Congratulations! Your immunity has been pre-approved!
If you're Blackwater, that is. ABC:
The wording of the immunity is included at the beginning of the Blackwater guards' sworn statements, which have been obtained by ABC News.
In each of the statements, the guards begin by saying "I understand this statement is being given in furtherance of an official administrative inquiry," and that, "I further understand that neither my statements nor any information or evidence gained by reason of my statements can be used against me in a criminal proceeding, except that if I knowingly and willfully provide false statements or information, I may be criminally prosecuted for that action under 18 United States Code, Section 1001."
The immunity deal was granted in the immediate aftermath of the shooting by State Department officials in Iraq who were under intense pressure to quickly explain what happened in the face of allegations by Iraqi officials that the contractors murdered civilians in cold blood.
Not a bad deal. This is my favorite part, though:
Rule of Law, Desert Style
Hmm. Seems the Little People in Iraq think they should have things like "justice" n stuff. Good luck with that:
By Mariam Karouny
BAGHDAD, July 10 (Reuters) - Iraq will ask the United Nations to end immunity from local law for U.S. troops, the human rights minister said on Monday, as the military named five soldiers charged in a rape-murder case that has outraged Iraqis.
In an interview a week after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded a review of foreign troops' immunity, Wigdan Michael said work on it was now under way and a request could be ready by next month to go to the U.N. Security Council, under whose mandate U.S.-led forces are in control of Iraq.



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