Iraqis Angered as Blackwater Charges Are Dropped

[cal04]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/02/us/02blackwater.html?hp

Iraqis on Friday reacted with disbelief, anger and bitter resignation to news that criminal charges in the United States had been dismissed against Blackwater Worldwide security guards who opened fire on unarmed Iraqi civilians in 2007.

Though the shooting, which took place on Sept. 16, 2007, in a crowded central Baghdad traffic circle, is regarded here as a signal event of the war, many victims had not been aware of the decision of a Federal District Court judge in Washington because the ruling was made public in Baghdad a few hours after the start of the new year.

(snip)
In Baghdad on Friday, some victims and their families expressed grave disappointment at the ruling and said they did not understand how charges could have been dropped despite what they regarded as overwhelming evidence. Some said they were shot as they tried to flee.

“What are we — not human?” asked Abdul Wahab Adul Khader, 34, a bank employee who was shot in the hand while driving his car through the traffic circle. “Why do they have the right to kill people? Is our blood so cheap? For America, the land of justice and law, what does it mean to let criminals go? They were chasing me and shooting at me. They were determined to kill me.”

(snip)
“There has been a cover-up since the very start,” he said. “What can we say? They killed people. They probably gave a bribe to get released. This is their own American court system.” (Ali Khalaf, a traffic police officer )

[NJmaverick]

1. I hope the Justice department opens up an investigation into the conduct of the proescutors

and who ordered them to take a dive, or if they were really that incompetent.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Ironically, I am watching the Twilight Zone epidode now

where the former Nazi is getting "retribution" from the ghosts of Dachau inmates,
and Rod Sterling's voice over says, just now, that we must not forget what happens when
a group of men creates a mass graveyard for another group of people.

Alas, we seem to have forgotten to teach history anymore.

[The Doctor.]

5. This may have been self-indulgent, but I really hope it's true;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7370959

There are so many evil fucking bastards getting away with so much. Sometimes I really want to believe in Divine justice.

[FreakinDJ]

3. Ya think !

[Better Today]

4. Who can blame them. We've proven ourselves to be unbalanced, unfair, hypocrits.

[scarface2004]

6. the prosecutors intentionally botched this...

so the judge could dismiss it! what assholes!!

[winyanstaz]

7. I apologise to the Iraq people for the terrible state of our Justice departments..

That we would fail to do the right thing is beyond shameful.
America is no longer the land of Justice and Law.
We have nothing to be proud about regarding the way we have treated Iraq.
We have no business still being there.
End the wars..bring the troops home now.

[Demeter]

8. Iraqis Aren't The Only Angry People

This is appalling.

[braunfels]

9. Why do "they" hate us?

You can be sure Obambi will keep looking forward and not want to deal with messy stuff like this.

[Sultana]

10. Obambi???? you've gotta be kidding me!

TROLL!

[Vidar]

11. As well they should be.

[cal04]

12. Iraq outraged as Blackwater case is dropped: Jan Schakowsky comments

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-outraged-as-blackwater-case-is-dropped-1855401.html

Saying it was "astonished" by a US court's decision to drop manslaughter charges against private security guards who were accused of killing 17 civilians caught up in a Baghdad traffic jam, the Iraqi government yesterday promised to continue its battle to secure justice for the victims of "people who like to shoot unarmed people".

Wejdan Mikhail, the country's Human Rights Minister, said she would now support efforts to bring civil charges against the Blackwater employees accused of firing automatic weapons and throwing hand grenades at cars negotiating a roundabout in Nisur Square just over two years ago.

(snip)
Ms Mikhail has demanded a meeting with US embassy officials in Baghdad to hear an explanation of why the criminal case was dropped. "I don't understand why the judge took this decision," she told the news agency AFP. "They killed innocent Iraqi people that were just in their cars without any weapons. I am very astonished. So many innocent Iraqis – young, students – were shot by someone who liked to shoot unarmed people."

(snip)
Left-leaning US politicians described it as an affront to human rights. "A question I've been asking for a long time is, 'Can private military contractors actually get away with murder?'" said Jan Schakowsky, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives who has sponsored legislation to outlaw the use of private contractors in war zones. "This indicates that the answer is yes."

[annm4peace]

13. another country needs to prosecute the US war criminals

our country just can't or won't do it.

Even though thousands of us what them to.