Blackwater CEO Says He Won't Let Iraqi Government Prosecute His Employees
By Logan Murphy Wednesday Oct 17, 2007 4:09pm
A defiant Blackwater Chairman Erik Prince said yesterday he will not allow Iraqi authorities to arrest his contractors and try them in Iraq's faulty justice system.
"We will not let our people be taken by the Iraqis," Mr. Prince told editors and reporters at The Washington Times. At least 17 of 20 Blackwater guards being investigated for their roles in a Sept. 16 shooting incident are still in a secure compound in Baghdad's Green Zone and carrying out limited duties.
"In an ideal sense, if there was wrongdoing, there could be a trial brought in the Iraqi court system. But that would imply that there is a valid Iraqi court system where Westerners could get a fair trial. That is not the case right now," said Mr. Prince. Read more...
Here is video from CNN of family members telling horrific tales of their loved ones having their skulls blown up by members of Blackwater during the September 16 massacre in Baghdad:
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The arrogance is staggering. His company has been terrorizing Iraqi citizens for years and now he says his men can't get a fair trial there. Welcome to the world you helped to create, Mr. Prince. Iraq is a sovereign nation and has every right to enforce their laws. Prince goes on to say that his men might be tried in a U.S. military court, but after learning from a U.S. Colonel that his men turned their weapons on our own soldiers, he may find he's no more welcome here than in Iraq.
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it was valid enough to convict and execute Saddam wasn't it? The Iraqi Court I mean...
Fuck you Erik Prince and your little death squad too!
Here we go with this other dumbass Frat-Boy.
Corporate tyranny...don't ya just love it?
let's prosecute him
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Nnph3zkHNw
Well, what have we learned in the last 6 or so years?
RICH MOTHERFUCKERS CAN DO WHATEVER THE FUCK THEY WANT, WITH IMPUNITY.
Get it? Got it! Good.
Rucka @ 1:
My first thoughts exactly!
OH but if you're black and you sell drugs, you're going to jail for a loooong time! This country is so f*cked up!
"But that would imply that there is a valid Iraqi court system where Westerners could get a fair trial."
Kettle, meet pot.
But Iraq is a "sovereign" country and, therefore, has power to charge and try anybody within its borders, right? Of course, that's IF Iraq is truly sovereign, and not a puppet of the Chimp and the neocons.
Reich-wingers, are you proud of the murder your support?
He doesn't think his employees should be held responsible for their crimes. Who the hell does he think he is, george bush?
welfare king Erik Prince needs to be frog marched. He's an international terrorist
Okay - if that's the way you want it. You prefer OUR faulty justice system then? Can we "render" them? That would save a lot of time and energy. Anything else you need? diapers? a private bathroom stall at the airport? A couple of wet suits?
*
I would say the Iraqis should expel Blackwater and all of the mercenary groups in Iraq. But that would literally destroy our involvment in Iraq, and we'd be forced to pull our own forces out since the Chimp relies on the 180,000+ mercenary groups to perform such functions as guard convoys and diplomats in Iraq.
“We will not let our people be taken by the ...,”
Why do I think that Erik Prince will be saying the same thing years from now but the last word will be AMERICANS?
I'm wondering...Does the CEO Prince think Saddam and Chemical Ali got fair trials?? If the answer is yes then his case holds no water...If the answer is No then he's going against everything his president and state department employer have been tellling the american people and rest of the world.
bush says terrorist are willing to kill innocent people to impose their ideology. Isn't that exactly what we have done to the Iraqis? We have killed innocent people to impose our form of democracy on them. Blackwater guys were hired as one more means to that end.
