State Dept. Granted Disgraced Blackwater Guards Immunity After Shootings
State Dept. Granted Disgraced Blackwater Guards Immunity After Shootings
Following the deadly September shootout in Baghdad involving Blackwater USA, the Bush administration rushed to the security firm’s defense and even awarded the firm a new $92 million contract.
Today, the AP provides further evidence of the administration’s efforts to shield the firm, reporting that the State Department “promised” legal immunity to Blackwater guards after the shooting incident:
The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians. […]
Three senior law enforcement officials said all the Blackwater bodyguards involved - both in the vehicle convoy and in at least two helicopters above - were given the legal protections as investigators from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security sought to find out what happened. The bureau is an arm of the State Department.
The administration’s efforts to protect Blackwater are hampering the investigations into the shootings. Earlier this month, the FBI took over the case after DoJ prosecutors realized they “could not bring charges against Blackwater guards based on their statements to the Diplomatic Security investigators”:
Officials said the Blackwater bodyguards spoke only after receiving so-called “Garrity” protections, requiring that their statements only be used internally - and not for criminal prosecutions.
At that point, the Justice Department shifted the investigation to prosecutors in its national security division, sealing the guards’ statements and attempting to build a case based on other evidence from a crime scene that was then already two weeks old.
Prosecutors now “will have to prove that any evidence they use in bringing charges against Blackwater employees was uncovered without using the guards’ statements to State Department investigators.”
The revelations occur as the Iraqi government “is demanding the right to launch its own prosecution of the Blackwater bodyguards.” Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki revoked CPA Order 17, which granted security contractors “immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts.”
While Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Congress last week she “regrets” the lack of oversight of Blackwater, she neglected to mention that she granted the Blackwater guards prosecutorial immunity after the shootings.
UPDATE: Kagro X observes “The Immunity Presidency.”
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Holy. Shit.
Now the State Department is issuing licenses to kill? This is criminal.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:04 pmCall me crazy, but isn’t the usual way to investigate First and then decide about immunity ?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:05 pmThe administration’s pandering to contractors shows how the Republican party has been overtaken by corporate America.
I blogged on this a few days ago at my new blog, http://www.standingbeforethefire.com,(click on the foreign policy/international relations section).
October 29th, 2007 at 8:10 pmCall me crazy, but isn’t the usual way to investigate First and then decide about immunity ?
Comment by MapleStreet — October 29, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Not if you are a WAR CRIMINAL, and the people who committed such acts would EXPOSE you as such.
Like “president” Dorko!
Sincerely,
NRA Gun Nutes
October 29th, 2007 at 8:10 pmWow. I guess we have to ask these folks direct questions, as they are obviously skilled at lying by omission.
First question: Dr. Rice, have you ever eaten human flesh…?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:11 pmDoes Condi Rice have the power to issue immunity against prosecution? I thought Iraq is a sovereign country.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:13 pmCondi Rice seems to have the power to even stop prosecutions in the USA. Isn’t that the work of law enforcing agencies and the courts.!!
Call me crazy, but isn’t the usual way to investigate First and then decide about immunity ?
Comment by MapleStreet — October 29, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Only if you value the lives of those who have been murdered.
Condoleezza Rice is obviously not interested in justice but only the interests of the official administration cronies. Notice how Blackwater was awarded a new contract even before the investigation was finished. What more proof do we need?
This does not apply to the American soldiers they’re just doing what they have been ordered to do but, I hope every single one of those Blackwater troopers (mercenaries) gets what’s coming to him!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:19 pm#6 Comment by tarazan — October 29, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
I thought Iraq is a sovereign country.
Finally, after 4 years, so do some of the Iraqis in their Govt, as witnessed by this case. But not according to BushCo! Even though they claim to have given the Iraqis back their sovereignty! (How they have the ability to do that remains a mystery.) BushCo believes it owns Iraq and the Iraqis are squatters on our land.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:27 pmDoes anyone want to take a guess ……..
When will Blackwater have immunity to shoot Amercan citizens in America?
