Loss of legal immunity will change landscape for contractors in Iraq
By Robert Brodsky rbrodsky@govexec.com December 5, 2008
A recent deal that lifts legal protections for U.S. contractors working in Iraq has representatives of private security guards concerned.
The Status of Forces Agreement signed last month by the State Department and ratified by the Iraqi Parliament could have serious repercussions for contractors who watch over key officials and infrastructure, according to industry observers.
"While we're confident the Department of State did not intend to put at risk the human rights of the thousands of civilians from around the world
providing essential skills in support of Iraq reconstruction, we are disappointed and concerned that the document offers so few legal protections," said Doug Brooks, president of the International Peace Operations Association, a trade group for security contractors.
The agreement, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2009, nullifies a 2003 order by the now-defunct Coalition Provisional Authority that granted U.S. contractors immunity from criminal prosecution in Iraqi courts for actions taken in the course of performing their jobs. Political pressure to lift Order 17 mounted after guards for Blackwater Worldwide were involved in a deadly shooting in Baghdad in September 2007 that left 17 civilians dead and dozens injured.
Iraqi officials reportedly would not sign a new Status of Forces Agreement -- the document that allows U.S. soldiers to remain in Iraq legally and that is set to expire at the end of the month -- unless contractor immunity was lifted.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41566&dcn=todaysnews
Wonder if we will see this on the evening news...
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