Blackwater charges dropped by US district judge

**Blueneck** · 1st January 2010 11:05 AM

What is the difference between the underwear bomber and Blackwater? Blackwater killed civilians and the underwear bomber didn't, but guess who's going to jail?

Urbina found that the government's case was built largely on "statements compelled under a threat of job loss" during a State Department investigation of the shootings, violating the Fifth Amendment rights of the five men charged.

"In their zeal to bring charges against the defendant in this case, the prosecutors and investigators aggressively sought out statements the defendants had been compelled to make to government investigators in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and in the subsequent investigation," Urbina wrote in a 90-page decision.

Federal prosecutors "repeatedly disregarded the warnings of experienced, senior prosecutors assigned to the case," the judge said.

Maybe they did this on purpose?

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/me...water.charges/

**Inkslinger** · 1st January 2010 11:13 AM

[quote name='Blueneck' date='01 January 2010 - 01:05 PM' timestamp='1262369103' post='89929']

What is the difference between the underwear bomber and Blackwater? Blackwater killed civilians and the underwear bomber didn't, but guess who's going to jail?

Maybe they did this on purpose?

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/me...water.charges/

[/quote]

Winning the hearts and minds!!!!!!

War on terror my ass....

**Blueneck** · 1st January 2010 11:16 AM

[quote name='Inkslinger' date='01 January 2010 - 01:13 PM' timestamp='1262369625' post='89931']

Winning the hearts and minds!!!!!!

War on terror my ass....

[/quote]

I'd like to know why these guys weren't subject to prosecution in Iraqi courts or court martialed if they were under the umbrella of the US military.

Maybe there is something to this talk about the court system being inadequate to prosecute terrorists.....

**michaelr** · 1st January 2010 11:25 AM

I don't know who would expect a different ruling Blue. Hell this could have, and it still may, put the entire illegal war and occupation on trial. That would open a con of worms that the US can not have. Alas, there is some hope. Blair my be tried for his rile in this, that could spread across the pond and land in the Bush&neocon's back yard.

**michaelr** · 1st January 2010 11:26 AM

[quote name='Blueneck' date='01 January 2010 - 10:16 AM' timestamp='1262369812' post='89934']

I'd like to know why these guys weren't subject to prosecution in Iraqi courts or court martialed if they were under the umbrella of the US military.

Maybe there is something to this talk about the court system being inadequate to prosecute terrorists.....

[/quote]

There are no, nor will there be Iraqi courts as long as we're occupying the country. Thats like saying the Iraqi Government, that is a falsehood.

**Inkslinger** · 1st January 2010 11:27 AM

[quote name='michaelr' date='01 January 2010 - 01:26 PM' timestamp='1262370391' post='89939']

There are no, nor will there be Iraqi courts as long as we're occupying the country. Thats like saying the Iraqi Government, that is a falsehood.

[/quote]

Reminds me of a protest sign I once saw:

"Bombing for Peace is like Fucking for Virginity".

**michaelr** · 1st January 2010 11:31 AM

[quote name='Inkslinger' date='01 January 2010 - 10:27 AM' timestamp='1262370469' post='89940']

Reminds me of a protest sign I once saw:

"Bombing for Peace is like Fucking for Virginity".

[/quote]

Thats about the long and short of it.

War is peace baby.

**a777pilot** · 1st January 2010 11:39 AM

Great! It's about time. Justice is done.

**Inkslinger** · 1st January 2010 11:40 AM

[quote name='a777pilot' date='01 January 2010 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1262371166' post='89946']

Great! It's about time. Justice is done.

[/quote]

If you're pro-terrorism, then, yes.

**Bourne** · 1st January 2010 11:40 AM

[quote name='Blueneck' date='01 January 2010 - 12:16 PM' timestamp='1262369812' post='89934']

I'd like to know why these guys weren't subject to prosecution in Iraqi courts or court martialed if they were under the umbrella of the US military.

Maybe there is something to this talk about the court system being inadequate to prosecute terrorists.....

[/quote]

As I recall Blackwater had specific wording in their contract granting them immunity from Iraqi prosecution and since they weren't US military they don't qualify for prosecution under the USCoMJ.

Very Catch-22.

I hope that the DoJ refiles this case.