Actually he and his employees would get precisely the justice they deserve in Iraq...
hahaha - I don't mean to make light of the Iraqi civilian deaths, there is no denying the horrifying and terrible pain of those who lost family and friends in this mystifying tragedy. Nothing will take that pain away. Hopefully those deaths won't be in vain. Could this screw the administration and the GOP cheerleaders any better though? Holy crap - they spent months touting the progress being made, how the Iraqi government has been taking giant leaps toward being capable of independence, and that democracy is "blooming" so well there, and now it's all blowing back in their faces like some twisted cartoon! The Iraqi government makes an accusation against a US contractor, and wants to act as an independent nation against those people. Now, contractors in America under the Bush (mis)administration are...um, favored - to put it nicely. Now, the administration has to say either that the Iraqi government, the one that they have been "building" and touting the accomplishments of for years now, as incompetent OR that the contractor in an industry that paid for the Bush administration and feeds off it, is at fault. Making things even worse is a CEO saying that the Iraqi Government that THEY AND THE ADMINISTRATION BUILT is corrupt and invalid!
You're move, Dick and George. Either way, you're screwed - and of course, somehow the brave men and women in our armed forces will pay for your mistakes, as will the Iraqi children.
What do you do? What do you do!?!
Have we had enough?
Imagine if you will that China invaded our country on false pretenses to steal our oil, then sent in Chinese contractors to "protect" America by shooting our civilians, then refused to be held accountable to our laws in so doing. How would we react?
Erik Prince -- a spoiled-rotten little shit who thinks his name ought to be taken literally.
I think we should dispatch his ass to Iraq and let them prosecute him for the crimes of his employees. As the person responsible it's only the right thing to do.
Failing that, send that little fuckstick to the Hague.
pissed off patricia @ 11:
Right on the mark!!! :-)
miss_kitty @ 5:
THIS!!!
Wouldn't Iraq's 'faulty' justice system be preferred to what our administration offered those at Gitmo - NO JUSTICE?
"We will not let our people be taken by the Iraqis ..."
Um, what do you propose to do? An armed battle against the people who come to arrest your men? I'm sure the U.S. military will be real happy about that. It'll make their jobs so much easier.
Rucka beat me to it ....
The LAW? What do I care for the LAW? Hain't I the power?
Commodore Eric Vanderbilt, Prince of Darkness
He just admitted that he and his thugs are above the law.
bob @ 6:
Put me down for that as well very first thought
He "will not allow" them to be taken by the legitimate Iraqi authorities? What will Prince's mercenaries do if the legitimate Iraqi authorities try to take them? Hmmmm, Mr. Prince?
We know how this will end. "Blackwater" will be expelled from Iraq. Then Prince will start a new company with the same mercenaries who will get the same State Department contract. And things will go on exactly the same.
they are unlawful combatants. send them to gitmo.
Here's a video worth checking out. Sickening.
Supposedly Blackwater in Iraq.
Not surprised.
Ah, isn't that sweet, the head of Bush's Brownshirts thinks he can dictate to the Iraqi government, that according to Der Chimperor is Legitimate.
These Reich Wing nutjobs know no shame.
In the end, these assholes will be singing the Nuremberg chorus "We were just obeying orders" while Der Chimperor, and the Snarling Oil Guy are living in Paraquay.
Screw Blackwater. May the Iraqi Government meat them out the justice they deserve.
"The arrogance is staggering" - not only of BW, but also of the entire cabal of cheney/bush war criminals. This war and the killing of innocents must stop!
When cheney, bush, et al finally get charged as war criminals, include prince, and whomever else is involved in this barbaric, all-too-common murderous activity.
It seems as if all involved, from our so-called president right on down to the thugs who work in BW and similar organizations, really, really enjoy killing people.
And just how the fuck do you think you're going to stop them there, hotshot? You think your employees can withstand the entire sovereign will of the Iraqi government? you going to stand against their army or an organized assualt? You going to fight if the US troops are part of those doing the arrests (keeping in mind that most of our trrops would just love a reason, any reason at all, to empty their weapons into your thugs).
But the biggest question is, are you really willing to so readily sacrifice the lives of your employees on the alter of your ego? Are you so fucking lost in your arrogance that you think they won't notice? Yes, you are indeed. These are mercenaries we're talking about; they'll notice.
