Feral Jundi

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Legal News: Sources–U.S. Contractors Will Not Face Iraq Charges

Filed under: Iraq,Legal News — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:46 AM

     This is the latest, and I hope it turns out to be true.  You never know over there and I will be happy when I see the report where these guys are actually free and telling their side of the story. –Matt

Edit:  The Iraqi police Wednesday released three of the five U.S. contractors who were detained last week in connection with the slaying last month of an American in Baghdad’s Green Zone enclave, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said.

 The men were freed on bail, but were forbidden to leave Iraq during the investigation of the death of Jim Kitterman, a 60-year-old construction contractor from Texas, said Rafae Munahe, a senior advisor to Interior Minister Jawad Bolani.

——————————————————————- 

Sources: U.S. contractors will not face Iraq charges

June 10, 2009

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — A judge in Iraq has decided that charges against five U.S. contractors are not warranted and they will soon be released from custody, according to an Iraqi security source and a source close to the five.

The reason for the contractors’ detention had been unclear.

The five were initially told they were being held in connection with the death last month of another contractor, James Kitterman, said the source close to the five.

But on Monday the men were told they were being held on suspicion of having unregistered weapons, although they were asked about their activities around the time Kitterman was killed.

However, Iraqi government officials told CNN Monday the five were detained as suspects in connection with Kitterman’s slaying.

The Iraqi security source said the five will either be released Wednesday or Thursday. They are waiting to finish the logistical procedures at the police station where they had been held.

None of the five has been charged with a crime.

Kitterman was found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed in a car in Baghdad’s Green Zone on May 22. The 60-year-old from Houston, Texas, owned a construction company that operated in Iraq.

The Green Zone, where Kitterman’s body was discovered, is the high-security area in central Baghdad that contains the U.S. Embassy and key Iraqi government buildings.

Access to the area, formally known as the International Zone, is tightly controlled.

Story here.

——————————————————————-

 Wednesday, June 10, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: Iraqi judge releasing U.S. contractors

Joseph Weber (Contact)

EXCLUSIVE:

Three Americans arrested in connection with the killing of a contractor in Baghdad’s Green Zone are being released Wednesday, said their attorney Timothy M. Haake.

The men are Donald Feeney Jr., 55; son Donald “Buddy” Feeney III, 31; and Mark Bridges, an employee of the Feeneys’ Corporate Training Unlimited security firm.

The case is the first under a 2008 agreement in which U.S. contractors are subject to criminal law in Iraq.

Two other men are being held but also are expected to be released. They have been identified as Micah Milligan, a Corporate Training Unlimited employee, and Jason Jones, employed by another security firm working in Baghdad.

Mr. Haake said no charges have been or were filed against any of the five.

(more…)

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Legal News: Possible CTU Alibis, the Death of James Kitterman, and the Iraq SOFA

Filed under: Iraq,Legal News — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 1:43 PM

“Don and James were very good friends for a number of years,” Judy Feeney said from her North Carolina home.

She said that her husband wasn’t even in Iraq at the time of Kitterman’s death and said her son and the other CTU employees had solid alibis.

“We’re anticipating a good outcome,” she said. “No charges have been filed and we don’t anticipate that at all.”

Judy Feeney said she has been granted limited contact with anyone in Iraq but that she had heard her husband and son were being treated well while in Iraqi custody. 

    I have been trying to follow this latest deal with CTU and Don Feeney, the CEO, being held by Iraqi authorities in connection with the death of James Kitterman.  One of my readers pointed out that they all had alibis, and could not possibly be responsible. So I went looking for some open source commentary about these alibis.  Here they are. (the last story brings up a law suit against CTU, but I was more concerned with what Judy Feeney had to say)

   If in fact these alibis hold up, then these men should be immediately released. If there are other legal issues in the past with CTU, that is one thing, but this is about the murder of James Kitterman.  And seeing how this is the first true test of the SOFA and Iraq’s ability to administer justice, then we need to keep them honest during the investigation. I will not make any judgements, but I think it is important to present what is floating around out there.

     I despise any efforts by the MSM to demonize these guys, before being charged with anything, and I hope to keep them honest with my little corner of the new media world.  Innocent until proven guilty is the way it must be, and reportage should always reflect that.  Thanks again to the readers and I look forward to any other input.  I welcome anyone from CTU to come forward as well, and correct the record if possible. –Matt

—————————————————————–  

    Here is a link to SOCNET and conversation about CTU and the death of James Kitterman.  According to the discussion, there is an alibi.  Here is the quote from Sniper111:

The names have been released and Don Feeney is one of them.

The Iraqi MG Hussein Ali Kamal can’t even figure out who Jim and Don worked for (they each owned separate companies and didn’t work for ANYONE) much less figure out who killed Jim- a man I consider a personal friend.

Kind of funny how 5 people could have managed to fit into Jim’s vehicle and stab him while they were putting out Larry Young’s hooch while it was actively on fire after taking a mortar round and helping the IZ Police and Baghdad Fire.

All individuals detained have had their whereabouts verified at the time of the killing. The Iraqis simply needed to be seen to “do something” so they arrested everybody in sight. Interestingly enought hey did not arrest the one person who stood to gain several million dollars who DID work with Kitterman….. but that is simply speculation on my part.

I’d take this as notice that the Iraqis will lock up whoever they damn well want to, regardless of evidence or even a concise thought process. If I hadn’t been injured and sent home I’d probably be sitting right next to them- the time to pop smoke and vacate that shithole is now.

He also stated this about Larry Young, who died in a mortar attack at the time. 

Larry’s wife has tickets to the US bought by CTU although the older child’s passport got burned up and Sue is pressing the Iraqis to get it done with help from State. I’m working on getting them into the States permanently considering her sister is here already married to a US MP it should be somewhat easier. They need to get out of there and have a chance ata better life.

