(on a personal note – I wasn’t able to blog yesterday because I decided to take the plunge and move to Vista. I will post about that experience on my tech blog later for those interested).
Following yesterday’s news that the State Department decided to give Blackwater immunity, today we find out a new battle is brewing between the Iraqi government and our’s over immunity for all contractors:
The Iraqi government on Tuesday approved draft legislation lifting immunity for foreign private security companies, sending the measure to parliament, a spokesman said.
The question of immunity has been one of the most serious dispute between the U.S. and the Iraqi government since a Sept. 16 shooting involving Blackwater USA guards that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead.
The government’s decision followed reports that the State Department has promised Blackwater bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s shooting.
So if this legislation ends up passing in Iraq, what will we do? Will we honor the sovereignty of Iraq and allow it (I mean real sovereignty – not some Bush definition)? If we don’t, then the interesting question will be where it goes from there. The U.N. is already looking into the issue, so there is a chance this could end up being argued at the Hague. Of course any ruling against the U.S., or any action taken against us will meet a veto in the Security Council. Remember – this is how the Bush regime considers democracy to work; do what I want and I will say you got democracy.