I imagine Prince and his guys were told when given the contract that they would be protected from the law so do what you gotta do. Now that promise is worth nothing and the govt is going to let them blow in the wind. He can't say he was promised immunity from the law so he's left to deal with this on his own and he's pissed. Good!
Would Mr. Prince rather have his employees twiddle their thumbs in Gitmo? I can't find the cite offhand, but the overbroad definition of 'enemy combatant' I saw recently seems to qualify them for free room and board at Uncle Sam's expense, forever.
What I fear is that all these guys will be let go, and then be back terrorizing the Iraqi people in a month employed by yet another contractor.
Since U.S is the only force providing security and law enforcement in large measure, why would Erik Prince be wrong in pointing out they don't have a justice system? clearly this is the crowd that executed Saddam in a poor manner, much to the chagrin of its leaders.
Why can't U.S also conduct the investigation (like it did with Abu Gharib) and show the black water is innocent (like Don Rumsfeld was) and possibly award blackwater a medal of courage and sacrifice.
If I were a contractor and I had a chance at getting blackwater's contract, I sure as hell wouldn't hire any of their ex employees. That would be a recipe for disaster.
Prince, the rotten jerk, needs to be held accountable for Blackwater's actions, and put in an Iraqi jail with his band of hellacious murderous mercenaries.
Great Frybread King @ 14:
Bad data/information. There are between 1,000 and maybe 1,100 Blackwater mercenaries
within Iraq.
I'm the father of a very good looking daughter so I fully understand the concept of double-standards, but this is taking it too far.
"Support Our Mercenaries"
funny how Iraq's justice system was just fine when it came to hanging Hussein...
kangaroo, anyone?
And I thought telecom immunity was bad.
What is he afraid of? His employees getting the same level of justice that they exercised?
This isn't 2003, where his four mercenaries - NOT contractors - were hung and burned. It's a different country now. 9_9
bob @ 6:
Me, too!
Rick Massimo @ 26:
As mercenaries have no loyalty, but to the highest bidder, I'd like to see them get overrun by the Iraqi police force, come to serve an arrest warrant. Do these guys have a letter of marque and reprisal, or something similar? If not, fuck 'em. If you go to a foreign country and kill people for profit, you're a murderer, and you get what you deserve.
We don't have a 180,000 mercs over there, we have 180,000 contractors. Expelling the mercs would number about 20,000 according to the Frontline documentary "Private Warriors".
I like Jon Stewarts reasoning. We have the best military in the world, but they aren't competent to guard our own embassy? The USMC is up to that job in every other country on the planet, but not Iraq?
konchster @ 30:
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Me fourth, however, he was smart enough to mention the westerners.
I wonder what P.R. company, tied to a certain democratic front runner advised him?
He who rides the tiger is afraid to dismount.
Kerry @ 50:
_________________________________________________
sigh, o.k., me fifth.
bob @ 6:
DITTO
I guess any badass can join Blackwater and kill at will without consequences.....all in the name of the lord!
Since the mission was accomplished a while back, why does he not have confidence in the working Iraqi judicial system?
HOWEVER, I'd rather see them tried and convicted here in the states as terrorists.
It's not Eric Prince, or the particulars of Blackwater's crimes that bother me, but the whole idea that a Western Corporation would think of claiming "extraterritoriality" in the 21st century. At least since the 1917 Mexican Constitution, it's been pretty much accepted that businesses within a nation are subject to that nation's laws.
What are they going to do if Iraqi's try to arrest them, shoot them? Haven't they murdered enough Iraqi's. This punk is looking for a fight and an excuse to kill. I don't know why, they never needed an excuse before to murder.
These guys are merc's and there's only one law.
I say let the Iraqis have them.
Were I in charge of the Iraqi security forces, I would order the arrest of every Blackwater mercenary in the country. If they refused to surrender, I would order their capture dead or alive.
No problem. Dubya and Cheney have his back. Soon, Pelosi/Reid will say it's no problem, too.
