If you are keeping track...

Security contractors in Iraq are immune from the laws of Iraq. Because that's how you spread freedom, or something.

Security contractors have immunity from Iraqi law under a provision put into place in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq.

This comes to light as 17 civillians were killed by a security force. Certainly no one at this point (well, no one who is talking, anyway) if the killings were justified, but we do know now that the security force was given immunity by the state department.