US army drops murder charges in slaying of Iraq boys

[Lurks Often]

4. Not exactly accurate

It wasn't immunity, it was a disagreement over who would try Americans in the case of alleged crime. The Iraqi government wanted the ability to try and convict Americans accused of crimes. The US government refused and retained the right to try Americans accused of crimes.

Historically it's always been that way, although there have been cases where the US turned over servicemen to the host country to face trial. Japan springs to mind as a country we have turned people over to them.

My guess is that the historical reason for this has been a combination of : they are Americans and as such they have a right to a trial under American law; it's the United States responsibility to try and convict them and it prevents politically motivated charges by the host country.

Do things always work out the way we want, no, of course not and sometimes the US will allow the host country to try the American of the alleged crime.