Link to discussion here. 

—————————————————————– 

Murray mother’s longing for justice may be satisfied

Iraq death » She feels cheated by a mercenary who employed her son when killed in Iraq. The mercenary is now in Iraqi custody.

By Matthew D. LaPlante

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 06/07/2009 12:49:40 PM MDT

Four years had passed since her son had died in an explosion in Baghdad and Carol Thomas Young was getting no closer to knowing why.

(more…)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Legal News: Five U.S. Contractors Held in Slaying of James Kitterman

Filed under: Crime,Iraq,Legal News — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 3:22 PM

    Wow, this story is getting deeper.  I do not have the inside track on this thing and if any readers have anything pertinent to add, post it in the comments section.  Or you can email me in private through the contact form.-Matt

—————————————————————– 

Five U.S. contractors held in slaying of another in Iraq

June 6, 2009

    * Story Highlights

    * NEW: Weapons confiscated in raid of suspects’ firm, official says

    * Five arrested in death of fellow contractor James Kitterman

    * Kitterman found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed

    * Victim owned a construction company that operated in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Five American security contractors were detained in connection with the killing of another American contractor last month inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Saturday.

Iraqi and U.S. personnel took the five into custody in an operation inside the Green Zone before dawn on Friday, according to an Iraqi official involved in the investigation into the killing of James Kitterman. The five, who have not yet been charged, were being held by Iraqi security forces Saturday at a jail inside the heavily protected zone, he said.

The troops also confiscated weapons during the raid on the suspects’ firm at about 4 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

(more…)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Legal News: Don Ayala Given Probation

Filed under: Afghanistan,Legal News — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 5:55 PM

   Interesting conclusion, and I wish the Ayala and Loyd families all the best as they try to heal and move on from this heart wrenching deal.  –Matt

—————————————————————– 

Don Ayala and Paula Loyd

This undated photo made available Thursday, May 7, 2009 by the U.S. District Court shows military contractors Don Ayala, left, and Paula Loyd. On Friday, May 8, 2009, a judge must decide what is appropriate justice for Ayala, convicted of manslaughter while serving as a military contractor in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/US District Court) 

Ex-contractor given probation in slaying of Afghan

By MATTHEW BARAKAT 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former military contractor was sentenced Friday to probation for shooting and killing a handcuffed prisoner in Afghanistan.

Don Ayala of New Orleans pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges that normally would carry up to eight years in prison. But U.S. District Senior Judge Claude Hilton decided probation was warranted under the circumstances. The man whom Ayala shot had set fire to one of Ayala’s colleagues minutes before the shooting.

After the Nov. 4 attack on anthropologist Paula Loyd, Ayala helped subdue the man, Abdul Salam. When Ayala learned the extent of Loyd’s burns, he shot Salam at close range.

Ayala was sentenced to five years on probation and a $12,500 fine.

Ayala, 46, initially was charged with murder — the first military contractor charged with the crime while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

(more…)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Legal News: Rep. David Price Introduces the Transparency and Accountability in Security Contracting Act (HR 2177)

Filed under: Industry Talk,Legal News — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 8:47 PM

   Wow, I caught this over at Private Military Herald, and thought it to be pretty cool.  Rep. David Price is introducing some legislation that I think is fantastic.  And please read below what his intentions are, because this is from his personal blog. His goal is not to shut us down, his goal is to find ways to better manage this industry, so we can go out there and do great things for this country and even for this world. Just read this passage from below, and tell me that isn’t motivating?

      As pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have surged, private vessels have increasingly sought protection from security contractors.  As the U.S. presence surges in Afghanistan, experts expect the presence of security contractors to surge as well.  And, as we struggle to confront genocide in Darfur, many have suggested using private contractors in place of U.S. or international troops.  It is critical that we have a regulatory regime in place to effectively manage and oversee security contractors now and in the future – whether in Afghanistan, Sudan, or on the high seas – and that’s why I recently reintroduced my Transparency and Accountability in Security Contracting Act  (H.R. 2177).

      That doesn’t sound like ‘PMC’s are not legitimate forces’ crazy talk or ‘abolish the bloodthirsty mercenaries’ talk, this actually sounds like…gulp…. should I say it?  Acceptance?  Oh say it isn’t so, and Max Weber is certainly rolling in his grave right now. lol  

     Seriously though, I think this is great and let’s see if it passes. In the comments section, I also mentioned that Incident Command would be a good one to throw in there as well, because then that would give us the ability to interact better in disaster relief operations nationally. PSC’s and PMC’s could also be registered in the Federal databases for disaster relief or national security related issues for that matter. I brought up the example of the Katrina Hurricane, and how PSC’s and PMC’s could have used Incident Command, but didn’t because it wasn’t mandated.  That if we were following the 2004 DHS mandate about such things, that effort could have been more organized and more efficient, which absolutely equates to saving lives when time is everything in those types of incidents.

   I also brought up the Federal Fire Services here in the US, and how they have organized and standardized fire fighting protocols for both the federal agencies and private industries involved.  I have talked about that here on FJ before, and this would be one way to implement the legislation outlined below. If any aides for Rep. Price are reading this, please feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more, or use the search feature on FJ.  –Matt

—————————————————————— 

Better Oversight on Private Security Contractors (Rep. David Price)

May 1st, 2009

When I first started working to improve management and oversight of Private Security Contractors (PSCs) in 2004, observers described Iraq as a Wild West – a place where PSCs could shoot up buildings and people without any law enforcement in sight.  Indeed, between 2004 and 2007, there were numerous incidents in which rogue contractors attacked innocent civilians without any repercussion.  The infamous 2007 incident in which Blackwater contractors killed 17 civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square was the shocking coda to this era.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress