Thanks to Matt for sending me this one. I am disappointed with this decision, and this is yet again another attack on a ruling determined in U.S. Federal Court. When was it alright for the US Government to make appeasing Iraq, more important than respecting the rights of it’s US Citizens? Prosecutors completely violated the defendant’s constitutional rights, and the Judge made his ruling. So now we are using the full weight of the US Government legal system, to try and appeal that ruling? Pfffft. Not to mention that the second in command of the US has become the mouthpiece for such an ugly thing.
Or why is this ok for the US Government to purposely go after these men with this kind of fervor and disregard for their service to nation, yet when it comes to prisoners in Gitmo, we catch and release them? And then these jackasses go on to kill innocents, or worse yet, US citizens and soldiers. I am no legal expert, but at face value, this whole thing is a truck full of ‘wrong’. –Matt
Edit: 01/26/2010 – Check out what the defense has to say about it this. I put it in the comments section.
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U.S. will appeal Blackwater court ruling: Biden
Jan 23, 2010
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday his government would appeal against a court decision to dismiss charges against Blackwater security guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians.
The U.S. federal court decision last month, which found that the defendants’ constitutional rights had been violated, angered Iraqis. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government has hired U.S. lawyers to prepare a law suit against Blackwater, a security contractor now called Xe Services.
“The United States will appeal this decision,” Biden said on a visit to Baghdad. Referring to the court ruling, he said “a dismissal is not an acquittal,” and that the U.S. government would lodge the appeal next week.
The former Blackwater security guards were accused of killing the Iraqis at a Baghdad traffic circle in September 2007.
The incident came to symbolize for Iraqis what they saw as foreigners’ disregard for their lives after private guards protecting U.S. personnel were given immunity from prosecution in Iraqi courts following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
It also threw a critical light on the U.S. use of private security contractors in Iraq.
The guards say they fired in self-defense in the incident, which occurred during some of the worst sectarian violence in Iraq.
Story here.