F.B.I. Says Guards Killed 14 Iraqis Without Cause

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

Federal agents investigating the Sept. 16 episode in which Blackwater security personnel shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians have found that at least 14 of the shootings were unjustified and violated deadly-force rules in effect for security contractors in Iraq, according to civilian and military officials briefed on the case.

The F.B.I. investigation into the shootings in Baghdad is still under way, but the findings, which indicate that the company’s employees recklessly used lethal force, are already under review by the Justice Department.

Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek indictments, and some officials have expressed pessimism that adequate criminal laws exist to enable them to charge any Blackwater employee with criminal wrongdoing. Spokesmen for the Justice Department and the F.B.I. declined to discuss the matter.

The case could be one of the first thorny issues to be decided by Michael B. Mukasey, who was sworn in as attorney general last week. He may be faced with a decision to turn down a prosecution on legal grounds at a time when a furor has erupted in Congress about the administration’s failure to hold security contractors accountable for their misdeeds.

Representative David E. Price, a North Carolina Democrat who has sponsored legislation to extend American criminal law to contractors serving overseas, said the Justice Department must hold someone accountable for the shootings.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/world/middleeast/14blackwater.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

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Murder trials for the Blackwater mercs and pull all government contracts with Blackwater. I want to see this dangerous outfit starved out of business. And it is shameful that the F.B.I. even considers the murder of Ahmed Haithem Ahmed and his mother, Mohassin perhaps was justified!

[C_U_L8R]

1. I don't think that's the news Dick and George wanna hear

What will their reality-making agitpropagators turn it into?

Benevolent Blackwater brings unicorns and ice cream to Iraqi families???

[Mythsaje]

2. Unicorns and ice cream?

Oh, sure. War unicorns just waiting for the chance to impale the kids on their lance-like spiral horns.

Now THAT would be a Blackwater gift.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. It's disgraceful that the US uses mercenaries

Blackwater, and all the rest of their ilk, should be banned. Don't have enough soldiers to get their war on without them? That's too damn bad.

[Scurrilous]

4. K & R

:kick:

[Supersedeas]

5. how will the Filibuster Sec. of State spin this one?

[Barrett808]

6. k & r