Biden vows the US will appeal in Iraq Blackwater case
US Vice-President Joe Biden says the US government will appeal against a court ruling dismissing manslaughter charges in the Blackwater shootings case.
Mr Biden was speaking after meeting Iraqi politicians in Baghdad.
Iraqis were furious when a US judge threw out charges against five Blackwater security guards over the 2007 killing of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad.
Mr Biden is in Iraq in an attempt to defuse a political crisis over candidates for the election in March.
Class action
Mr Biden said the dismissal of the Blackwater charges was just that and “not an acquittal”.
Expressing “personal regret” over the 16 September 2007 shootings in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square, he said the US justice department would file its appeal against the court’s decision next week.
“The United States is determined to hold to account anyone who commits crimes against Iraqi people,” Mr Biden added.
“While we fully respect the independence and the integrity of the US judicial system, we were disappointed with the judge’s decision to dismiss the indictment, which was based on the way some evidence had been acquired.”
Iraq maintains the Blackwater guards fired without provocation. Blackwater said the firing followed an ambush on one of its convoys.
The US rejected attempts for a trial in Iraq but charges in the US were thrown out when a judge ruled in December that the guards’ constitutional rights had been violated and that the justice department had mishandled evidence.
The ruling provoked anger in Iraq and this month the Iraqi government began collecting signatures for a class action lawsuit on behalf of people killed or wounded in incidents involving Blackwater.
Iraq said it would seek compensation for a number of such cases and would continue to “act forcefully and decisively to prosecute”.
The 2007 incident caused widespread public anger against foreign security companies operating in Iraq and their activities have been severely curbed since then.
Once again Obama and Co. are turning the screws on what is supposed to be their own people. It seems that our government will do just about anything to please the Islamic world, but turn they on Blackwater, and sit silently as the Christians in Iraq are being driven out in droves. Whatever happened to taking a stand for your own people?
The bottom line, really, is "Who cares?" Like, I really don't feel any relevance of collateral damage when our people are taking fire and return fire. Anyone hit HAD to be either an enemy or a collaborator and thus, had it coming. End of story!!
Despicable. Bending over backwards to protect our enemies and persecute patriots risking their lives for our country, whether it be this case or the case of the Navy SEALS because a jihadist who murdered our guys CLAIMED to have received a fat lip while in custody.
This is all about our own government weakening us. Just like they went after the border agents.
How can they appeal the dismissal of the case? Surly prejudice applies? Therefore bringing double jeopardy in to play I would have thought.
So now it's OK for mercenaries to BREAK THE LAW murder civilians in our name if they don't pray to the right god? That what everyone seems to be saying. I guess the rule of law only applies when convenient to you guys. I don't suppose anyone has any proof that, "Anyone hit HAD to be either an enemy or a collaborator and thus, had it coming." and being muslim isn't proof.
This blog is a better recruitment tool for terrorists than a thousand bible quote scopes. I hope the USA never has to reap what you are sowing.
You must of missed the part that said the charges were dropped, and not talking about the problem is why it is reached our shores.
Personally, I hope the Blackwater fucktards get jailed forever!
I am totally against private standing, corporazi armies.
I am an ex-Soldier, have served in the Middle East.
These traitorous fucks obey only their sales-masters, and would turn on y'all as well in a heartbeat if paid to do so.
It was nothing less than High Treason for Bushco to allow such an abomination: these pricks DRAIN you same tax dollars, at a rate of between three and FIVE TIMES THE PAY RATE of regular force Soldiers, to do the exact same jobs they were trained to do (again, WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS) when they were in.
They also displace the REAL Troops from their professions, and make them do guard duty while these shits take their positions away!
Think about it!
Any real Troops whose contracts expire – will they re-up, for basic pay, or go to Blackwater for the lucrative tax-draining treasonous offers? Of course they will join Blackwater! Who wouldn't?!
It's fucking High Treason to drain your contry of it's tax base DURING A FUCKING WAR, for Christ's sake people!
Get your heads out of your asses!
Cheney and Bush's income went up 3,000% each year because they own the Arms companies that supply "America.' (The Carlisle Group, Hallibruton/KGBR, etc!!! What kind of raise did the men defending us get? That's right: bupkis!
And – these same salesmen in congrees DENIED the real Troops the ARMOR upgrades they needed, while palying cynical political games, at the very same time!
TREASON!!!!
;-(