Blackwater bodyguards promised immunity
State Department gave protection to all guards in deadly Iraq incident

Blackwater has said its Sept. 16 convoy was under attack before it opened fire, killing 17 Iraqis. An investigation by the Iraqi government concluded that guards, like the ones shown, were unprovoked.

WASHINGTON - The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month’s deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

As a result, it will likely be months before the United States can — if ever — bring criminal charges in the case that has infuriated the Iraqi government.

“Once you give immunity, you can’t take it away,â€