Report Says Iraq Contractors Operate With Impunity (2/3)

The report generally praises the U.S. military, saying it has a substantial criminal justice team deployed to Iraq to investigate allegations against soldiers.

It says some 60 U.S. military personnel have been court-martialed in connection with the deaths of Iraqi citizens and more are under investigation.

The report by Human Rights First says contractors are essential to the American mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Scott Horton, a law professor at Columbia University and the senior consultant for the report, says most contractors in Iraq abide by the law.

"The great majority of the contractors involved, including the security contractors, are conscientious, dedicated professionals who are out there at great personal risk, performing magnificently. So we should not view this as tarring the entire group of contractors or even the entire group of security contractors, but it is a question of accountability."

Doug Brooks is the President of the International Peace Operations Association, an organization that represents security contractors that operate in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Brooks says companies that employ individuals who commit serious crimes fire those employees and send them home. But he says it is very difficult to gather evidence, interview witnesses and prosecute crimes committed in a war zone.

参考译文：

报告大致称赞美国军方安排了一个庞大的刑事司法小组到伊拉克进行调查被指控的士兵。

它说，大约60个美国军方人员因涉嫌导致伊拉克平民死亡受到军事法庭审判，还有更多人员接受调查。

人权第一组织提交的该报告说，承包商对美国在伊拉克和阿富汗的军事任务作用重大。

哥伦比亚大学法律教授斯科特霍顿是该报告的高级顾问，他说，大多数在伊拉克的承包商遵守法律。

"涉及到的大部份承包商，包括安全承包商，是认真、敬业的专业人士，他们在那里冒着极大的个人危险，表现出色。 所以我们不应该认为这是给整个承包商集团或整个安全承包商集团抹黑，但它是一个责任心的问题" 。

道格布鲁克斯先生是国际和平行动协会的主席，该组织代表在伊拉克，阿富汗和其他地方的安全承包商。

布鲁克斯表示，公司会解雇那些犯下严重罪行的雇员，并送他们回家。但是他说，在战区很难收集证据，会见证人和起诉罪行。