Any guesses?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:32 pmoverlap sez:
Right after the next “terrorist incident”.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:35 pmHow convenient that the United States does not belong to the International Criminal Court. Simply more evidence at play of American Exceptionalism and that justice applies to everyone in the world except the United States, despite prosecutor and former Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson noting that the Nuremberg Trials showed that no nation, even the victors, should consider themselves above the law.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:36 pmThis crime should be investigated, tried, and if Blackwater is found guilty, the guilty parties should be punished… By the Iraqi people, in thier courts and by their system of justice, without any interference from the U.S.
We have no right to be there and never had that right. Our privately run “army” that has no oversight and is accountable to no one, has no right to be there either. In my opinion, just being in Iraq is a crime in itself.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pmHoly. Shit.
Now the State Department is issuing licenses to kill? This is criminal.
Comment by Zooey — October 29, 2007 @ 8:04 pm
Zooey, sorry to remind you but, have you ever heard of Operation Phoenix in Vietman, the El Salvador Option, Operation Condor in South America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay), the Guatemalan Indian genocide, the Allende Coup in Chile and countless others throughout the world (1953 Iran comes to mind), the Bay of Pigs in Cuba, the downing of the Cubana airliner in Barbados, ……….
These and many others were “licences to kill”. I wouldn’t be too surprised if I were you.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pmforeyes,
I guess I’m naive. Thanks for the list.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:42 pmComment by overlap — October 29, 2007 @ 8:32 pm
When will Blackwater have immunity to shoot Amercan citizens in America?
I believe they already have that “immunity.” Anything that they do will be because of national security and this will trump anything else. This is BushCo’s private army!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:43 pm15. I give bushco the benefit of the doubt, that they aren’t practicing for martial law, but it’s just more bushco incompetence.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pmWhen will Blackwater have immunity to shoot Amercan citizens in America?
August 30, 2005
October 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm#11 Comment by Erroll — October 29, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
How convenient that the United States does not belong to the International Criminal Court.
When you are guilty as hell, the last thing you want is an honest cop. The mafia had to buy off the cops and judges. They must be truly envious of this “Grand” Mafia that can simply opt out of the justice system, whether it is in this country or the world!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:48 pmThe rules of the US House of Representative for the 110th Congress provides for the removal of a seated Speaker, during session, for the purposes of preserving the “dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings†under the constitutional prerogative of its function with respect to impeachment. Any member of the House can bring forth a resolution presenting a question of privilege to declare the Speakership vacant based on this provision.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:51 pmhttp://willyloman.wordpress.com/ 2007/ 10/ 29/ how-to-declare-the-speaker-seat-vacant/
Take a look at Condiliesalot in the pic ; talk about a conflict of interest there ……………..
October 29th, 2007 at 8:52 pm#17 Comment by helenahandbasket — October 29, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
15. I give bushco the benefit of the doubt, that they aren’t practicing for martial law, but it’s just more bushco incompetence.
You are generous to a fault, me thinks. On what grounds do you base your faith?
October 29th, 2007 at 8:53 pmWe need this in Iraq:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/ hi/ world/ americas/ 6300985.stm
But I’m sure they’d find a way to kill with it, too.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:00 pm#20 Comment by plunger — October 29, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Thanks for the article. Very, very appropriate and very well said.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:01 pmThe late Mrs. Helmsley has helped to re-write the new Bush Consititution.
Rule # 1) Only the little people obey the law.
-GSD
October 29th, 2007 at 9:01 pmBlackwater uses the raygun to warm large orders of burritos at the company outings.
-GSD
October 29th, 2007 at 9:02 pmGovernment officials protecting murderers and getting away with it.
This government is for sale to the highest bidder . . I mean . . contributor.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:06 pmWHY-O-WHY is this crazy whence Rice still in charge of this madhouse??
Can’t someone just send her shoe shopping in Spain - permanently and let someone with over 5 brain cells working run this criminal enterprise!
She and Prince should be ROOMATES at G’Itmo….
October 29th, 2007 at 9:09 pmCall me crazy, but isn’t the usual way to investigate First and then decide about immunity ?
