Mood:  irritated

Here's a quick shot bc I'm running off to get ready for work. This morning's NY Times reported that the FBI has concluded 14 of the 17 shootings of Iraqi civilians by Blackwater employees on September 16, 2007, were unjustified, but the Justice Dept. may not be able to charge these employees with crimes bc US laws concerning the actions of American security personnel overseas are pretty sketchy. Here's what Representative David Price had to say about that little wrinkle:

“Just because there are deficiencies in the law, and there certainly are,” Mr. Price said, “that can’t serve as an excuse for criminal actions like this to be unpunished. I hope the new attorney general makes this case a top priority. He needs to announce to the American people and the world that we uphold the rule of law and we intend to pursue this.”

Let's recap: Just bc the law doesn't allow us to charge these people with a crime, that shouldn't stop us from charging them with a crime.

Now, maybe it's just bc my Charles is a lawyer, but I found that kind of disturbing coming from a member of Congress, don't you? Not that I think murder should be allowed, but you know, I kind of like the idea of the people who write our laws having a little more respect for following them.

But, oh wait, I forgot - this quote was brought to you by the creators of the Patriot Act.

*sighs and slithers off in impotent rage*