Contractor Accountability. Finally.

• A federal judge in Washington ruled yesterday that a civil lawsuit alleging abuse and torture at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq can go forward against a U.S. military contractor, setting the stage for what could be the first case in a U.S. civilian court to weigh accountability for the notorious abuses in 2003.

• "A military contractor is going to have to think twice about the arrangements it works out with the government when it is brought in to play a role the military has typically played," said David Remes, a Washington lawyer who has represented Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Contractors are going to be a big part of future military missions and ground rules really need to be established. Not just re-writing some manuals and regulations - making contractors responsible for the consequences of their own actions and decisions. The money they make is huge and hopefully stricter standards and a lack of immunity will keep out all but the most professional types. If that leads us to a shortage of contractors, fine. Do it right or not at all - in war as in life.
- posted by john @ 4:50 PM