NPR: Iraq Proposes Removing Contractors' Immunity

Iraq Proposes Removing Contractors' Immunity

The immunity that private security contractors working in Iraq have enjoyed since 2004 could be on its way out. The Iraqi Cabinet approved a draft law today that would allow foreign security contractors to be arrested and prosecuted if they break Iraqi laws.

The Iraqi government's move followed the news that the U.S. State Department offered employees of one of the contractors, Blackwater USA, immunity from prosecution by the United States in exchange for their statements about a shooting last month that killed 17 Iraqi civilians. NPR national security correspondent Jackie Northam reports that the State Department wasn't authorized to make that offer and that the FBI now has to re-interview the guards without a promise of immunity, making it much harder to prosecute anyone. Several guards have reportedly refused to answer questions again.

But could the Iraqis prosecute the security guards under their own laws if immunity is removed?

Not likely, Jackie told me. In the first place, the law would have to be applied retroactively to cover the Sept. 16 shooting, and there's no indication so far that it will be. And even if the contractors could be prosecuted, there's no reason to believe the U.S. government would send them back to face trial in Iraq.

However, the draft law may affect how contractors operate in the future. Jackie talked with Doug Brooks, president of the International Peace Operations Association, a group of private contractors working in conflict zones. Although Brooks says he doesn't think the Iraqi government will actually make a major change, revoking immunity could present a huge "legal and ethical issue" for contractors.

"Are you going to send employees to be under a legal system that questionable? I can see companies balking at doing that," he said.

Brooks added that he thinks the Iraqi government will see that forcing so much support staff to leave the country would not be in its favor. But if the law does fundamentally change, companies will likely hire Iraqis as guards, he said.

1:20 PM ET | 10-30-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I can't believe it.
Why does no one in our government care about justice?
Who will stand up and do the right thing?

Sent by Katie | 1:57 PM ET | 10-30-2007

Iraq can pass all the laws it wants to
pass; Emperor Cheney doesn't follow the
laws in this country, so it's quite
unlikely his minions will worry about
those in Iraq.
Perhaps Scooter Libby will be brought
in to oversee our compliance with the
laws of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran
once the Emperor decides Halliburton
can make a profit there too.

Sent by Phil Cavallo | 2:17 PM ET | 10-30-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:	» List of local stations (PDF)
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Tom Regan

Blogger

About Us

This year's election cycle has been one of the most exciting in memory. At the NPR News Blog we'll do our best to bring you interesting, informative -- and controversial -- stories from our own reporters and bloggers, as well as the rest of the best of the Internet and blogosphere. And we hope you'll let us know what you think as well.

Want to learn more? Be sure to read our Frequently Asked Questions and our discussion guidelines.