In every sense of the meaning, Blackwater is a terrorist organization.
I saw this arrogant DOOSH being questioned by Dennis Kucinich a few weeks ago.
He had a look on his face that said, "Who's this shrimpy guy asking ME questions???"
Eric Prince is a world-class FUCKHOLE.
Make it easy, turn the employees over to the Hague as what they committed were in essence war crimes.
Isn't there some talk of war criminal trials in the Hague? I became a little upset from find out where your photo comes from. It looks like he's testifying before Congress, but I see it's The Washington Times trying to make it looks as if it is some official investigation.
What will Blackwater do when they fall under the control of a Democratic administration since they were founded out of a family fear of this sort of "regime".
Chuck Colson, close Prince friend and political collaborator wrote an essay in 1996 titled "Kingdoms in Conflict" that was part of a symposium titled "The End of Democracy?" in response to Bob Dole losing to Bill Clinton. In his essay he states:
"Events in America may have reached the point where the only political action believers can take is some kind of direct, extra-political confrontation of the judicially controlled regime......a showdown between church and state may be inevitable. This is not something for which Christians should hope. But it is something for which they need to prepare."
"A social contract that included biblical believers and Enlightenment rationalists was the basis for founding the United States.....If the terms of our contract have in fact been broken, Christian citizens may be compelled to force the government to return to it's original understanding.....With fear and trembling, I have begun to believe that, however Christians in America gather to reach their consensus, we are fast approaching this point."
With men like this in it's background, Blackwater was born, amid the talk of a "morally justified revolution". I just don't see these guys playing well with a Clinton, Obama, Edwards or anyone else they don't view as a true believer.
naschkatze @ 66:
That should be "finding out". I said the story made me a little upset.
LongTooth @ 61:
Good luck w/your plan. Did you not read that the l7 mecernaries are "within the Green
Zone compound"? There are, in addition to Blackwater personnel, some 4 to 5 hundred
marines also "within the GreenZone", so trying to capture them dead or alive is a dream.
Also, as I understand, the Iraqi security forces are not able to do very much on their
own without U.S. Military backup, so really doubt if they would be capable of storming
the Green Zone.
EMPY at 67, don't forget that Clinton's top strategist Mark Penn represented Blackwater also. I am not taking anything from the Democrats on trust--these candidates need to speak out on this story and other abuses like the woman in the Phoenix airport, the kid who died from "tough love" in a Florida boot camp. They are counting on the rest of us being apathetic sheep: well, it didn't happen to me or one of mine, so why do I care?
naschkatze @ 66:
As I recall, bush had the U.S. withdraw as a member of the World International Court
back in 2002, so since we are no longer a member, any referral to or actions by the Hauge
Court is moot. This was, as I see it, a plan preconceived by bush/cheney so as to avoid
any international violations of law being referred to another jurisdiction.
If Blackwater refuses to assent to the law, are they arguing they would rather have battlefield justice? They are outnumbered, in foreign territory, and not liked.
If Herr Prince keeps them from going to court could he be charged with Obstruction of Justice?
Rucka @ 1:
My thoughts exactly.
The Iraqi government was installed by the US.
Why wouldn't they get a fair trial?
Doggiebobo @ 44:
True, but recent news stories have said there are more than 180,000+ mercenaries in Iraq working for various coporations, including Blackwater.
And what's he going to do?, fight the iraqis?
Right......good luck pal, just don't try to bring your private war here to our shores.
Doggiebobo @ 69:
Well then, Doggiebobo, I would lay siege to the compound and order it bombarded. Or I would seize other Americans and offer a straight up trade.
"If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms--never--never--never". Chatham 1777
miss_kitty @ 5:
That's because no one will reveal their private information. I bet they won't too much bragging about their exploits in the supermarket checkout line.
Good luck w/your plan. Did you not read that the l7 mercenaries are “within the Green
Zone compound”? There are, in addition to Blackwater personnel, some 4 to 5 hundred
marines also “within the GreenZone”, so trying to capture them dead or alive is a dream.
