watch the threats, the bribes and the general whingery about to unfold from the Bush administration and its right wing echo chamber. I'm sure the usual suspects will be happy to explain it all to us dumb American people how holding mercenaries responsible for their massacres is an Islamofascist plot, and how it plays into the hands of the terrorists.

And if the bribes and the threats and the whining don't work, the murderous thugs will be spirited out of Iraq, out of harm's way, probably with military escorts as our own troops risk their lives to protect their skedaddling.

[progpen]

4. How long will it take before AWOL vetos this legislation?

How dare those damn Iraqis try to write their own laws without AWOL's OkeyDokey.

[grahamhgreen]

5. Don't forget about Executive order 13303

"In effect, EO 13303 provides an extraordinarily broad legal shield for any and all contractors and mercenaries working in Iraq on behalf of US corporations in any oil related enterprise."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13303

Looks like the Iraqi's have are stepping up.

We should too.

[Baby Snooks]

7. But they are not the "decider."

Bush is the "decider." They have forgotten that. Of course if they want to do a little trade, say, the oil law for Blackwater, well, then, that is just fine with him. If I were Eric Prince, I'd be stockpiling the cash in some country with no extradition treaty with Iraq.

[Javaman]

8. so iraq is trying on their big pants, let's see if that bodes well with moron*

I have a sneaky feeling it won't.