Republican Senator John McCain has joined calls for the appeal of the dismissal of criminal charges against five Blackwater operatives involved in the 2007 Nisoor Square massacre of seventeen Iraqi civilians. Last week a federal judge in Washington threw out all charges against the five Blackwater operatives, citing prosecutor misconduct. On a visit to Iraq, McCain said the Justice Department should appeal the decision.

Sen. John McCain: “We do respect the rule of law. We hope and believe that the ruling will be appealed. Our sympathy goes out to the families of those who were killed and injured in this very unfortunate and unnecessary incident. And so, we deeply regret that this decision was made, but it is in accordance with the rule of law.”