Comment by MapleStreet — October 29, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
BWAHAHAHA!
Little noob thinks we still live under the rule of law.
Heh. Next you’ll be expecting free and fair elections, I bet. 9_9
October 29th, 2007 at 9:10 pm… she granted the Blackwater guards prosecutorial immunity after the shootings.
SHE CAN DO THAT ???!!!???
i wouldn’t think so… in a “normal” world…
but i am aware - this IS buchco bizarro world…
i’m getting very worried about our democracy’s ability to survive till 09…
worried if THAT will even happen… … sigh…
big papa… are you out there lurking?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:10 pmi could use a pep talk here…
…
#30 Comment by Winski — October 29, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
She and Prince should be ROOMATES at G’Itmo….
Nah…She’s Ws girl. They should be “room” mates in Gitmo. Family values and all, ya know.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:12 pmUnbelievable. And nothing will be done about it. The Democrats are about to appoint another Attorney General who will take their oath to the President, rather than to the Constitution. The Democrats have so much power, they just won’t use it. Why? Do they want the power that Bush has taken as his own? Are they terminally stupid and weak? What in the fu*k is wrong with them.
When Congress appointed a new Attorney General during Nixon’s Watergate trials, they made the AG promise to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate Nixon. That was a requirement for their appointment. And guess what, it happened. Why don’t the Democrats do the same with Mulkasey? Make him agree to appoint a Special Prosecutor as a condition of taking the job.
And, the next time someone tells you “Clinton did it”, point out that Clinton allowed the AG to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate him!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:13 pmHow depressing, that these war criminals matter more to the administration and government than our own soldiers, who the Democrats ‘hate’ as we’re always reminded, and who we’re constantly asked to ’support’, as again we’re always reminded.
If this is how we support our troops, by promoting lawlessness in mercenaries and private armies even at the expense of letting them run roughshod over our own guys (because, hey, they used to be our guys too until they became soldiers of fortune!), then damned if I’m glad I don’t ’support’ them the way these bastards do.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:15 pmNah…She’s Ws girl. They should be “room†mates in Gitmo. Family values and all, ya know.
Comment by Merlin — October 29, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Matcing His and Her’s waterboards?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:21 pmHaven’t we heard all that before?
Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Does tcdonnie ever do anything but whine and fingerpoint?
Haven’t we ALL heard enough from this nimrod?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:22 pm#34 Merlin:
“Room” mates won’t do. They MUST be roomates so they can be gathered up in one scoop, with ‘w’ on his way to the Hague….
October 29th, 2007 at 9:23 pmDoes Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before?
Yes, his former moniker was Ace. And he is just as annoying as smelly trolls like you.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:23 pmDoes Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before?
Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Who’s this “we” , skid mark ?
Yeah , maybe you and the rest of the GOP Nazis clearly remember ……..
October 29th, 2007 at 9:24 pmDoes Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before? Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Hey, who’s saying IT’S ALL their fault! You saying they have no blame, and if they do, you’re anti-semitic?
Oh, and while you were WHINING AWAY about Berger earlier, ironic you’d have nothing to say about this administration’s BLANKED IMMUNITY for MURDER. You HYPOCRITES are at least consistent! Anything YOUR SIDE does you consider HEROIC, no matter how disgusting! And you call yourself RELIGIOUS! You’re a DISGRACE to the human condition!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:24 pmDoes Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before?
Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
He’s not saying that it’s the fault of The Jews. Just a handful of Zionists who’ve gotten a smidge too powerful.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:25 pmWho’s this “we†, skid mark ?
Yeah , maybe you and the rest of the GOP Nazis clearly remember ……..
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
Yeah, and now all of the NeoCons and AIPAC ironically refer to MUSLIMS in the same way “It’s all their fault”… How predictable!
TCDon is so predictably dishonest, and immoral.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:25 pmWaterboard all Republican restroom toe-tappers.
-GSD
October 29th, 2007 at 9:26 pmHe’s not saying that it’s the fault of The Jews. Just a handful of Zionists who’ve gotten a smidge too powerful.
