Civilians ID'd in abuse may face no charges

[Barrett808]

Civilians ID'd in abuse may face no charges
By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | May 4, 2004

WASHINGTON -- A legal loophole could allow four American civilian contractors allegedly involved in the abuse of Iraqi prisoners to escape punishment, US military officials and specialists said yesterday.

...

President Bush, on a campaign trip yesterday in Michigan, urged Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to make sure that US soldiers involved in the abuse are punished, said a White House spokesman.

"The president wanted to make sure appropriate action is being taken against those responsible for these shameful and appalling acts," said spokesman Scott McClellan.

But the four civilian workers identified in an internal army report for their involvement in the physical and sexual mistreatment of the prisoners -- including the alleged rape of one detainee -- cannot be punished under military law, and it is unclear whether they will face any charges under either US or Iraqi laws.

(more)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/05/04/civilians_idd_in_abuse_may_face_no_charges/

[FlemingsGhost]

1. BushCo. knew just what they were doing by using Mercs.

Welcome to the "New World Order."

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Rummie needs a copy of Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 1999

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1517119#1518734

"Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 1999"

Opening Statement of Chairman Bill McCollum
on H.R. 3380, the "Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 1999"

<snip>

Civilians have served with or accompanied the American Armed Forces in the field or ships since the founding of the United States. In recent years, however, the number of civilians present with our military forces in foreign countries has dramatically increased. Many of these civilians are nonmilitary employees of the Defense Department and contractors working on behalf of DOD. In 1996, there were more than 96,000 civilian employees of the Department of Defense working and living outside the United States.

<snip>

The bill before us today would close this gapping hole in the law by extending Federal criminal jurisdiction to crimes committed by persons employed by and accompanying the U.S. Armed Forces overseas. Specifically, the bill creates a new crime under Title 18 that would make it a crime to engage in conduct outside the United States which would constitute an offense under Title 18 if the crime had been committed within the United States. The new crime would apply only to two groups of people. First, persons employed by or who accompany the Armed Forces outside the United States. This group includes dependents of military members, civilian employees of the Department of Defense, and Defense Department contractors or subcontractors and their employees. This group also includes foreign nationals who are relatives of American military personnel or contractors, or who work for the Defense Department, but only to the extent that they are not nationals of the country where the act occurred or ordinarily live in that country.


This bill was passed into law. Someone needs to send Rummie and Myers a copy of this legislation. They may find out that their friend Bill McCollum closed up that little loophole about 5 years ago. Who ever thought that worthless slug would do something useful?


(Kudos to Tinoire for digging this little gem up.)

[Gin]

3. I heard some official on TV say they are bound by the same rules..

we shall see. Funny how we attack Fallujah for defiling the bodies of 4 civilians...and now these civilians may pay no price for defiling Iraq prisoners.

[Moderator]

4. Previously posted

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x529311