Balckwater in hot water ?

[Colin]

Yes, we can wait until the Libyans, the Syrians, and the PRC decide that the level of crimes against humanity warrant military intervention.

 

You're funny, you are.

 

And if they don't want to be involved in fixing a country that is undeniably a problem from any number of international development standpoints (and gee, I thought that was a major part of the UN's job, international development?) then they should STFU about how we ARE dealing with the problem.

 

 

Well they are still debating whether they will intervene on the genocide in Rwanda, these things take time, please call back in 5 year. Press 5 key for this excuse in Esperanto.

[capt_starlight]

US signs new rules for private guards in Iraq

 

 

US officials have laid down new rules for private guards protecting diplomats in Iraq, a US State Department spokesman said.

 

Resulting from the notorious September shooting involving US security firm Blackwater, in which 17 Iraqis died, an agreement was signed by the deputy secretaries of the Defence and State departments, Gordon England and John Negroponte, respectively.

 

The 12-page document has been approved by US Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker and the top US General in Iraq, David Petraeus.

 

"[The document]basically details and memorialises the policies and procedures that we've agreed to," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

 

He refused to disclose details of the accord for security reasons, but said it called for better cooperation between the two Government departments on the movement in Iraq of diplomats and their private security guards.

 

Mr Casey said the agreement also included measures for "greater coordination in terms of the rules for the use of force."

 

"And it also does touch on, though not in detail, the issue of accountability in the event that contractors take actions that are in violation of those rules," he said.

 

In the September shooting, Blackwater staff opened fire in a crowded Baghdad neighbourhood as they escorted a State Department convoy. Blackwater said the guards came under attack.

 

In October, the Iraqi Government said that an investigation into the incident concluded the US motorcade had not come under any attack and that the Blackwater guards had opened fire without cause.

 

The US Justice Department is still investigating the incident.

 

I suppose we will only learn of the new "rules" when someone is done for their breeching them.......

[EchoFiveMike]

The savages will deduce the new rules soon enough, not publishing them gives you at least a little time to operate effectively. I'm sure the Iraqis are just like Americans WRT pushing the rules, except we don't just open up on amcits with belt fed weapons when they're stupid. Perhaps we should start Iraqi evolution seems to have been running at hyperspeed since 2003. S/F....Ken M

[Paul in Qatar]

ABC News is reporting that Haliburton/KBR people gang-raped an employee and then imprisoned her. Needless to say the rape kit disappeared once handed over to the contractor.

 

So when do you think the President will issue a blanket pardon? Last day in office? A few days sooner?

[Ivanhoe]

ABC News is reporting that Haliburton/KBR people gang-raped an employee and then imprisoned her. Needless to say the rape kit disappeared once handed over to the contractor.

 

So when do you think the President will issue a blanket pardon? Last day in office? A few days sooner?

 

Guilty until proven innocent, eh Paul?

[Paul in Qatar]

Nope, but the Bush Administration cannot take the chance embarrassing facts will come to light in a series of criminal and civil trials. So I predict a blanket pardon, Medals of Freedom for the worst offenders, and of course smear jobs on anyone who stood up for American principals.

 

 

So, would you like to bet against a massive pardon of entire classes of people in the last days of the Bush Administration?

[Murph]

Just like the Klinton pardons?

 

Nope, but the Bush Administration cannot take the chance embarrassing facts will come to light in a series of criminal and civil trials. So I predict a blanket pardon, Medals of Freedom for the worst offenders, and of course smear jobs on anyone who stood up for American principals.

 

 

So, would you like to bet against a massive pardon of entire classes of people in the last days of the Bush Administration?

[Paul in Qatar]

Just like the Klinton pardons?

 

 

I think you mean Clinton with a 'C.'

 

In any case, I predict a much wider blanket pardon for all people who may have done this that or the other here there or anywhere. This pardon will preclude prosecution for crimes like rape, murder, torture and fraud. So no, it will be nothing like the Marc Rich pardons et. al.

 

 

==edited for spelling==

==again==

Edited December 12, 2007 by Paul in Saudi

[capt_starlight]

I wonder what the reaction would be if a US President (in the modern era) refused to pardon anyone who had not been subject to a judicial review of their case?

 

The review would have to recommend such a pardon (and here I include pardons, conditional pardons, commutations of sentence (al a Libby), conditional commutations of sentence, remissions of fines and forfeitures, respites and amnesties).

 

I note the UK seems to have more limits on the "pardon power" than currently available in the US.