tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172672010673572083.post6728992477227485573..comments2023-10-23T12:38:33.143-04:00Comments on World United News: The Attack on Your FreedomStewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10530411204211826030noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6172672010673572083.post-70257510379667893632007-10-05T08:44:00.000-04:002007-10-05T08:44:00.000-04:00House Bill Would Allow Prosecution of Contractors ...House Bill Would Allow Prosecution of Contractors <BR/> By David Stout <BR/> The New York Times <BR/><BR/> Thursday 04 October 2007 <BR/><BR/> Washington - Amid the fallout over the shooting of Iraqis by private American security guards, the House today overwhelmingly passed a bill to make all private contractors working in Iraq subject to prosecution in United States civilian courts. <BR/><BR/> The vote was 389 to 30, with all of the "no" votes cast by Republicans. Voting for the bill were 225 Democrats and 164 Republicans. <BR/><BR/> Senate Democratic leaders are expected to introduce similar legislation soon, and if the support in that chamber is similar to that in the House, President Bush would have no hope of killing the legislation with a veto. <BR/><BR/> The White House and the Pentagon oppose the idea of putting contractors under the jurisdiction of civilian courts, arguing that it would insert civilian investigators into areas better covered under military law. But the recent shooting incident involving employees of Blackwater USA has exposed a loophole in current law that has left it unclear whether the security contractor's employees are now bound by any law at all. <BR/><BR/> The current Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act applies to people supporting Defense Department operations overseas. But Blackwater's main mission is providing security for the State Department. Moreover, all American contractors are immune from prosecution in Iraqi courts. <BR/><BR/> Blackwater's founder and chief, Erik D. Prince, told a House committee on Tuesday that his company's security guards are loyal Americans, and nothing like the trigger-happy mercenaries described in some news media reports. <BR/><BR/> Many questions remain to be answered about the shooting incident, which took place on Sept. 16 in a Baghdad square. At least 17 Iraqis were killed under circumstances that some lawmakers say points to a shoot-first, ask-questions-later mentality on the part of Blackwater guards. <BR/><BR/> There have also been allegations that Blackwater and the State Department have tried to cover up some shootings, or at least minimize the reaction to them, with quiet payments of money to victims' relatives. <BR/><BR/> The bill's sponsor, Representative David Price, Democrat of North Carolina, said Wednesday on the House floor that objections to the measure are unfounded. He said his bill would provide accountability. <BR/><BR/> "It means that we will have the tools at our disposal to ensure that the criminal behavior of the men and women working in our name and on our dime does not, in any way, damage our goals and objectives," Mr. Price said. <BR/><BR/> Among the Republicans who voted for the bill were John A. Boehner of Ohio, the minority leader, and Roy Blunt of Missouri, the minority whip. <BR/><BR/> -------Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530411204211826030noreply@blogger.com