Also, as I understand, the Iraqi security forces are not able to do very much on their
own without U.S. Military backup, so really doubt if they would be capable of storming
the Green Zone.
What about the hundreds of so-called insurgents?, how do you know, if the moment is right, that they may join forces with the iraqi police, if that happens then everything if f*cked up. Don't forget they know the terrain, they live there and doesn't matter how many soldiers we have in the green zone, sooner or later they may get overridden.
EMPY @ 52:
The 180,000 mercs who are in Iraq might not all be soldiers, but they are mercenaries by definition. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a mercenary is "one who serves or works merely for monetary gain; a hireling." Unlike the U.S. military, these people working for Blackwater and other companies, whether they are building roads or protecting diplomats or convoys, are mercenaries.
"Blackwater CEO Says He Won’t Let Iraqi Government Prosecute His Employees"
Where does the snot-nosed CEO plan to hide them?
Wasn't the war supposed to be "over there" so they won't "chase us" back here?
This CEO is doing the very thing that would inspire foreign fighters to bring combat to the American heartland: Taking action to illegally put mercenaries outside the law; and leaving foreigners no perceived option but to use combat.
Erik Prince needs to be tried in an American court!
Erik Prince gave Iraq the middle finger.
Good luck, you arrogant prick. You just shot yourself in the foot.
Doggiebobo @ 69:
So what do we call it if we have to fight the very government we installed?
I know I should add the word again at the end of that sentence, we installed Saddam and then fought him twice.
Hmmm...wouldn't combating law enforcement officers make Blackwater "unlawful combatants" by literal definition?
Augusto @ 79:
They have already found that the Iraqi police have been infiltrated by insurgents. This is why the U.S. military does not let their Iraqi counterparts know of plans until just before they are carried out in an effort to keep them from setting up ambushes and so on.
If this is looked at logically, particularly when considering the content of this blog item, the insurgents and their 'plants' in the police would be called freedom fighters. But they aren't writing the news articles, are they? So we will continue to have our military slaughtered for, what was that again? Pretty sad to think that I spent so much of my life in a cause that has turned against itself and that it happened in such a short period of time.
Fools on the Hill @ 63:
Closer to mercenaries, working for a terrorist organisation. The twice elected US leader (and government) by the US people.
By that rational combined with the fact that US tax dollars are being used to murder civilians they the US civilians are valid targets ?
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 82:
Enemy combatant/terrorist ..... so no, he needs to go to the equivalent of the US' prized Guantanamo Bay ....
doesn't he look like a buddy of GANNON???
Why isn't the anti-abortion crowd raising holy hell over this baby killer?
The arrogance,,, coming soon to a city near you. Next they will be saying they can not get a fair trial in America. Of course they will not have to worry about that.
Here's the short version:
Bring 'em on!
If I were a Blackwater employee, I'd start sending out resumes.
Joementum @ 92:
And I'd leave Blackwater off the job experience list.
Augusto @ 76:
The Iraqis have to fight Blackwater over there so we don't have to fight them over here? Is that how it's supposed to go?
Blackwater is the military arm of the neocons and if we don't impeach Buch and Cheney they will be doning the same to us as they did in New Orleans...taking guns, shooting, intimidateing the citizens.
Imeach or die. Push has come to shove. If we let Bush take us to war we are dead...China, Russia, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezulla, etc. will eat us up.
Blackwater is above the law, & no stain of Adam's sin can ever touch it. Just like President Bush.
jim @ 16:
Well said, Jim! I agree wholeheartedly. Prince has an awful lot of audacity and arrogance if he thinks he gets to be treated differently that anyone else, don't you think?
cubiclegrrl @ 94:
Uh....guys...they are already here. 'Securing' all those black folk in FEMA camps in NOLA. They'll have the contract on Aztlan fer sure and they are coming to CA soon... So if I was you I'd just pipe down else Ol' Mr. Prince might have you disappeared...
Keep yer powder dry if you know what I mean.
