Judge Dismissed Case Against Blackwater Guards

[alsaqr]

The so called justice dep't made a big deal about trying those Blackwater guards who were involved in a Baghdad shooting that left 17 Iraqis dead.  First they promised the guards immunity, got their statements and then prosecuted them. 


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091231/ap_on_go_ot/us_blackwater_prosecution

WASHINGTON – A federal judge dismissed all charges Thursday against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing unarmed Iraqi civilians in a crowded Baghdad intersection in 2007.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina said Justice Department prosecutors improperly built their case on sworn statements that had been given under a promise of immunity. Urbina said the government's explanations were "contradictory, unbelievable and lacking in credibility."

.................................

Investigators promised the men that their statements were to be used only for the internal inquiry and would not be used in a criminal case. Such limited immunity deals are common in police departments so officers involved in shootings cannot hold up internal investigations by refusing to cooperate.

The deal meant that prosecutors had to build their case without using those statements. Urbina said the Justice Department failed to do so. Prosecutors read those statements, reviewed them in the investigation and used them to get search warrants, Urbina said.

The five guards had been charged with manslaughter and weapons charges. The charges carried mandatory 30-year prison terms.

It was unclear what the ruling means for a sixth Blackwater guard, Jeremy Ridgeway, who turned on his former colleagues and pleaded guilty to killing one Iraqi and wounding another.

[Redtail1949]

obama if he has his way will open all our soldiers up to the possibility to prosecution for war crimes..

[torpedoman]

didn't think they could still find an honorable man who was a judge.

[Questor]

Blackwater is the largest and most powerful mercenary army in the world. They need only have as much loyalty as the next paycheck.

[AtlLaw]

They need only have as much loyalty as the next paycheck.

I'm not getting your meaning...    but then I'm about 3 sheets to the wind... 

Ala the "Wild Geese" there should be an understanding between a mercenry and his employer.  If that understanding is violated someone should  di... never mind, Geeeeze!  One six pack and a half bottel of bubblely and I wax philisophical...    wouldn't have bothered me back in the day... 

[GatCat]

After the incident where Iraqi militants killed, burned, and hanged the bodies of Blackwater employee's from the bridge in Fallajuh, as far as I'm concerned, Blackwater did what our troops should be doing, "mess with us, and pay the price"!! No P.C. BS, no stringent rules of engagement, no fooing around !!
Mark

[Questor]

The important point is that when you hire mercenaries you are delegating authority to them. They make rules and are not accountable to a civilian commander in chief the way the US military hierarchy is. The rules are different for this large mercenary army that serves as a shadow army away from all of the other military statistics of body counts and the like, including costs.  It is largely hidden from the taxpayer and the public.

I am surprised that the employment of Blackwater isn't a bigger issue with the public than it is.  Read the following summary to see some examples of how they represent the US, perceived as US troops:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Worldwide

[powderman]

Great news. POWDERMAN. 

[Swampman]

Blackwater is the largest and most powerful mercenary army in the world. They need only have as much loyalty as the next paycheck.

Nothing wrong with that......fighting for a paycheck is as old as time and very honorable IMO.

[Questor]

I agree. The problem is in how they are used and why they are used. I think it's great they can make a buck at it.  We have a huge military. Why are we employing these people? The answer is dark indeed.

[Graybeard]

I will mention no names as those who know him will know who I speak of. We have at least one Blackwater employee among our membership. He was at this past PD shoot and I was able to talk with him at length.

It would be a mistake to assume all BW mercs are under contract to the US performing duties otherwise assigned to US troops. Often they are hired by companies for security or by foreign governments or individuals/companies for protection.

Quite a few were in use in New Orleans during clean up and rebuild operations protecting the workers from those who would do them harm. I suspect that BW is a very much misunderstood outfit. While I can't speak for any of them really I feel quite confident that at least one of them whom I know as a friend would not be on the government side should what many of us expect come to pass. I think/hope most are loyal US Citizens who believe in freedom and liberty and would be fighting right alongside us even against government troops/thugs or call them what you will if and when the time comes.

[Questor]

GB:

I'm all in favor of them being there for security of companies doing business. It's the work they do for the US government that needs a closer look.

[Swampman]

I agree. The problem is in how they are used and why they are used. I think it's great they can make a buck at it.  We have a huge military. Why are we employing these people? The answer is dark indeed.

So we don't have to pay retirement and med. coverage for the rest of their lives.  It's cheaper.

[Swampman]

Whatever gets the job done!  Most shots fired to defend American's freedoms are in places we've never been at people we'll never hear about.

I'm very glad I've had a chance to meet many of the men who fire those shot.

Somebody has to tend the sheep.

[Questor]

There's a recent book about it that gets into the details. I haven't read it yet. My understanding though is that there are about a thousand blackwater people employed as mercenaries for the US government at a cost of 22 million dollars for the most recent contract, mostly for aviation services, according to the US government.

I think the new name Xe (pronounced zee) is interesting because it appears to be named in a way that would have recognition and appeal to a Chinese client.