2 ex-Blackwater guards charged with murder

Los Angeles Times ^ | 1/7/10 | LAT

[granite]

Both Cannon, of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Drotleff, of Virginia Beach, Va., have said in recent interviews with the AP that they were justified when they opened fire on a threatening vehicle last year. Blackwater, now known as Xe, fired both men after the shooting for failing to comply with the terms of their contract.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Can they do this to civilians who allegedly committed an ordinary crime abroad?

[cardinal4]

Who charged them?

[trumandogz]

"Can they do this to civilians who allegedly committed an ordinary crime abroad?"

If they prefer, I am sure they could request to be prosecuted by the authorities in Afghanistan.

However, I doubt they would prefer that option.

[granite]

The indictment charges Justin Cannon, 27, and Chris Drotleff, 29, with second-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. Both of them are in custody, said Peter Carr, a spokesman with the U.S. attorney's office in Virginia's eastern district.

[Red Steel]

The investigation opens a new front in the U.S. government's attempt to increase oversight of contractor activities in war zones after a series of problems in Iraq strained relations between Washington and Baghdad.

Anti-American Eric Holder again with another dubious prosecution of Americans in a war zone.

[Frantzie]

Blackwater WAS the real CIA. The CIA now is filled with paper pushers, Obama goons and ACORN types.

[Frantzie]

Blackwater WAS the real CIA. The CIA now is filled with paper pushers, Obama goons and ACORN types.

[Frantzie]

Blackwater WAS the real CIA. The CIA now is filled with paper pushers, Obama goons and ACORN types.

[crosslink]

I would ask all my brother contractors to boycott protecting anyone in this administration. I would institute the boycotts on a rolling basis after I had escorted them outside the wire and say KISS MY ASS, I’m afraid of being prosecuted you better find your way back.

[Cyropaedia]

Eric Holder is an absolute disgrace.

[OldDeckHand]

"Can they do this to civilians who allegedly committed an ordinary crime abroad?"

Yes. It was a piece of legislation signed by Bill Clinton in 2000 called The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act of 2000 (MEJA) - 18 U.S.C. §§ 3261 - 3267. There was some additional language inserted in several other pieces of legislation signed by Bush that expand or refine these powers, FWIW.

I suspect when Eric Holder is finished, most of Xe (Blackwater) will be behind bars, along with dozens of our own special forces operators. Welcome to Obama's new world order.

[Palter]

This is what happens when you don’t get congress to grant letters of marque, which would have covered them. Not good.

[Red Steel]

Since Holder got rebuked in Utah when the judge threw out the case against Blackwater, he’s having a snit and wants to rebound at the expense of these two guys.

[marron]

Holder is AQ’s defense counsel. Seriously.

So is Bob Bauer, White House counsel.

This White House recruits its staff from Al Qaeda’s legal team.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I guess it beared repeating.

[Perdogg]

Rummy was right about Langley.

[cyberaxe]

.....this does not bode well for our future.....

[jjm2111]

I’d love to see Eric Holder and co. left alone and unarmed in some of the wilder parts of Afghanistan.

[Truth29]

"I’d love to see Eric Holder and co. left alone and unarmed in some of the wilder parts of Afghanistan."

I'd settle for some of the wilder parts of DC. It is certainly more convenient and they would get an education in the chaos of emergency, split second response situations.