A Misplaced Criticism of American Justice

The New York Times ran an article a few days ago concerning the ongoing trial of five mercenaries belonging to Blackwater company who shot 17 civilians dead in Nisour Square, Baghdad. The article is called "Blackwater? So Many Others", and it argues that the Blackwater prosecution is just a photo-op, a show to prove the USA is taking care of business, but that it obfuscates the hundreds of other similar killings that are perpetrated by lawless gangs and terrorists in the country.

But there is a difference between Blackwater killing 17 civilians and one of Sadr's lackeys blowing him (or her) self up to kill as many. And the USA is justified for treating this case much more seriously, and at a much higher profile. 

Iraq's army and police force are nowhere near being able to secure the country of their own accord, and thus the US Army, along with all the UN troops, all international troops, and all mercenaries such as Blackwater contracted by them, are acting as provisional law enforcement for Iraq. As such, it is a much, much bigger deal when these people, invested with the trust of civilians, instead end up massacring the people they are supposed to protect. In addition to the obvious question of justice this raises, it is symptomatic of a failing state agency, which is a much more serious problem than sporadic, if vicious, terrorist attacks. The dozens that die in terrorist attacks in Iraq undoubtedly need to be covered more. 55 died just today in one blast in Kirkuk. But this trial, and the persecution of justice with regards to these murderers, needs to be even more closely watched.