The misconception on U.S. contractors operating in Iraq comes from Paul Bremer’s edict about contractor immunity issued under the Coalition Provisional Authority and extension thereof; in June, 2004, Bremer issued an “extension” to that edict:

- Under an order signed Sunday by L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq, the contractors’ immunity provision covers “official acts that they perform in contracts in support of the Iraq reconstruction effort,” said Scott Castle, general counsel for the occupation authority. In matters unrelated to their contract work, they will be subject to Iraqi rules.

The U.S. military operates under the UN Security Council resolution, but contractors are special and not covered:

- As an occupying army, the 138,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in Iraq have been outside Iraqi law since U.S.-led forces took over the country in April of last year. The troops will remain exempt in the future on the basis of a June 8 U.N. Security Council resolution and an accompanying exchange of letters between Allawi and the U.S. government in which Iraq requests their continued presence, according to a senior U.S. military official.

  As a result, there will be no need for an immediate status of forces agreement — the kind that usually governs U.S. military presence in foreign countries, the official said. U.S. soldiers will continue to be subject to U.S. military justice only.

  “We will continue to operate more or less as before,” the official added.

  But the status of civilian contractors has become a special question because the contractors are not covered by the Security Council resolution or the letter from Allawi requesting that U.S. forces remain in Iraq for an undetermined time. Moreover, they do not come under U.S. military jurisdiction (which has since changed) because they are not part of the military, although some are hired by the Pentagon.

  (U.S. Military Contractors operating in combat zones are now subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Congress quietly made this change as part of the FY 2007 Military Authorization Act.)

  In that light, the U.S.-run Coalition Provisional Authority has asked Allawi to grant the contractors immunity from prosecution in Iraq similar to that granted soldiers, said George Sada, Allawi’s spokesman. “They have made that demand,” Sada said. “We think it is a bit too much. It is under discussion.”

This was to remain effective until the Iraqi’s established their permanent government (not the interim government) and continued immunity for contractors was REQUESTED:

- The Americans will still hold responsibility for security. And the interim government will not be able to amend the Transitional Administrative Law, or the interim constitution. That document outlines many civil liberties guarantees that would make problematic a declaration of emergency — something Allawi has hinted he may try to order.

I have not found where Prime Minister Allawi granted the request, nor, that after the 2005 election in Iraq that established their permanent government any immunity was extended or granted to U.S. contractors in Iraq.

The BBC is reporting, as of today (17 Sept):

- The Iraqi interior ministry said the contractor, based in North Carolina, was now banned from operating in Iraq.

Look at these f*cking barbarians!! My God!!

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/17/blackwater-is-part-of-bremers-legacy-the-trophy-video/

I can all but hear Shrub now…Imagine the gall of those damn ragheads thinking that they are a sovereign Nation, able to determine what is best for them. I am the Decider Guy and they damn well best remember that.
At worst, Blackwater will change its name to Premiere Consultants and continue as before. That’s assuming that the Shootist doesn’t order up a rendition for that cheeky Interior Minister.

Those mercenaries have to be sentenced due to their crimes against humanity !

Felicity Ref#100882

You’re right Felicity. It is Order #17 of the 100. (at least the 100 that have been written down…we know Cheney doesn’t like committing this kind of stuff to paper, but Bremer did it).

So, that would explain why Blackwater has killed civilians before, and nothing ever happens or is done about it. They have a license to operate with impunity there…just like all the rest of the contractors the Cabal has in place in Iraq and elsewhere.

That would sadly mean that the Iraqi government probably is wasting their time, but on the other hand, it may be a sign that they’re getting it together, just by banning Blackwater and tossing them out. (if indeed that can really happen, since they are as much prisoners to the Cabal as all the rest of us).

The other thing is that it wouldn’t do any good to try and “investigate” or otherwise bring charges against Blackwater even HERE. That’s already been tried, when they turned on their own employees who tried to make them accountable for some of their crimes against THEM. Matter of fact, they COUNTER-SUED the families of these former Blackwater employees!!!

So, for the Iraqis, maybe it is a waste. But, nothing beats a try but a failure, so maybe it will lead them on to greater knowledge, about how to escort the REST of us out of their country.

They don’t stand a prayer, as long as we’re there.

“The Iraqi government…is opening a criminal investigation.”

According to Order #17 of the “100 Orders” put in place by Paul Bremer, American (and foreign) security firms have full immunity from Iraq’s laws.  Any charges brought against them must be brought to US courts.  So, the Iraqi government is basically wasting its time.