What acountablity should Blackwater have for it's actions ?

Question

Or "private security groups" in general

Answer 1

With the Dubya administration, they win another no bid contract for BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars.

End the Shadow War

When mercenaries employed by Blackwater USA killed at least eleven Iraqi civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square on September 16, the news provoked tremendous outrage,
but little surprise, in Iraq. Blackwater's heavily armed soldiers, with their black helicopters and SUVs, have been menacing the population ever since the company won the $27 million no-bid contract to guard the first US occupation chief, L. Paul Bremer, in 2003. Iraqi officials charge that there were at least six prior incidents involving Blackwater, resulting in ten Iraqi deaths in the past year alone, as Jeremy Scahill reports in his latest article, "Making a Killing," on page 21. That these mercenaries operate with complete impunity--unaccountable under either US or Iraqi law--was widely known and resented among Iraqis. It was Bremer who issued the infamous Order 17, which insulated his protectors from any form of prosecution for crimes committed in Iraq. A policy of greater arrogance and contempt for Iraq's sovereignty can scarcely be imagined.

When Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for Blackwater's expulsion in the wake of the Nisour Square shooting, for once he spoke for the people of Iraq. He was supported by the country's Interior, National Security and Defense ministries and the Supreme Judiciary Council. If the United States truly cared about the "political progress" of Iraq's "nascent democracy," as George W. Bush recently claimed, that demand would have been the end of the story. Order 17 would be rescinded; the Nisour Square shooters would stand trial in an Iraqi court; Blackwater would be given the boot. Instead, State Department convoys guarded by Blackwater resumed within a week of the Nisour incident. Maliki, under intense US pressure, agreed to put his demand on hold pending a joint US-Iraqi investigation.

The truth is that the United States cannot carry on this occupation without private forces, especially Blackwater's. The occupation of Iraq is the most privatized war in US history. There are 630 companies in Iraq, with 180,000 employees offering services ranging from cooking and driving to the protection of top Army officers. Among them are 181 "private security" companies with tens of thousands of mercenaries on the ground. These firms, which have reaped more than $4 billion in US government contracts, have a vested interest in the continuation of the war. As the Pentagon struggles to recruit troops, private soldiers are filling the gap. For war supporters it's a bonus that their numbers are relatively easy to hide--it is even difficult to obtain an accurate count of their deaths, which is convenient for an Administration that so dislikes attention to the human costs of the war that it won't allow photos to be taken of the coffins of fallen American troops.

Some members of Congress have proposed steps to rein in the cowboy contractors roaming Iraq. Senator Barack Obama introduced legislation earlier this year that would require clear rules of engagement for armed contractors, expand the military code of justice to govern their actions and provide for the Defense Department to "arrest and detain" contractors suspected of crimes and turn them over to civilian authorities for prosecution.

Such changes are essential if private contractors are to continue to play a role in US military operations overseas. But calls for greater regulation and oversight miss the larger issue. As The Nation's Scahill said in his testimony before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on September 21, "In the bigger picture, this body should seriously question whether the linking of corporate profits to warmaking is in the best interest of this nation and the world."

Some in Congress are finally beginning to ask that question. Democratic Senators Jim Webb and Claire McCaskill have proposed legislation creating a Commission on Wartime Contracting modeled after the Truman committee, which investigated waste and fraud during World War II. "We now have more contractors on the ground in Iraq than we do American troops. This situation is unprecedented in our history and is fraught with legal challenge," said Webb. "Hundreds of billions of dollars have been appropriated and spent in Iraq alone, resulting in billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse."

Blackwater should answer for the crimes of its soldiers in Iraq. But it shouldn't have soldiers in Iraq. Calls for withdrawal must include troops like those who fired on the fleeing crowds in Nisour Square.

Answer 2

15 huh? Uh, no you're not from now on even close. you need to have served interior the protection rigidity or some similar authorities service doing above worry-free stuff. In different words, even as Marine infantry in case you've actual fought (which maximum Marine infantry do) might want to get you in. military infantry received't (for military try to be a minimum of a Ranger). Specwar/particular forces time will be a sturdy way in, yet in spite of this so will i imagine a minimum of 5 years as a cop someplace. besides the undeniable fact that Blackwater isn't Blackwater anymore, there is been no longer in worry-free words a popularity replace, yet an purpose replace as well. the most objective of the corporate is now in providing training no longer inevitably providing mercenaries. i understand it sounds thrilling once you're 15 playing COD or something. yet actual attending to a element the position you are able to attempt this kind of interest is hard and stressful.

Answer 3

If US didn't want them to do what they were doing then they would not get another contract. As for accountability, they are subject to the laws of the country they are in at the time they break the laws. Let that country go through the proper channels. They are not members of the US military therefor they are not subject to USMJ and should not be subject to USMJ. Unless or until the US becomes a military state we all face civilian law.

Answer 4

They should be held accountable under the laws of the country the crime was committed in the same as every other U.S. citizen employed overseas. The fact they are civilians and not military personnel is the only thing that counts. Most military personnel are held the same way and the exceptions are crimes committed on post or charges relating to there duties where U.S. military law has precedence; even in the latter if non-U.S. citizens are invlved it is usally a joint decision between the host country an the State Department to either have them tried under the UCMJ or local law. If a soldier in Germany kills a German civilian in town or even another soldier/U.S. citizen while on liberty then he is subject to German law and not U.S. Why bring the current President into this? The reason for the "civilian contractors" doing this dates to the Clinton Administration and the first contracts to those groups were under Clinton; get facts correct and stop talking political BS and rewriting history to make your point. These people are not military and the UCMJ does not and shold not apply to them.

Answer 5

Blackwater are not a military formation, or subject to military law so your question is in the wrong section.

Answer 6

they should follow the rules of engagement , just because they are not governed by military laws doesn't mean that they should create more uprising and recentment to the rest of the military members in iraq. So far the military have send 1 person to death row and the others in jail for their rules in haditha and like that. So why not blackwater should be accounted for their actions when they acted rectlessly and put our troops life in more danger and their lives as well.

Answer 7

You can't make a law "retroactive" and enforce it. They and all security companies should fall under the laws of the country they are from prior to something like this happening.

Answer 8

The highest, you all back home have no clue what all contract companies are doing in the mid east. You would be shocked.

Answer 9

Contractors in my mind (all of them) should fall under the jurisdiction of Military Authorities and subject to UCMJ.

Answer 10

The 'accountability' should be to people who understand what it is like over there and are not looking for a political scapegoat.

The Democrats and the news media need to be more honest regarding their motives regarding this.

Answer 11

private us citizen goes to ottawa and starts shooting people. what happens? arrest, trial, and conviction in a canadian court. simple. what makes this situation any different?