Prosecution of U.S. Contractors

A bill was passed by a 389-to-30 vote, that would allow the United States to prosecute contractors in the Iraq war zone. Previous to this bill contractors actions were outside of the law of the United States and outside of Iraqi law. A shooting on September 16 where 11 Iraqi people were killed led to this bill. Thecontractor is question is known as Blackwater and this contractor says that it had been a "rush to judgement" over the shooting. Former Navy SEAL and founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, says that his staff acted "appropriately" during the shooting. Whether justified or not this shooting awoke many people to the seemingly lawless circumstances these contractors are permitted to act under. This bill would require the F.B.I. to investigate every allegation of wrongdoing by this type of contractor though, "Even if enacted, the House bill would have no retroactive authority over past conduct by Blackwater or other contractors.". There is a previous law that brings contractors working with American troops under United States criminal law, but seeing as these contractors are not working with troops they are uneffected by these rarely enforced laws. It is unclear in what location this bill would be effective and how well it would work. According to Republican critics this bill is weak and will make murky situations murkier.

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