Which U.S. Contractor Broke Crooked Iraqi Out of Prison?
It’s a prime example of the lawlessness in Iraq. The details are sketchy and disputed, but here they are: An Iraqi corruption judge, continually thwarted in his pursuit of justice, finally helps convict a high-ranking official. But then the official breaks out of jail. Or, rather, the official is helped out of jail by guards working for one defense contractor, but is then returned — only to leave jail with the help of another. Allegedly. Testimony today from Iraqi corruption judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi touched on the conviction of Ayham al-Samarrai, the former Iraqi electricity minister. al-Radhi helped put al-Samarrai away for what the judge called “wasting” public funds. al-Samarrai is the highest-ranking official to be convicted of corruption in Iraq. His name may be familiar to Blackwater watchers. Last month, an Iraqi defense official told McClatchy’s Leila Fadel that Blackwater helped break al-Samarrai out of prison in the Green Zone last December. Today, however, al-Radhi sugges
