WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

The immunity deal has delayed a criminal inquiry into the Sept. 16 killings and could undermine any effort to prosecute security contractors for their role in the incident that has infuriated the Iraqi government.

“Once you give immunity, you can’t take it away,” said a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.

State Department officials declined to confirm or deny that immunity had been granted. One official - who refused to be quoted by name- said: “If, in fact, such a decision was made, it was done without any input or authorization from any senior State Department official in Washington.”

This story is incredibly hilarious, I am guessing it’s an inside joke and you would just have to either be a part OF it or know exactly what the punch line is to fully understand the immense hilarity of it, but I have been rolling ever since I saw this one…

It appears that someone in State gave the Blackwater USA guys immunity?? Surely even the most uneducated can see the outrageous humor in THAT statement??

Look, I have known guys that were in the business, and they are rolling right now too, let’s face it, call them what you will, security contractors, hired guns, whatever, if you’re so stupid as to write a carte blanche check to a merc or a spook, you had better damn well believe he IS going to cash it, these guys aren’t out there for their health, they aren’t stupid, they don’t stay alive by being stupid, but someone in State is seriously in need of an education in how real life works…

Officials said the Blackwater bodyguards spoke only after receiving so-called “Garrity” protections, requiring that their statements only be used internally - and not for criminal prosecutions.

At that point, the Justice Department shifted the investigation to prosecutors in its national security division, sealing the guards’ statements and attempting to build a case based on other evidence from a crime scene that was then already two weeks old.

The FBI has re-interviewed some of the Blackwater employees, and one official said Monday that at least several of them have refused to answer questions, citing their constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. Any statements that the guards give to the FBI could be used to bring criminal charges.

“Sir, I have NO knowledge of that event” or, try this one, “Sir, I don’t seem to recall that particular event”, because we all know that the memory is a fragile thing and can be shattered, at least temporarily, by the post stress of armed combat, and then there’s always the use of American Constitutional Law, my favorite, “I am invoking my rights under the 5th amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America…”, I just love that one, and what the hell, it’s worked so well over the years…

Blackwater’s contract with the State Department expires in May and there are questions whether it will remain as the primary contractor for diplomatic bodyguards. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said his Cabinet is drafting legislation that would force the State Department to replace Blackwater with another security company.

Again, I am laughing my ass off, this is rocket science at it’s very best, al-Maliki and the Iraqis are going to force State to replace Blackwater USA with another security firm?? Genius, sheer genius I tell you, why didn’t anyone else think of that?? Well, I’ll tell you why…

Every one of those guys that works for Blackwater USA already has a new job waiting for them with the new company, whoever it may be that will be brought in to replace Blackwater USA, high speed, low drag, 1st class operators are at a premium on todays market, and make no mistake about it, they are a high value item, there are only so many to go around, really competent and trustworthy ones that is, you can get hired cannons all day for a dime a dozen, wannabes that can’t think their way through an episode of ‘Are you Smarter than a 5th grader?’, yeah, those guys, literally, a dime a dozen, the ones you wouldn’t want guarding a bank in your home town, but 1st class professionals are a rare and beautiful thing and worth their weight in gold if they really are good enough to keep you alive…

And again I ask, how many diplomats has Blackwater USA lost under their watch?? Anyone??

It will be quite easy for these guys to slip back in under the noses of the Iraqis and go right back to work after a week or 2 off, and they can afford to take that week or 2, but can our diplomats and other officials afford to be without them for that long?? Can they afford to have their personal security compromised over some petty BS like this??

I think not, but that’s something the guys at State will have to decide for themselves the 1st time a diplomatic procession that’s NOT being protected by Blackwater USA comes under enemy attack, I can’t wait to hear the survivors screaming about lack of firepower or the operators inability to take effective action, if there ARE any survivors…

Full Story Here:
Immunity Deal Hampers Blackwater Inquiry

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