over the cliff, onto the rocks.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

"He was like, 'Of course you're going to talk to CID, Mom. Of course you are.'" Smith smiles. "He doesn't think people should be allowed to wear his uniform and act like that. He's been in the war too and says it's no excuse. They're better trained than that. That's what my son thought. And he's not angry at his mom."

4 comments:

Steve Bates said...: It seems as if at least KBR facilities in Iraq have become, like Guantanamo, a "law-free zone."

I am still mind-boggled over the notion that one can sign away one's right to a trial in a case of sexual assault. Surely that would not happen on U.S. soil: a contract compelling arbitration in a case of rape?

Then again, I've realized there are many crimes that were once "impossible" that are now commonplace. Who knows what we face next.; Sunday, April 06, 2008 1:12:00 AM
hipparchia said...: I am still mind-boggled over the notion that one can sign away one's right to a trial in a case of sexual assault. Surely that would not happen on U.S. soil: a contract compelling arbitration in a case of rape?

and yet that's very close to what seems to be happening here: she's a u.s. citizen, raped by another u.s. citizen[s?], while working for a u.s. corporation, in an area ostensibly under u.s. control, and the crime was covered up by other u.s. citizens.; Sunday, April 06, 2008 3:06:00 PM
Steve Bates said...: Agreed on all points; it is very close indeed to what is happening in this case. My comment speaks more to my credulous nature than to the reality of contracts women sign when they go to work for KBR. What astonishes me is that it is even legally possible to sign away a right not to be physically violated.; Sunday, April 06, 2008 6:38:00 PM
hipparchia said...: well, kbr will certainly be claiming that, and under our present administration, they might get away with it. they've got the deep pockets to fight her, and her choices are limited to some extent because of her family's health insurance situation. an unholy perversion of that scene in forrest gump.

under any other definition of criminal, this would go straight to the criminal courts.; Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:49:00 PM