Comments on: Blackwater: Onward Through the Fog http://themoderatevoice.com/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Mon, 28 May 2012 02:02:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: sdb http://themoderatevoice.com/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/comment-page-1/#comment-98813 sdb Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:01:29 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/#comment-98813 Mr. Mullen It was not my intent to be disrespectful or condescending as I did not want our blogs to deteriorate into personal attacks Mr. Mullen
It was not my intent to be disrespectful or condescending as I did not want our blogs to deteriorate into personal attacks

]]> By: sdb http://themoderatevoice.com/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/comment-page-1/#comment-98811 sdb Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:55:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/#comment-98811 Mr. Mullen, you are very well written and curiously informed. I too am curious. I am curious why you loathe Blackwater and other PMC’s to the degree you do. You continually write that they operate above the law with complete impunity. I know you have read order 17 and I assume you understand it. Just because agents of the state which include PMC’s, cannot be prosecuted by local courts of the host nation, it does not insulate them from military prosecution. As I understand it, Order 17 basically provides for theoretically a fair, or at least fairer trial, than one would likely receive in the potentially corrupt court of a host nation. It also only has jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while exercising in their official capacity. They are not immune to local laws regarding crimes committed in an unofficial capacity. As I understand it, they can be prosecuted for rape, robbery, and other such crimes by local courts, and in that way are bound by the laws of the land. This is one way that differentiates their protection from that of active service personnel. Order 17 is also a mechanism which also gives their official activities a legal legitimacy, almost like deputizing . PMC activities would be regarded as outlaw and they would be considered renegades unless provisions were made to protect them. PMC’s could not operate unless this legal mechanism was in place. I am not suggesting that the system is perfect, but they can be prosecuted in the same fashion as active service members and are bound by the same code of military conduct. Mr. Mullen, you are very well written and curiously informed. I too am curious. I am curious why you loathe Blackwater and other PMC’s to the degree you do. You continually write that they operate above the law with complete impunity. I know you have read order 17 and I assume you understand it. Just because agents of the state which include PMC’s, cannot be prosecuted by local courts of the host nation, it does not insulate them from military prosecution. As I understand it, Order 17 basically provides for theoretically a fair, or at least fairer trial, than one would likely receive in the potentially corrupt court of a host nation. It also only has jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while exercising in their official capacity. They are not immune to local laws regarding crimes committed in an unofficial capacity. As I understand it, they can be prosecuted for rape, robbery, and other such crimes by local courts, and in that way are bound by the laws of the land. This is one way that differentiates their protection from that of active service personnel. Order 17 is also a mechanism which also gives their official activities a legal legitimacy, almost like deputizing . PMC activities would be regarded as outlaw and they would be considered renegades unless provisions were made to protect them. PMC’s could not operate unless this legal mechanism was in place. I am not suggesting that the system is perfect, but they can be prosecuted in the same fashion as active service members and are bound by the same code of military conduct.

]]> By: Shaun Mullen http://themoderatevoice.com/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/comment-page-1/#comment-98806 Shaun Mullen Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:15:51 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/#comment-98806 <em>domajot:</em> Absolutely. Neither side can be trusted. Sad. domajot:

Absolutely. Neither side can be trusted. Sad.

]]> By: domajot http://themoderatevoice.com/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/comment-page-1/#comment-98800 domajot Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:34:13 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/war/iraq/15199/blackwater-onward-through-the-fog/#comment-98800 I wouldn't give automatic credence to Iraqi claims. I wouldn't give automatic credence to claims by US officials, either. Murky, murky, murky. I wouldn’t give automatic credence to Iraqi claims.
I wouldn’t give automatic credence to claims by US officials, either.

Murky, murky, murky.

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