Blackwater massacre suspects' case thrown out

BBC News - US judge dismisses charges in Blackwater Iraq killings
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...123101936.html

No charges brought, but apparently appeal is still on the table. A related article talked about the civil case still being brought against the men, but the Washington Post seems to think that the U.S. attorney's office needs to start from scratch. The judge detailed that the attorneys used inadmittable statements in their search for evidence, and then tainted witnesses with the selfsame statements.

This does not bode well.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Blackwater is a private military organization that is above the law, and run by christian fascists who love Pinochet.

Make way for President-for-Life Erik Prince

To be fair, the most damning evidence came from the mercs themselves and was considered inadmissable because they were compelled to answer by Blackwater. They'd have been fired if they didn't answer the questions of the probe.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

That certainly doesn't sound any less insidious.

All I'm saying is full compliance rates pretty low on the corporate villainy to-do list. They might be a corrupt organization, but we shouldn't fault them for the mistakes of the prosecution.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by China

Yes, we should fault Blackwater and prosecution for all mistakes made. It is such complacency which has led to our declinining status on the World Stage. Blackwater/Xe operatives in the Middle East answered only to the Bush Administration, and probably still do. Bush got out clean and he's taking his boys with him.

It's not complacency, it's due process. Now, as for how to handle operatives who are not accountable to military officials, it's a separate legislative issue, and has no place in the trial.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?