Tuesday, February 03, 2009

AP reports that then-Deputy Defense Secretary England opined that Blackwater contractors weren't subject to MEJA

Via the WaPo web site, here's an AP piece reporting that "Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England wrote [in late 2007] to Rep. David E. Price (D-N.C.) that the [Blackwater] contractors 'were not engaged in employment in support of the DoD mission' and that therefore federal prosecutors lack jurisdiction to charge the Blackwater guards." The AP also reports that a Pentagon spokesperson said yesterday "that England's view remains that of the department."

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

All of this fails to address the possibility of charging Blackwater employees under 18 U.S.C. 7(9). This was the provision used to charge (and convict) CIA contractor David Passaro. Granted, the ability to use this provision would depend on where the alleged crime took place.

Anonymous said...

This may sound like I have inside information: The alleged crime took place in the middle of Baghdad.

Anonymous said...

***Granted, the ability to use this provision would depend on where the alleged crime took place.***

It took place on a public street in Baghdad. So your argument is that:

1. The street was a public street; that

2. led to the green zone; and

3. the green zone contains residences; and

4. the street contained, from time to time United States personnel assigned to those missions.

How are you arguing that the public land the street is built on is appurtenant or ancillary to the residences?

Anonymous said...

Why don't we just charge them under the War Crimes Act?

egn said...

"then-Deputy Secretary of Defense England" remains the current Deputy Secretary of Defense England.

Unless there's something I've missed during my temporary sequestration?