USA. Fort Irwin, California. 2011. A mock courtroom for soldiers deploying to Iraq. This training exercise simulated an Iraqi criminal trial. An American Army lawyer set forth evidence to prosecute an “insurgent” for ties
to resistance groups. After hearing arguments from both sides and reviewing evidence, the Iraqi
“judge” dismissed the case. During the war, American lawyers were rarely obliged to engage
with the Iraqi criminal justice system. Many detainees were held for long stretches without
trials. No American soldiers were prosecuted by Iraqi courts. In October 2011, President Obama
announced that all U.S. troops would withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year. Although the
American and Iraqi governments hoped to keep five thousand American soldiers to assist in
training the fledgling Iraqi security forces, negotiations broke down after the Pentagon insisted
that American soldiers retain full immunity under Iraqi law. The Iraqi government refused, the
deal collapsed, and the last American soldiers left Iraq in December 2011.