This is just a follow up to the story I posted earlier about lifting the immunity of security contractors from Iraqi law. I have been following the security industry forums out there, and there seems to be two schools of thought forming on this issue.
The first school of thought is ‘deal with it’. That security contractors have been operating in countries all over the world, and working under the laws of other countries for a long time now and Iraq is no different. Big boy rules they say. blah blah blah (I hate the term ‘big boy rules’- that is ‘manager speak’ for I could care less what you think and deal with it)
The other school of thought is ‘no way’. That Iraq is still a weakened state, and really does not have the capacity to deal with this issue. That their legal system is not insulated from corruption and the infiltrations of the enemy. And because there are so many questions that have not been answered with this latest move, that guys are really not interested in being the guinea pig for these new set of operational rules.
My personal belief on this is that security contractors are already covered by UCMJ, and that we should be off limits to Iraqi law until the war is over and Iraq has a fully functioning government and legal system. I also think that it is extremely hypocritical for the DOD and DOS to expect security contractors to fall under Iraqi law, but not put their own military/government personnel under Iraqi law?
And in my observations on the forums, it seems that most are not too happy with this at all. –Head Jundi
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Contractors oppose move to end immunity from Iraqi law
By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, July 5, 2008
Contractors working for the U.S. military in Iraq say a move to end their immunity from Iraqi law would make many leave their jobs instead of face a justice system they do not trust.
Earlier this week, the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said the immunity issue was one of the American concessions made in ongoing negotiations over a long-term security agreement. Since the announcement, contractors — both current and former workers in Iraq — have been buzzing about its implications. There are an estimated 180,000 foreign contractors working in Iraq, more than there are U.S. troops in the country. More than 1,000 have been killed.
“Having worked for two years and two months in Iraq, I can tell you without a doubt, I would in no way work if I fell under Iraqi Law,” a deputy sheriff who trains Iraqi police said in an e-mail to Stars and Stripes. “Are you kidding? You wouldn’t be able to get but the most desperate people to work if they fell under their ridiculous laws.”