Ya know... there was once a famous document written and a war for national sovereignty fought upon a number of grounds. One of those grounds was, and I quote:
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
Hmmmm... wonder what CRAZY people would object to that? Oh yeah! US!
For those of you unfamiliar, this is one of the grievances of the Americans against the King of England written in none other than the Declaration of Independence.
Ain't irony a bitch?
The Jackal @ 60:
I'm with you!
I didn't know these decisions were his (Prince's) to make.
In Korea, when G.I.'s break the law (not covered by SOFA), the army usually gets them out quickly on midnight planes. Anyway, that's American justice as the rest of the world sees it.
And, not to make light of this, but this "bit" is a wee bit damning: "Prince goes on to say that his men might be tried in a U.S. military court, but after learning from a U.S. Colonel that his men turned their weapons on our own soldiers, he may find he’s no more welcome here than in Iraq."
Laws? I don't obey no stinkin' laws... I am the laws...
_ Pancho Prince
Like the thugs who hired them, I guess Prince feels he and his company of mercenaries are above the law!
bob @ 6:
Rucka @ 1:
it was valid enough to convict and execute Saddam wasn’t it? The Iraqi Court I mean…
My first thoughts exactly!
Put me down for that as well very first thought
--and after seeing hilliary's giant lead in the C&R presidential poll i thought i was the last logical thinking person out here.
And just wait until his people commit atrocities in the good ol' U.S. of A!
Wait a minute...he said...."He wouldn't let Iraq prosecute his people". What's he gonna do blow the government up.
US military should pull out and leave Blackwater and other mercenary contractors behind to suffer the wrath.
The Ghost @ 95:
many have been sleeping on this, even though it's precisely how they will continue the neocon legacy and quite possibly try to prevent a turnover to the dems. As surely as smedley butler refused to work for prescott bush, prince will have no such compunction.
Put him and his shadow-army the fuck out of Iraq.
But they think it's okay for foreign nationals to be held in the U. S. with no legal rights whatever! What a dickhead!
Paul @ 38:
you just pointed out the similarities between prince and boosh.
Prince could have just cut to the chase and gave us the short version of his opinion: "I believe that Blackwater associates are above the law."
How can our government, our leaders let this man get away with murder.
Blackwater has stained the image of America, and our soldiers are paying the price.
First of all how could this administration allow private security companies enter into this arena?
Plus give them carte blanche.
now, the country we let them into is asking to persecute these people for killing innocent people, and this administration says no.
Hey, puppetmaster, that doesn't sound right.
The actions of this one company can fuel the insurrgents and hatred towards America.
This company must follow the rule of law. If they break the law they are prosecuted just like everyone else is.
How can Bush, a "christian" permit this to happen?
How could our law makers allow Bush to have done this?
And if the men who work for Blackwater turned their weapons on American soldiers, then that is treason.
This government should freeze all the bank accounts and assets of this company. Bringing their work to a halt.
If this adminstration respects the new government of Iraq, then it will allow that new government to investgate and bring to these men to trial if need be.
But I don't believe that this administration will do that. This administration is in bed with companies like Blackwater, and it is still feels so good to them.
Man, they don't realize the damage that they have caused America.
Or, do they?
Great Frybread King @ 80:
A mercenary is involved in combat for pay and is defined in Websters as a soldier hired into foreign service. The guy/girl serving food in the chow hall is not a mercenary even though they are hired into foreign service. Your definition applies to anyone, anywhere who works at a job for money. Since I don't work at my job for fun, it makes me a mercenary?
You know what?
He's right. Iraq's governing body is in a shambles. Look at articles that were posted on this very site. You remember the clips. Saddam's lawyers shouted down, their mics cut, judge swappings, assassinations, etc, etc. You remember the result. A former president yanked into a virtual toolshed and hung to death by mysterious hooded men while some hoodlum taped it to his camphone and put it on the web.
