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House Bids to Put Contractors Under US Law

Landslide passage for bill to bring private firms into civilian courts

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 4, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The House of Representatives passed a bill today that would make private security firms accountable to US civilian courts; the vote was 389 to 30, with opposition coming only from Republicans. The White House and Pentagon want contractors kept under military jurisdiction, but if the Senate passes similar legislation by a similar margin, the president will be unable to veto it successfully.

Last month’s episode in which Blackwater contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians—and comparable shootings brought to light in its wake—suggests the firm may not be “bound by any law at all,” the New York Times reports. Only Defense Department contractors are currently covered by civilian law; Blackwater’s missions involve providing security for State Department clients.

Plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a firefight as Iraqi demonstrators loyal to Muqtada Al Sadr attempt to advance on a facility being defended by U.S. and Spanish soldiers, Sunday, April 4, 2004 in the Iraqi city of Najaf,. The Blackwater USA contractors were actively involved...
Plainclothes contractors working for Blackwater USA take part in a firefight as Iraqi demonstrators loyal to Muqtada Al Sadr attempt to advance on a facility being defended by U.S. and Spanish soldiers,...   (Associated Press)
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater USA, is escorted into the hearing room by a Capitol Hill police officer prior to giving his testimony before the House Oversight Committee hearing, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, which is examining the mission and performance of the private military contractor Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan....
Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater USA, is escorted into the hearing room by a Capitol Hill police officer prior to giving his testimony before the House Oversight Committee hearing, Tuesday, Oct. 2,...   (Associated Press)
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, prior to testifying before the House Oversight Committee hearing examining the mission and performance of the private military contractor Blackwater in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photos/Susan Walsh)
Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, prior to testifying before the House Oversight Committee hearing examining the mission and performance...   (Associated Press)
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FBI goes to Iraq to investigate Blackwater; Blackwater guards the investigators
New York Times

Enough with the grandstanding; let's make them accountable
National Review

US • Politics

 
White House • State Department • Blackwater • House of Representatives • Department of Defense • civilian law • military law • House minority leader • House minority whip

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