Ex-Blackwater Guards Sentenced to Prison in 2007 Killings of Iraqi Civilians

[spanone]

In Federal District Court here, the contractors, speaking publicly for the first time since the shooting, were adamant that it was justified.

“I am very sorry for the loss of life,” Mr. Heard said. “But I cannot say in all honesty to the court that I believe I did anything wrong.”

”The verdict is wrong,” Mr. Slatten told the judge. “You know I am innocent, sir.”

But Judge Royce C. Lamberth disagreed. He said he supported the jury’s October verdict and applauded the Justice Department for uncovering the events and presenting to the world “the truth about what happened at Nisour Square.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/us/ex-blackwater-guards-sentenced-to-prison-in-2007-killings-of-iraqi-civilians.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

[malaise]

1. Kicking this to the greatest page

This was the first post on the mercenaries sentences.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. And now I surely am starting to think

that the news release does not go out from the office at the same time, or that they had people (very likely) at the US Court. I admit, I do the best I can with what I have.

[bearssoapbox]

3. Good!

Glad to see that these murderers got what they deserve although they should all have gotten life.

[ManiacJoe]

4. Good news, but a little late.

Two previous threads:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026501711
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026501955

[Brother Buzz]

6. Umm, you might want to look at the time stamps of the three OP's

Just an idea

[JEB]

5. At least they won't become cops for 30 yrs.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. You got that right.

[Hekate]

7. Hallelujah

[sabrina 1]

8. I remember when we used to care about things like this. But that was a long time ago.

I actually thought they were tried a while ago.

I'm glad they were convicted, and hope it is just a beginning because there were massive crimes committed in Iraq. Most of the victims who have tried to get justice, have been turned away by US judges.

Airc with this case, an agreement had been made that US personel would no longer be immune from Iraqi justice.

Bush had declared that US troops and mercs could not be tried in Iraq.

He also removed the US from the ICC, which is why they couldn't handle it.

[heaven05]

9. these POS

deserve every fucking second they will spend behind bars. May they rot there and die, spiritually and have every second of every day with their minds filled with fear and realization of their lost freedom and supremacy over what they did to those whom they considered a lesser human being. ROT PIGS!!!!!

[ronnie624]

10. At least someone is accounting for their crimes.

But the whole of the invasion was far, far worse.

"To initiate a war of aggression… is not only an international crime, it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole," -- judgment at Nuremberg trials

"If certain acts in violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us." -- Justice Robert Jackson, US prosecutor at Nuremberg

[countryjake]

12. K&R!

[Dont call me Shirley]

13. Have fun in prison, your boss ought to be there with you.