Report: Contractors not being prosecuted

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., (right) talks about his concerns on lax oversight of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan during Wednesday’s unveiling of a new Human Rights Watch report on the issue. Seated from left to right are retired Rear Adm. John D. Hutson, former Navy Judge Advocate General; Scott Horton, anti-war activist and international law expert; and Kevin Lanigan, director of Human Rights First’s law and security program.


Report: Contractors not being prosecuted
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, January 17, 2008

WASHINGTON — Human rights activists and a pair of lawmakers blasted the Department of Justice on Wednesday for what they called lax oversight of U.S. contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying it hurts troops’ missions and morale.

In a report issued by Human Rights First, officials said the department has shown “an attitude of apparent indifference toward violent crimes” committed by contractors in Iraq.

The critics on Wednesday said the justice department officials have adequate legal tools to investigate and punish offenders, but so far have not completed one criminal prosecution against a private contractor in cases involving the death of Iraqi civilians. More than 60 such cases have been completed against military personnel.

“There’s an attitude of official indifference at the Department of Justice,” said Scott Horton, an anti-war activist and international law expert. “You only see action when there’s an issue with contractors on the front page day after day.”

Department of Justice officials disputed the report, saying they investigate all criminal cases involving contractors and dismissing the idea that politics could play a role in the outcome.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51695