Comment by toasterhead — October 29, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
Ah, that’s a subtlety that TonsOCrapDon won’t understand - he’s too home schooled!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:26 pmNow that’s surprising–the State Department giving immunity to an organization whose CEO has been a leading donator to the Bush cause. My goodness, that’s a real head slapper.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:31 pm#39 Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — October 29, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Matching His and Her’s waterboards?
LOL.
Along with bright lights and loud music 24/7 for their enjoyment.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pmWhat does the stupid name “TCDon” stand for anyway ?
Transvestite Cancervative ?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pmWhy is everything so Fracking convoluted?
It is what it is. Murder.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pmSecretary of State Rice’s response to the disaster in New Orleans was: “The Lord Jesus Christ is going to come on time.†She added: “If we just wait.†“On time� How does Rice know the exact time Armageddon starts? “If we just wait� That means in her, that is our, lifetime!
Comment by plunger — October 29, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
It’s going to be so funny when, after these sick twisted idiots get their Armageddon, Jesus doesn’t show up.
Or if He does show up. My bet is that He’ll take one look at the devastation done in His name and He’ll say, “holy living fu(k. Are you people complete retards? What part of Blessed are the PEACEMAKERS did you not understand?”
Then again, since Jesus was Palestinian, He’s most likely been shot by an IDF tank or run over by a Caterpillar already.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pmThe trolls have been so overfed, I’m surprised they still have room for more.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:33 pmTo hell with all those gospels and being nice and stuff.
/sarc
October 29th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
October 29th, 2007 at 9:35 pmThen again, since Jesus was Palestinian,
Haven’t we heard all that before?
Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Scroll on by, it costs you nothing.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:35 pmAlong with bright lights and loud music 24/7 for their enjoyment.
Comment by Merlin — October 29, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
Ohhhh… yer talking the “Honeymooners Suite”!
Tres appropriate, I might add…
October 29th, 2007 at 9:35 pmDon’t they name big-assed guns the “peacemaker”?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:37 pm#38 Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
Does Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before?
Hey, Too Comical Don, be a smart troll and say something really stupid. You need to upgrade your image! This comment only shows that you failed your 1st grade reading comprehension test and never did pass it no matter how many times you tried. Toasterhead just taught you how to read in his comment above. Do take note and stop embarrassing yourself.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:41 pmMy Hispanic gardener is a Palestinian ?
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Could be. There are a few hundred thousand Palestinians living in Chile, El Salvador, and Honduras. It’s entirely possible that some of them have emigrated north.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:42 pmMain Entry:1disgrace
Pronunciation:di-*skr*s, dis-*gr*s
Function:transitive verb
Date:1580
1 archaic : to humiliate by a superior showing
2 : to be a source of shame to *your actions disgraced the family*
3 : to cause to lose favor or standing *was disgraced by the hint of scandal*
–disgracer noun
The ones disgraced are: America, American people, the Bush administration, the Department of State and US Military.
Blackwater has not been disgraced! It never had any grace to loose.
Blacwater have been committing criminal activities in the name of Bush.
I want my ID of EasyRider back!
Demand the Truth
October 29th, 2007 at 9:44 pmEasyRider
October 29th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Toasterhead I’m kinda gettin’ eskeert of them Pallystinians now.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:46 pmDoes Plunger every write anything that doesn’t basically say “it’s all the fault of the Jews and those who do busienss with the Jews?†Haven’t we heard all that before?
Comment by TCDon — October 29, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
The subject is the criminal immunity granted by Condoleezza Rice to the Blackwater mercenaries who murdered 17 civilians in Iraq during an incident in which they fired at random and without provocation.
Please stick to the subject or just keep on practicing your reading while in silence.
Then maybe, you’ll be able to understand Plunger’s comments!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:46 pmTo take part in the new Garden of Eden created by Chimpy , the messenger of “God†?
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Probably just to escape crushing poverty and send home some remittance money, but maybe for the Eden thing. You’ll have to ask your gardener.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:47 pm#61 Comment by toasterhead — October 29, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
My Hispanic gardener is a Palestinian ?
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Could be. There are a few hundred thousand Palestinians living in Chile, El Salvador, and Honduras.