Iraqi's current governing body is in shambles,and worse, they're angry. Its not even a matter of patriotism, its humanitarism. I don't care what crimes these contractors may have committed, they don't deserve this inevitable brutish fate. Nobody does.
Unfortunately - its just as fair to assume they wouldn't satisfy justice for Iraqis via an American trial, and plus, I think there's some jurisdictional problems with that anyway. And Blackwater is a private contracting corporation, not a nation state, so I don't think they're beholden to any international court...
hmmmm...
Maybe - you know what?! I got it..
I think the United States has already found a similar problem with terrorists. We've captured people who maybe already did, or maybe were probably gonna do some kind of private organization driven terror/hate crime, and we've detained them. We've done this within both the US borders and internationally, with or without various leaders' consent.
And we humanitarily detain them all in a luxurious tropical facility in Guantanamo, Cuba.
Its PERFECT! We should just put the Blackwater employees in Guantanamo until this whole mess gets sorted out. In fact, I may just submit this suggestion to my district's congressperson right now...
Blackwater= Terrorists
Why did you just yank my comment? Just curious
Oops, just a glich on my end. Sorry
Is this arrogance, or reality? Does anyone really believe Iraq has a functioning judiciary with anything close to Western standards of justice? Would you stand trial there?
If Blackwater has done something wrong, let's bring them back here and put them on trial in American courts. But don't throw them to the kangaroo courts of Iraq. That's not justice; its a charade.
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Actually, he may already have. Blackwater mercs pulled their weapons on U.S. Soldiers in the green zone. If they were inside the compound within the green zone, that's officially U.S. territory. But, I may just be splitting hairs here.
How can he not "let" them?
miss_kitty @ 5:
That's it in a nutshell. "We're gonna shoot who we want. But if you try to punish us for it, you're a meanie."
Screw Blackwater.
pissed off patricia @ 17:
I dare someone to disagree with that.
Someone needs to take Prince and his gang of sociopaths out once and for all. I hope the Iraqis hang them all.
Aaron R. Linderman @ 119:
It's both arrogance and reality Aaron, but a reality Mr. Prince and Blackwater has helped to create. Western standards of justice? Those words ring slightly hollow these days.
Put yourself in this situation. Your wife and son have their heads blown off in the front seat of the family car by security guards for the Saudi Crown Prince on the streets of your home town. The guards are taken to the Saudi embassy guarded by the Saudi Army. You are told by the owner of Saudisecure that he will not allow his guards to be prosecuted in this country because they won't get a fair trial.
Arrogance or reality?
Aaron R. Linderman @ 119:
Word, Iraq's got kangaroo courts. Put 'em in Guantanamo until Iraq can give them a fair trial! Rumor has it its one of the best places in the world for war crimes folks with complex jurisdictional circumstances. I heard its nicer than a resort!
What will our descendants say 100 years from now when they read the history books, and learn about POS like this little fascist. Not to mention the sick evil bastards who employed them, all in our good name, and on our dime. I honestly don't know how much more of these scumbags we can endure as a nation.
Wont "let" them be taken by the Iraqi's? Now what does that say about the legitimacy of a government supported (not to mention installed) by the current US Administration? And how does that help them meet Bush administration defined "benchmarks" ? Just asking....
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 82:
I don't trust the American court system anymore since it is filled with Republican judges. It would seem an International Court of Law could prevail here? The smug arrogant jerk needs to be in jail.
FYI: Erik Prince's sister is married to Dick DeVos, who's father founded that great American Ponzi Scheme known as 'AMWAY'. Betsy Prince DeVos was the Republican Commitee chair of Michigan at one time, And Dickhead DeVos ran for Governor of Michigan last election. And, thankfully,lost. Republican bull runs deep. Why expect ethics from these people?
Aaron R. Linderman @ 119:
Well...if it was good enough for Saddam...
