Blackwater shooting charges all dismissed by judge.
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.
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johnpi
Islam News @ NYT- Swedish Artist Says Sketch of Prophet Aimed to Mock All Religions: A man who prosecutors say was the target of a murder plot says his caricature of the Prophet Muhammad was intended to poke fun at all sacred symbols.
- Nigerians Recount Night of Their Bloody Revenge: This week dozens of herdsmen slaughtered hundreds of people in a brutal act of sectarian retribution in Jos.
- Views of ‘JihadJane’ Were Unknown to Neighbors: The ex-husband of the woman who called herself “JihadJane” said she “was just like anyone else.”
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willow 6:41 pm on December 31, 2009 Permalink |
More change we can make believe in!
shams 9:16 pm on December 31, 2009 Permalink |
Soooooo…..this is also Obama’s fault? Like being given the Nobel?
manas 10:38 am on January 1, 2010 Permalink |
Nobody argued that it’s Obama’s fault to be given the prize.
shams 4:56 pm on January 1, 2010 Permalink |
willow said he should give it back.
manas 9:32 pm on January 1, 2010 Permalink
That’s wrong. It should be taken away from him.
thabet 10:02 pm on January 1, 2010 Permalink |
You’re right. This specific case isn’t Obama’s fault (though one may question the continued use of Xe/Blackwater). While Blackwater deserves contempt (and probably the noose), there is nothing that the head of state in the US can do to interfere with its independent judiciary (that’s the theory and not being an expert I can only say it seems to work pretty well). From a quick scan of Jeremy Scahill’s angry responses on Twitter, and his blog, it looks like the blame can be laid, unsurprisingly, at the feet of the Bush administration.
I will guess and say Wilow’s point is about perceptions where the US has significant influence, or continues its occupation (e.g. see Abu Noor’s link above on the response from those in Baghdad). This might not be fair on Obama (or indeed the US judicial system), but it is one of the many challenges left to him by your 43rd president.
manas 10:07 pm on January 1, 2010 Permalink |
well said.
shams 5:32 am on January 2, 2010 Permalink |
Pfft
thabet, you misunderstand the whole situ.
the “surge” was never more than cover for an undignified rout….and the “speedy-surge” or whatever bs name the mil are calling it in the Graveyard of Empires is exactly the same….a face saver to give some cover to the US slinking home like a whipped cur after delivering a huge shipment of spare parts to the Reaver Factory.
Too bad more american kids have to die.
The US has no “significant” influence.
Obama is a gamer…Afghanistan has no strategic value to the US. He is looking for graceful degradation of service while gtfo. He isn’t going to wage an epic noble battle to purge/punish Xe/Blackwater out of theater…..it isn’t cost effective.
shams 5:36 am on January 2, 2010 Permalink
…..and, like thabet points out…..it isn’t his job.
take it up with the judiciary.
thabet 5:56 am on January 2, 2010 Permalink
It has influence as long as its troops are inside Afghanistan.
And read the reaction in Baghdad.
shams 10:20 am on January 2, 2010 Permalink
What influence would that be, Brother Thabet?
Influencing how easy it is for the hirgabi to farm recruits?
The Iraqis declared a national holiday when the ‘mericans vacated their cities and towns.
They know better than anyone the meaning of American “justice” and American “democracy promotion”.
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 5:57 pm on January 2, 2010 Permalink |
I haven’t studied the legal history in detail, but I don’t see any legal reason why Obama couldn’t agree to extradite the suspects to be tried in Iraq. Of course, politically he could never do that.
shams 9:17 pm on December 31, 2009 Permalink |
Why not just drive Obama out to outskirts of the village and stone him, Sister Willow?
pharmekos !
BK 9:53 am on January 23, 2010 Permalink |
More change you can believe in if you are not totally and blindly jaded.
Anthony 6:15 pm on January 3, 2010 Permalink |
This is not under the jurisdiction of Iraq. The Iraqis do what they want in their country, and shouldn’t meddle in the courts of another country.
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 6:50 pm on January 3, 2010 Permalink |
You can’t be serious Anthony….the alleged crime occurred in Iraq. If a group of foreign citizens were accused of massacring Americans here in the United States, do you think the U.S.would allow them to say they were trying the case in their own country and then dismiss all charges because the prosecution screwed up?
Anthony 7:08 pm on January 3, 2010 Permalink |
They killed people in a warzone (if the story is even true), and weren’t subject to Iraqi law at the time. Iraq has given amnesty to people have slaughtered hundreds, and sometimes thousands of innocent people. The US has let go of people who’ve killed dozens because they cooperated with the FBI or CIA. The Iraqis family members have already received compensation for the dead, I think they just want more money. In Iraq if you kill someone you have the option to financially compensate (blood money) the surviving family or go to the courts. Since they already been compensated, having them go to trial would be hypocritical.