In the sovereign state of Iraq, when the government determines that contractors employed by their honored guests, the U.S. government, have committed a crime — for example, by mowing down innocent civilians — the harshest punishment they can threaten is that the contractor will probably no longer be allowed to make money hand over fist in Iraq:

A U.S. State Department motorcade came under attack in Baghdad on Sunday, prompting security contractors guarding the convoy to open fire in the streets. At least nine civilians were killed, according to Iraqi officials.

The shootout occurred in the downtown neighborhood of Mansour at midday after an explosion detonated near the convoy, police said. In response, the security contractors “escalated the force to defend themselves,” a U.S. Embassy official in Baghdad said.

Iraqi officials alleged that the response by the security company, which was not named, involved excessive force and killed innocent civilians. The Iraqi government will investigate the incident and “probably will withdraw the authority for this security company in Baghdad,” said Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf, an Interior Ministry spokesman.

“The security company contractors opened fire randomly on the civilians,” he said. “We consider this act a crime.”

Early Monday, Iraqi state television reported that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had condemned the “criminal operation” in Mansour and said he would “punish” the private security company and shut down its operations.

It is, of course, good to be the King. But being a security contractor to those who lord it over Iraq seems to come pretty close.

I didn’t realize that these security companies have their own combat helicopters:

A Washington Post employee in the area at the time of the shooting witnessed security company helicopters firing into the streets near Nisoor Square in Mansour. Witnesses said they saw dead and wounded people on the pavement.

Do they have their own battle tanks too? Maybe the odd B-52 bomber?

The U.S. Embassy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident was under investigation and that he could provide no further details.

No doubt, once the investigation is complete, the U.S. embassy will provide full details, and make it clear whether the rampage was unwarranted and indefensible? After all, as el Presidente once said in only a slightly different context:

One of the things that happens in a transparent society like ours is that there is — there will be a full and complete investigation. The world will see the full and complete investigation.
[…]
The United States of America has got a willingness to deal with issues like this in an up-front way, in an open way, and correct problems. And that’s what you’re going to see unfold.

Maybe now that Bush has turned over a new leaf and all, his administration will actually start delivering on that promise?

*** Update, 6:30 am ***

The security contractor in question has turned out to be the infamous Blackwater USA. And the Iraqi government has already pulled their license. For now, at least.

Iraq announced on Monday it had withdrawn the license of a U.S. security firm and would prosecute employees it said were involved in a shooting in Baghdad in which 11 people were killed.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said security personnel working for contractors Blackwater had opened fire after mortar rounds landed near their cars in Nusour Square in the western Baghdad district of Mansour.
[...]
Thousands of private security contractors, many of them American and European, have worked in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Many Iraqis believe they operate outside the law with little accountability either to the Iraqi government or U.S. military forces.

Just Iraqis, huh?