Iraq: Blackwater Staff to face charges

[TotallyOz]

It will be interesting to see how the Iraqi government will bring them to trail as they don't have any authority over them according to Congressional Research service.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi government will file criminal charges against employees of U.S. security firm Blackwater who are blamed for a gun battle in Baghdad in which civilians were killed, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said Sunday.

It is unclear how Iraqi courts will attempt to bring the contractors to trial. A July report from the Congressional Research Service said the Iraqi government has no authority over private security firms contracted by the U.S. government.

The Iraqi government claims that as many as 20 civilians were killed by the private contractors, who were guarding a U.S. diplomatic convoy.

Iraqi officials, who claim the shootings were unprovoked, dispute the U.S. claim that the guards were responding to an attack and said on Saturday they had a videotape that showed the Blackwater guards opened fire without provocation.

The incident prompted the Iraqi government to call for Blackwater's expulsion from the country and sparked anger among ordinary Iraqis.

For full article go to:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/23/...robe/index.html

[seaboy4hire]

IF the guards fired unprovoked then I say screw the contract and put them on trial. I think our government would do the same thing.

[TotallyOz]

IF the guards fired unprovoked then I say screw the contract and put them on trial. I think our government would do the same thing.

Would or should? I am not so sure our government doesn't know everything that goes on and turns a blind eye until they get caught with their pants down. I agree, that they should be put on trail. I am just not sure where this will go.