And they’re all named Heysus?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pmTo take part in the new Garden of Eden created by Chimpy , the messenger of “God†?
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:44 pm
Probably just to escape crushing poverty and send home some remittance money, but maybe for the Eden thing. You’ll have to ask your gardener.
Comment by toasterhead — October 29, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
He doesn’t speak English and I do not speak Spanish ; if you combined the 2 of us , we’d equal 1 Chimpy , in terms of inability………
October 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pmToasterhead I’m kinda gettin’ eskeert of them Pallystinians now.
Comment by ForTruth — October 29, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
Try talking to them some time - it’ll solve that problem.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pmI was kidding Toasterhead.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:50 pmHow dare you attack Hackwater?
They are lead by a Prince of Peace.
With a smirk.
-GSD
October 29th, 2007 at 9:51 pmMaybe Plunger is actually the super-plant from the right!
He’s got me so paranoid. I don’t think I would have thought of it otherwise.
It is however, just a joke. I’m kidding.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:52 pmAnd they’re all named Heysus?
Comment by Merlin — October 29, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
That’d be a little confusing, wouldn’t it?
He doesn’t speak English and I do not speak Spanish ; if you combined the 2 of us , we’d equal 1 Chimpy , in terms of inability………
Comment by MCMetal — October 29, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
That’s too bad. You’re missing out. He could probably tell you a lot of fascinating stories.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:53 pmI was kidding Toasterhead.
Comment by ForTruth — October 29, 2007 @ 9:50 pm
I knew that… But it doesn’t change what I said. :)
October 29th, 2007 at 9:55 pmWe should have a “roast” night. It’ll freeze out the trolls. We just lovingly “roast” each other, and ignore the troll crap.
I don’t mind getting roasted.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:55 pmIf Jesus revealed Himself to American Evangelicons, they would have him nailed to a fresh cross by sundown.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:59 pmI thought that was “toasted.” ;)
October 29th, 2007 at 10:00 pmCondi neglected to mention it because -
A) she didn’t ‘recall’
October 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pmB) ‘who could have imagined’
#75 Comment by ForTruth — October 29, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
We should have a “roast†night. It’ll freeze out the trolls. We just lovingly “roast†each other, and ignore the troll crap.
I don’t mind getting roasted.
Well I don’t either. However, that could all too easily degenerate into a mean affair all too quickly. This is not a setting with rules and the understanding as in public roasts. As bad as it would be, I would rather see a “mutual admiration society” gig. It would still freeze out the trolls (and make them envious I bet.) At least it would be complimentary even though phony as hell at times.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:04 pmImmunity’s just another word for “unaccountability”. This White House has been accountable to no one - least of all The People whom they pretend to represent. Out with them all on their ear! They’re all frauds.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:04 pmI continue to be totally baffled by this administration’s willingness to protect Prince the Boys, even to the extent of murder. What the heck is really going on here? Are other contractors getting this kind of immunity?
October 29th, 2007 at 10:05 pmThe Stockdale Paradox: “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.â€
The Conservative Corollary to the Stockdale Paradox: “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to ignore the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.â€
October 29th, 2007 at 10:06 pmZooey got me.
And ok lets have a mutual admiration night. You guys are so cool.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:11 pmCondi should go get killed in Iraq and see how it feels.
/sarc
October 29th, 2007 at 10:13 pm#83 Comment by Candyce — October 29, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
I continue to be totally baffled by this administration’s willingness to protect Prince the Boys, even to the extent of murder. What the heck is really going on here? Are other contractors getting this kind of immunity?
Check out a 4 part blog over at the DailyKos called:
Bush Authoritarianism: Blackwater+Amway=GOP
by DHinMI
Link here:
This link is to Part 4, but you can go to the others from here. Excellent reading regarding your question.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:18 pmZooey got me.
And ok lets have a mutual admiration night. You guys are so cool.
Comment by ForTruth — October 29, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
;)
October 29th, 2007 at 10:20 pmThis is the missing link from post #91. I guess I don’t know how to link here so that it shows! Here it is for cut and paste:
October 29th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
And ok lets have a mutual admiration night. You guys are so cool.
