Comments on: Bush Administration Putting Immunity For Blackwater Over The Lives Of Our Troops http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/ Firedoglake weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:29:31 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: rafflaw http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572969 rafflaw Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:40:26 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572969 <p>al-Maliki should just tell Rice to take a hike. He should do as the Bush Administration is doing, just run out the clock until January and he can get a fair arrangement from Barack Obama and his Sec. of State.</p> al-Maliki should just tell Rice to take a hike. He should do as the Bush Administration is doing, just run out the clock until January and he can get a fair arrangement from Barack Obama and his Sec. of State.

]]> By: Blue Texan http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572968 Blue Texan Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:40:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572968 <p>Well, first of all — the article cited here is CNN. And contractors are part of the hold up. It’s not just about US troops. From McClatchy:</p> <blockquote><p>The deal still must be approved by Maliki, other officials and the parliament, a process fraught with potential problems. The senior official said that Maliki already had expressed concern that the agreement wasn’t strong enough, from the Iraqi perspective, on when Americans, including private contractors, would be subject to Iraqi law. </p></blockquote> Well, first of all — the article cited here is CNN. And contractors are part of the hold up. It’s not just about US troops. From McClatchy:

The deal still must be approved by Maliki, other officials and the parliament, a process fraught with potential problems. The senior official said that Maliki already had expressed concern that the agreement wasn’t strong enough, from the Iraqi perspective, on when Americans, including private contractors, would be subject to Iraqi law.

]]> By: tw3k http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572693 tw3k Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:45:42 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572693 <p>Got a link for that?</p> <p><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/46767.html" rel="nofollow">McClatchy reports:</a></p> <blockquote><p>U.S. troops would be immune from Iraqi law while they were on their bases, but when moving outside the bases their actions would be subject to American and Iraqi military jurisdiction.</p></blockquote> Got a link for that?

McClatchy reports:

U.S. troops would be immune from Iraqi law while they were on their bases, but when moving outside the bases their actions would be subject to American and Iraqi military jurisdiction.

]]> By: Adie http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572692 Adie Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:42:40 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572692 <p>dammit. no one said it yet today?</p> <p>I. M. P. E. A. C. H.</p> <p>It’s what’s for democracy.</p> dammit. no one said it yet today?

I. M. P. E. A. C. H.

It’s what’s for democracy.

]]> By: timr http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572690 timr Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:38:08 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572690 <p>OK, not quite what I have been readin-from Iraqi papers the AP and the BBC this am. All say, and I went back to check just to make sure, that the sticking point is not immunity for contractors-that was taken out of the agreement some time ago, not a sticking point. But, what Condi said was a red line do not cross-and Maliki reportedly said the same(this is a very hot item currently on Military blogs) is all about IMMUNITY FOR US TROOPS, not for contractors-check it out.<br /> Frankly, speaking just for myself, having spent 28 years either in or around US military in 16 different countries, I have to say that in no country that I was in or even heard about did a SOFA(status of forces agreement-all troops in country are briefed constantly on this, and everyone carries a pocket copy on a laminated card, so everyone is aware of what can and can not be done to them) allow the locals to arrest and detain-WITHOUT AGREEMENT from the local US commander-any american troops. This could be a deal breaker if no one caves in. Now there are american military people in prison in Japan, Korea, The Philippines, and Thailand ,(I mention asian countries, because I am most familiar with those countries, having spent years in them) it was because these people committed murder, rape, or other serious crimes. But the locals arranged with the soldiers commander to pick up the soldier, and an american representive was present all the way thru trial-and they are visited on a schedule by americans from the embassy. So this blog, while a good way to raise umbrage, is not in fact the truth. I urge the writer to check the stories again, because they were speaking about the armed forces of the US, not companies like Blackwater. Frankly, I expected much better from FireDogLake than this..</p> OK, not quite what I have been readin-from Iraqi papers the AP and the BBC this am. All say, and I went back to check just to make sure, that the sticking point is not immunity for contractors-that was taken out of the agreement some time ago, not a sticking point. But, what Condi said was a red line do not cross-and Maliki reportedly said the same(this is a very hot item currently on Military blogs) is all about IMMUNITY FOR US TROOPS, not for contractors-check it out.
Frankly, speaking just for myself, having spent 28 years either in or around US military in 16 different countries, I have to say that in no country that I was in or even heard about did a SOFA(status of forces agreement-all troops in country are briefed constantly on this, and everyone carries a pocket copy on a laminated card, so everyone is aware of what can and can not be done to them) allow the locals to arrest and detain-WITHOUT AGREEMENT from the local US commander-any american troops. This could be a deal breaker if no one caves in. Now there are american military people in prison in Japan, Korea, The Philippines, and Thailand ,(I mention asian countries, because I am most familiar with those countries, having spent years in them) it was because these people committed murder, rape, or other serious crimes. But the locals arranged with the soldiers commander to pick up the soldier, and an american representive was present all the way thru trial-and they are visited on a schedule by americans from the embassy. So this blog, while a good way to raise umbrage, is not in fact the truth. I urge the writer to check the stories again, because they were speaking about the armed forces of the US, not companies like Blackwater. Frankly, I expected much better from FireDogLake than this..

]]> By: BooRadley http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572667 BooRadley Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:46:06 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572667 <p>Thanks BT. </p> <p>I don’t want my tax dollars going to any more militias.</p> Thanks BT.

I don’t want my tax dollars going to any more militias.

]]> By: foothillsmike http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572654 foothillsmike Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:15:52 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572654 <p>Five months is January; Is it the 1/7 or 1/20 - Is this kicking the can down the road?</p> Five months is January; Is it the 1/7 or 1/20 – Is this kicking the can down the road?

]]> By: dakine01 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572646 dakine01 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:06:59 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572646 <p>Given that there have been stories about Blackwater going after US troops and creating extra problems for them due to their (Blackwater’s) actions, yeah, it doesn’t help the troops att all to be holding up the agreement by requiring that Blackwater receive immunity for their criminal acts.</p> <p>Sorry, I don’t have specific links.</p> Given that there have been stories about Blackwater going after US troops and creating extra problems for them due to their (Blackwater’s) actions, yeah, it doesn’t help the troops att all to be holding up the agreement by requiring that Blackwater receive immunity for their criminal acts.

Sorry, I don’t have specific links.

]]> By: egregious http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572645 egregious Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:06:33 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572645 <p><a href="http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/68000-and-counting/" rel="nofollow">More glorious Jane</a></p> More glorious Jane

]]> By: ralphbon http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572644 ralphbon Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:03:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/08/bush-administration-putting-immunity-for-blackwater-over-the-lives-of-our-troops/#comment-1572644 <p>Blackwater gets immunity for slaughtering civilians, while Hamdan gets Gitmoized for driving a car. </p> <p>Speaking of which, I’m kind of surprised I haven’t seen much front-page posting here or elsewhere on the relative leniency of Hamdan’s sentence. He’s effectively been sentenced to time served and technically could be released in 5 months. Would love to hear Christy’s or looseheadprop’s thoughts on what this means.</p> Blackwater gets immunity for slaughtering civilians, while Hamdan gets Gitmoized for driving a car.

Speaking of which, I’m kind of surprised I haven’t seen much front-page posting here or elsewhere on the relative leniency of Hamdan’s sentence. He’s effectively been sentenced to time served and technically could be released in 5 months. Would love to hear Christy’s or looseheadprop’s thoughts on what this means.

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