Immunity gone...

A report on Yahoo News indicates that the Iraqi government is revoking all immunity afforded to security companies operating in the country.

"The cabinet held a meeting yesterday and decided to scrap the article pertaining to security companies operating in Iraq that was issued by the CPA (Coalition Provision Authority) in 2004," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement."

I doubt that there will be any dissent about that decision within the Iraqi population, regardless of sect or tribal affiliation. After all of the dipped purple fingers, the many, many corners turned and the endless declarations of progress, the mercenary forces might be held to account for their actions. Though, last week Blackwater's CEO Eric Prince announced that his hired killers are beyond justice.

"We will not let our people be taken by the Iraqis," Mr. Prince told editors and reporters at The Washington Times."

Because if there's anything we know about sovereignty, it's that you get to choose the laws you obey and how they are administered.

"In an ideal sense, if there was wrongdoing, there could be a trial brought in the Iraqi court system. But that would imply that there is a valid Iraqi court system where Westerners could get a fair trial. That is not the case right now," said Mr. Prince."

Well I can certainly sympathize with Mr. Prince, it really must be hard for unrestrained mercenaries to get a fair trial among their victims. And I am all about fairness, so I propose that in the wake of accusations against his little murder for hire racket, that a fair and impartial justice system be allowed to weigh the evidence and hand down verdicts. I'm sure Mr. Prince would love to take his boys on an all expense paid trip to the Hague. It's only fair.

Something I've never quite figured out in this mess, is just what the hell are all of these contractors for? America is supposed to have the greatest and most mighty fighting force in all of history, by golly. Yet, there are private security forces operating with no oversight under a draft of immunity jimmied into position by Bremer's provisional mob.

"Article 1 of Section 2 of CPA order 17 issued by then US administrator for Iraq, Paul Bremer, stipulates that the "multinational force, foreign liaison missions, their personnel, property, funds and assets and all international consultants shall be immune from Iraqi legal process."

These creatures are hauling in serious money, estimated at about $1,200 a day. How many troopers would that kind of cash cover? It makes no economic sense at all. With all the right wing snot suckers that have brayed about the morale of the troops being undermined by the least criticism of the civilian leadership, where's the outrage. I know that if I had volunteered to serve my country, to accept and embody the discipline and honour portrayed by the flag, I would be fucking furious to know that there are freelancers roaming about earning more in a day than a grunt makes in a week. That would fuck my morale up.