Five U.S. contractors held in slaying of another in Iraq

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: CNN

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Five American security contractors were detained in connection with the killing of another American contractor last month inside Baghdad's Green Zone, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Saturday.

Iraqi and U.S. personnel took the five into custody in an operation inside the Green Zone before dawn on Friday, according to an Iraqi official involved in the investigation into the killing of James Kitterman. The five, who have not yet been charged, were being held by Iraqi security forces Saturday at a jail inside the heavily protected zone, he said.

The troops also confiscated weapons during the raid on the suspects' firm at about 4 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The names of the suspects and the company they work for were not released. The U.S. military declined comment and referred questions to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Embassy officials did not immediately respond to request for comments.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/06/iraq.green.zone.killing/index.html

---

What, no honor among mercenaries? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say!

[MADem]

1. This story is pretty doggone creepy, IMO. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. weird story. Wonder if we'll ever get more details.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. "the US embassy in Iraq has not confirmed who they are ..."

Odd, to say the least.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8088152.stm

[pinniped]

2. All names are secret, huh?

?

[Snazzy]

3. 200,807 contractors in Iraq/Afghanistan

http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/PS/hot_topics.html

US troops total about 162K (based on Jan Wiki figures)

Yet somehow our outsourcing of war only briefly captures the attention when one of these guys shoots someone he's not supposed to.

[ManiacJoe]

11. Good info at that site.

I didn't realize the number of security contractors had dropped to 10422.

[UpInArms]

4. throat slashed - hands tied

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/05/23/iraq.us.man.dead/

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Two Americans were killed in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, one in a rocket attack and the other under mysterious circumstances, officials in Iraq said.

An American man was found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed in a car Friday in the district, formally known as the International Zone, Iraqi security forces said Saturday.

Iraqi officials and the U.S. military were investigating the killing in the Green Zone, which houses Iraqi government offices and the U.S. Embassy.

The victim's throat apparently had been slit and he was stabbed multiple times, Iraqi security forces said. The man was found in a sport utility vehicle. His hands were tied behind his back.

...more...

[undeterred]

5. Detained by whom?

I thought contractors were not bound by us law or military law.

[MADem]

7. I think when they rewrote the SOFA they included them under the

umbrella of State-delegated-to-Defense, at least at the outset.

If they're charged with anything, I think they get shipped home to stand before a federal judge.

I'd be interested in hearing details, too, about how they're brought to justice. I haven't kept up.

[eppur_se_muova]

by Iraqis ... who may try them in Iraq.

"The new security agreement lays out the terms of the US withdrawal and sets guidelines for the conduct of US troops while they remain in Iraq.

It allows US soldiers to be tried in Iraqi courts, but only in cases of serious, premeditated crimes committed while off-base and off-duty.

However, private contractors, who were previously immune to prosecution in Iraq, are now wholly bound by Iraqi law. "

from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8088152.stm

[undeterred]

10. Well I sure wouldn't want to be in their shoes.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. self delete - key bounce dupe