Comment by ForTruth — October 29, 2007 @ 10:11 pm
Pfff well that’s every night at the Zoo, eh? :)
October 29th, 2007 at 10:21 pmPfff well that’s every night at the Zoo, eh? :)
Comment by toasterhead — October 29, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
It’s a love fest. :)
October 29th, 2007 at 10:21 pmComment by Merlin — October 29, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
This is the missing link from post #91. I guess I don’t know how to link here so that it shows! Here it is for cut and paste:
http://www.dailykos.com/ storyonly/ 2007/ 10/ 21/ 202247/ 19
Another try.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:28 pmThe State Dept. gives Blackwater mercenary thugs immunity for killing citizens of the country the US occupies.
Stop the presses. Time for action, folks.
We have had so many investigations of Bush Co. war crimes, lies, incompetence, and arrogance that hearings are meaningless.
What can we do to restore the rule of law in this country?
October 29th, 2007 at 10:30 pmBury em’ in paper.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:33 pm“Prosecutors now “will have to prove that any evidence they use in bringing charges against Blackwater employees was uncovered without using the guards’ statements…”
Yeah, prosecutors! Prove that negative!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:43 pmI wonder if we will hear anything out of Hil on this issue or will her Chief Advisor, who also works for Blackwater “advise” her to keep quiet and just take their money?
October 29th, 2007 at 10:52 pmMerlin, thanks for the link to authoritarianism and Blackwater. I read all 3 parts, a very good read that has sent me off for even more information.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:01 amIf the U.S. wants to set stricter rules and regulations on their actions, that is fine by me. Set clear limits on their authority and set clear boundaries on their actions. Then Blackwater can decide if they want to continue to bid on contracts issued taking into account the limits set upon them.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 30, 2007 @ 3:20 am
That’s not the government’s right, it’s the government’s RESPONSIBILITY, under the Constitution:
October 30th, 2007 at 7:30 amIf they are going to be given carte blanche, then they should not be condemned for using it.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 30, 2007 @ 3:20 am
and, in a nutshell, the desperation of the right. bigfoot is as big a terrorist as Bin laden, and more dangerous to America. the right has no understanding of American ideals, no understanding of human rights, no understanding of law. That’s why they’re going down hard next year, and all the denial in the world isn’t enough to save them. their only hope is that the elections come before true American patriots rise up in anger against them, and use the same tactics the Blackwater criminals are using. Blackwater was not granted carte blanche, and every last one of them should be tried and imprisoned, starting with Eric Prince. Condaliar Rice, likewise, should spend the rest of her life in a cell. the right’s hatred of American freedom is bringing them dangerously close to being treated like thugs and criminals as a matter of American survival.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:32 amMy two cents, which has probably been echoed upthread is that this was an intentional “misstep” designed to muddy the waters around this incident. Now there is a body of “testimony” under bogus immunity. The Blackwater guards probably were told it was not really immunity and were probably told to get their stories straight beforehand. Now, they will be able to hold this “testimony” up and say “hey look–the guards said they were under hostile fire when they thought they were testifying under immunity–so that must be what really happened.”
October 30th, 2007 at 8:01 am#103 - “The United States has the right to be in Iraq.” Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 30, 2007 @ 3:20 am
I must agree with OB on this one.
Iraq had oil, and we needed it, therefore we have the right to be in Iraq.
There were NO WMD’s, so that lie didn’t carry weight. In fact, the “programs” that then Sec. Powell lied about were all gathering dust, so there’s another lie that doesn’t carry any weight at all.
Saddam hated Usama bin Laden, and the only terrorist camps were in the no-fly regions in which he had no control at all, so the false claim that Saddam was somehow, mysteriously helping the terrorists was another lie that carried no weight at all.
Nope, the oil was and is the only real reason that we are still in Iraq.
It might have started out as a “childish tantrum” by Pres. Bush to “get” the people that planned to assasinate his father when Bush Sr. was President, but it was the Oil that made it a deal clencher.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:21 amRB, are you suggesting that the state AG’s bring civil suits against the WH, or criminal charges? Either approach raises interesting constitutional issues, but your post was unclear.
