Are these the people you wish to support? They make more than three times what our soldiers do, they escalate violence, they have no accountability. Condi Rice and company should feel secure operating under the laws our soldiers operate under. http://act.truemajorityaction.org/t/50/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1194
Those guys scare me, buncha bible thumpin' mercenaries for the religious right, makes me wonder if one of the reasons we're in Iraq is to deplete the US military so Blackwater can take over the military functions of our country. They illegally kill a number of Iraqis, yet somehow there's no accountability, no one goes to jail, what's up with that?
I am not sure how much they are thumping their bibles. They are certainly mercenaries for the current administration. And their presence in Iraq scares me more than most things at the moment. The fact that the American public buys into the press that even though these hired guns earn three times the going salary of our military, they are necessary for the war effort. Think about the savings if we cancelled their contract. Think about the fact that if they were no longer there, the only ones with guns on our side would be following the laws and military guidelines of the US, not some vague outline in a contract that is probably top secret. I remember the reports they were used in Lousiana during the Katrina crisis and the number of accounted for deaths of unarmed citizens. I don't want them deployed in my town, do you? If we allow them to be used in Iraq with impunity, what's their next step? Or have they already taken it? http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/scahill Ask todays crop of candidates where they stand on Blackwater. Where is Hillary on the issue, where is Obama...we have a new SS in power. I am afraid, very afraid.
One thing that should never be privatized is the military and police of a free nation! It will only lead to abuse and corruption. Those that pay their salaries call the shots. And even when the taxpayer actually pays the bill, if it's a contract through a department or sub contractor through a federal department...how many years will it take the taxpayer to find out who was actually calling the shots? By that time they are out of office or dead. Let's not let the mistakes of the 3rd Reich happen again under the guise of democracy and security. I personnally will not be a pawn for indecency or imorality. I'd rather pay more for a force that is accountable to the people of the nation that pays it's check. And I am willing to stop all payments to make it end. Even if that means we didn't win the big game. I don't think that says less about us, it says we are responsible.
You support them by remaining quiet on the issue, much as the German people allowed the SS to gain control and terrorize the world.
You don't hear a whole lot in the news about these guys, but you're right, privatization of the military is a bad idea, because accountability becomes questionable, and security goes to the highest bidder. And sure, one can argue that the tax payers pay their salaries (all 450k per employee), but evidently we have no say over how the money's spent (isn't that what they call taxation without representation?). It might be far fetched to describe them as bible thumpers, true, but they effectively work for the religious right, and it may not be too far fetched to imagine a holy war, in which they are on the side of the religious right.
Should be noted that military privatization was expanded through Clinton's tenure. Eric Prince saw the financial opportunity in this expansion and formed Blackwater in 1997. In addition to Clinton giving lucrative no bid contracts to Haliburton, he also used companies such as DynCorp in the Balkans and Kosovo. Remember the scadal in 1999 in which DynCorp empoyees were involved in a sex slavery and forced prostitution ring that involved children? Everything does not have to be a partisan issue you know.
It has nothing to do with representation. Its taxation without congressional oversight as to where the money goes. Our congress is too busy making sure baseball is drug free.
All true Wacky, no one in this thread mentioned Dems or Repub. just the current admin. and congress who need to act now to stop mercenary military policies. (edit-I do see where the religious right is mentioned, but I do not think they have a thing to do with Blackwater, other than blindly believing anything Bush says)
Thank you, I didn't mean to imply that Blackwater was a partisan organisation. Agreed, and perhaps this is a stretch, but given that Bush and co use the religious right to promote their agenda, it's possible that religion could be used as a tool to promote a holy war. Maybe I should give the mercenaries in Blackwater more credit, their god is money.
Erik Prince head of Blackwater has ties to the religious right more than just blindly believing in Bush.
www.blackwaterwatch.com Their loyalty lies with not one single nation, but instead with the global elite. Those who wish to abolish national soveigrnty in favor of one global governing body. Their job is to ensure that this agenda goes forward because their masters know the "regular" soldiers would never intentionally betray the Bill of Rights, Constitution, and international law. That's what Blackwater is for.
I think I am actually more scared concerning their existence and prosperity than I am with the war in the middle east. They are too close to the SS for me, and I vowed growing up I would never let what happened under Germany happen again if I had any power. I can almost see them goose stepping in their black uniforms with their red bear claws. What next junior divisions so the kids can be indocrinated. Privatized, interesting term. Meaning not public. Owned or purchased by individuals. Was the SS privatized...I wonder.
I agree. Under the Patriot Act civil activist groups can exist. Why should a mercenary privately owned group be allowed to wield this sort of power. They are armed and they are under no societal oversight. They should not exist. Their existence is more lethal than smoking. If militias can not exist why should a private, publically traded company be allowed to provide armed troops?
The existence of Blackwater sets an alarming precedent. Any organization that wields deadly force requires governmental oversight, with criminal consequences for mistakes. Let's hope this latest scandal in Iraq serves as a wakeup call. Of course, now the message to the global community is "they were only Iraqis". Way to go America, no wonder they wanna kill us.
No one spoke this message, but the actions (or I should say inaction) of our (US) government implied it. If Blackwater made a mistake like that in America, whoever was responsible would go to prison, but somehow their actions fall outside the jurisdiction of criminal law in the US and Iraq, so now it looks like they'll just get a slap on the wrist, and maybe face law suits.
