Will Blackwater Finally Be Brought to Justice?

Maybe, Maybe Not.  However,  according to a report in Sunday's Washington Post, the prospects are finally looking better that the Blackwater Worldwide employees involved in the 2007 shooting of Iraqi civilians in Nisoor square will finally be held accountable. 


Justice Dept. Moves Toward Charges Against Contractors in Iraq Shooting
- washingtonpost.com

Federal prosecutors have sent target letters to six Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a September shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead, indicating a high likelihood the Justice Department will seek to indict at least some of the men, according to three sources close to the case

The sources said that any charges against the guards would likely be brought under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, which has previously been used to prosecute only the cases referred to the Justice Department by the Defense Department for crimes committed by military personnel and contractors overseas. Legal experts have questioned whether contractors working for the State Department can be prosecuted under its provisions.

The sources cautioned that prosecutors are still weighing evidence gathered in a 10-month investigation that began shortly after the shootings.

Related posts:

Contract Justice by Jeremy Scahill for The Nation

Report Closely Examines The Expanded Use of Private Contractors in Iraq

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