Comment by TCDon — October 30, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Civil and criminal charges should be brought by the states against this federal government.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:35 am“Civil and criminal charges should be brought by the states against this federal government.” Comment by Lefty Patriot — October 30, 2007 @ 9:35 am
Lefty: I’m all for doing whatever it takes to get rid of this bunch, but the 11th Amendment essentially provides the federal government sovreign immunity from civil actions like what you’re suggesting.
Instead of going after the government, we need to go after the criminals themselves — the BushCo cabal as individuals, or as an organized crime syndicate. Yeah — Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Hadley, Gonzales, etc., brought up on state and federal racketeering charges — I’m loving the sound of that…
October 30th, 2007 at 9:52 amThis from information liberation website.
San Diego Fires: The Blackwater Connection
by MasonicPlot
Having done some research the last few days I have come to the possible conclusion that there may be more than meets the eye here.
Blackwater has been in a big legal fight with the town of Potrero to build the nations largest mercenary training center. The people of the Potrero community have resisted Blackwater’s attempts to do so, now suddenly all of their homes are gone and the entire community destroyed and purged of all Blackwater resistance.
I have a funny feeling that Blackwater may be getting a real good deal on a huge swath of land after the smoke clears.
Three weeks ago, the Petrero community was asked to sign a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer about Blackwater’s base, including a warning about Potrero’s “fire-prone landscape”:
“Not only will Blackwater’s proposed California paramilitary base disrupt the lives of its residents, but it will also threaten the pristine natural habitat of the Round Potrero Valley, which includes part of Cleveland National Forest and is adjacent to the proposed Hauser Wilderness preserve. The regular detonation of firearms would be a risk both to the fire-prone landscape as well as to the wildlife that currently calls that area home, including the golden eagle and the California condor.”
Blackwater is ironically now playing on those very people’s emotions by offering their helicopters, tanks and soldiers to help the community and surrounding areas fight the fires.
This fire exploded just as the people of Potrero were preparing for a recall election on December 11 to kick out the planning group members who approved Blackwater’s base. With ballots scheduled to be mailed in early November to less than 600 registered voters in this historic vote-by-mail recall, Potrero residents were preparing for an intense campaign over the next six weeks.
But the actual landscape — and the political landscape — of Potrero have been transformed over the last 48 hours.
I’m starting to hear on the news that authorities believe some of these fires were deliberately set.
It is almost, just too convenient, I’d say.
and this.
Randi Rhodes on CA fires: Blackwater might be involved
“I started just doing Google searches to try and figure out. You know, arson, arson, it was like crazy trying to figure out why is that being downplayed? Why is that, you know, just a small part of the story? And you know, every time I look for it what comes up, believe it or not, is that Blackwater wants to move to San Diego and build this giant complex in San Diego right where most of the evacuations are taking place and you know. You just know wherever there is fire, this administration will be out there doing what it does best and that is fanning the flames, you know. It just spooks me, I can’t explain to you how creepy this whole thing is that you know, you’ve got these fires. Some of them are thought to be the work of arsonists and in the same breath you’ve got a community that’s on fire that just recently protested Blackwater West. Just recently said no to Blackwater and apparently you don’t do that. I mean, I don’t even know what to think. You know, nobody is saying Blackwater set the fires, that is nobody that doesn’t want their house burned down. Nobody is saying that, but it is all so bizarre that this is America and you have to sort of sit there and wonder … arson, same place Blackwater West wants to be, people protesting. And then you find out that some of the guys that used to work for Blackwater are now in Schwarzenegger’s administration. It’s all so creepy.”
October 30th, 2007 at 11:12 amBlackwater gets immunity and Iraqi get to become Erik Prince’s target practice. Sick.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:25 amI hope the Iraqis EXTERMINATE every mercenary in Iraq.
And hang their heads from bridges and poles all over Iraq.
Sincerely,
NRA Gun Nutes
October 30th, 2007 at 11:36 am