In Our Name, Beyond Our Laws?: Private Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan

A conversation with Susan Burke and Jeremy Scahill about private military contractors, human rights, and the future of warfare.

Jeremy Scahill is the author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army and a Fellow at The Nation Institute. His book was a groundbreaking effort in exposing the political and moral conflicts surrounding one of the most notorious private military contractors in the Iraq War. He has since become an authority on Private Military Contractors, and is a frequent contributor to The Nation magazine, and a regular guest on Democracy Now and The Rachel Maddow Show.

Susan Burke is a partner with Burke ONeil LLC, a law firm specializing in International Human Rights law. The firm is currently bringing civil actions against private military contractors in Iraq in an effort to hold the companies accountable for the various human rights abuses they have committed throughout the conflict. Susan serves as lead counsel on a number of these cases, specifically those related to the shootings of Iraqi civilians by Blackwater Xe employees and the torture of Iraqi victims at the Abu Ghraib prison by private military contractors.

Time: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 8 p.m.

Location: Jerome Greene Hall, Room 104, Columbia University, New York City

Sponsor: Amnesty International - Columbia University

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