If it was good enough to try the "next Hitler" fairly....why isn't the Iraqi judiciary good enough to try Blackwater fairly? If I read your point clearly Aaron...perhaps you believe that Saddam, Chemical Ali etc.. deserve a retrial...as they were subject to "the kangaroo courts of Iraq". Or is justice only for those who ascribe to one point of view? Not that I'm defending Saddam and his cronies(they deserve what they got) ....but if one is willing to accept the judgements they recieved under Iraqi law for crimes commited on Iraqi soil...are not others such as Blackwater also equally liable for their crimes under Iraqi law commited on Iraqi soil? Or is the whole exercise simply a "charade"?
Erik Prince is a murderer, who aids, abets, supplies, pays and protects other murderers. He runs a terrorist organisation. The US govt finances his terrorist organisation.
Isn't the CheneyBushCo regime breaking laws it made in regard to financing terrorist organizations?
Aaron R. Linderman @ 119:
What's arrogant is thinking you get to choose to be tried outside of the country in which you committed the crime.
Don't want to be tried in an Iraqi court? Don't break Iraqi laws. Better yet, don't go to Iraq.
Scum
Surprised Bush didn't put Prince up for new AG spot . He could have been this years Harriet "good bowler" Meirs. Gets funnier and sadder everyday.
I understand you guys are upset about this, but really, what Eric is saying here is perfectly true. Going on trial in Iraq for these guys wouldn't really be a trial, it would be a sentence. Those bringing up Saddam's trial should keep in mind that he was tried there because there was never any doubt in anyone's mind about what verdict everyone wanted, whereas here there are conflicting sides to the issue, not made any clearer by hysterical reactions from both sides.
Although I believe that blackwater killed those civilians unjustly, I understand they deserve a fair trial just like the rest of the criminals in our country's history.
It makes sense to me, not to surrender American citizens to dubious justice in another country and to face possible inhuman conditions in their jails far from their families. Those individuals did not create Guantanamo. They did not create the mess in Iraq single-handedly. Most of them are former military who take the Blackwater jobs because of the pay, to ive their family's a middle class life thye sacrificed to be in the military (where the pay is shit). They may have committed a crime for which they should be punished. There is nothing particularly cushy about doing time in our jails or trial with the protections of our justice system.
The involved Blackwater employees should be prosecuted here in America or sent to the Hague to stand trial for war crimes. For that matter, put Rummy, Cheney and Shrub on the plane to the Hague with them.
miss_kitty @ 133:
Exactly! these gung-ho para-military mercs must not have gotten in enough killins when they were in the service...so they get hired on with Blackwater, and get a license to kill, and OUR tax dollars are paying for them to murder in our name....don't ya just looooove where this illegal war with Iraq is headed....if we don't DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING to remove BushCo and Pals from power, the blood of innocent Iraqis is on OUR HANDS as well...
Indict this Kristofascist prick for war crimes already.
Let's say one travels to China and one is indicted for committing a crime. The trial would be held in China were the supposed crime took place. The same happens in the US. Larry Craig needed to be tried by the court that has jurisdiction of where the crime took place. He couldn't moved his case to DC or Idaho.
For Prince to think he has a say on where his alleged contractors crimes should be tried is delusional. If he doesn't trust the Iraqi justice system, he shouldn't be doing business there. He attempts to pretend his business is an extension of the military and he should be tried in a military court. But his contractors are getting paid much more than any soldier as an independent contractor and by the State Department, not Pentagon.
So even Prince is admitting our Iraq adventurism is running awry?
miss_kitty @ 132:
So shouldn't we embargo his nation sponser like we do the rest...
...oh wait that's us.
Erik Prince is a hero, and he supports his employees. The tremendous hatred and resentment of Blackwater stems from plain old jealousy because they make so much more money than our troops for doing the same job which is KILL,KILL KILL. He should get the Medal of Honor.
I'm still waiting for this dirtbag to be found guilty of treason and second-hand murder. Any day now...
A quick search shows that the word 'contractor' is being used on this page a lot more than the much more accurate word 'mercenary'. Let's get our vocabulary straight.
give them a trial in the Hague........sounds good to me...it's only fair.
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