IS Blackwater and Triple Canopy Just Another Example of Terrorism?

[M.D. Holloway]

I tried to put my self in the shoes of average Joe Iraqi who loves his country yet is ashamed of past leadership and deeds. GI Joe comes in and begins to kill bad Iraqis and others who want a piece of my country as well as influence on my soul. With them come the contractors and the hired guns to protect the contractors. I like the contractors because for what they can actually do they do really well. Their private police force acts without any rules and bears no responcinbility and can pretty much do what they want without any repercussions. They are hired guns and I am very afraid of them - at least GI Joe has a certain amount of concern, interest and restraint even if it is centered around the fear of courtmarshal. These guys are something else and they answer to no one.

So in the eyes of averge Joe Iraqi who is just trying to get by, wouldn't these guys look like terrorists?

(not that I don't agree a certain amount of arse kick'n is needed, thats not my point.)

[Mule]

If we're lucky!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

So in the eyes of averge Joe Iraqi who is just trying to get by, wouldn't these guys look like terrorists?

Some of them look like burnt shish kabobs.
photo removed - ns

They love us because we gave them freedom.

[Mule]

If I had my way we'd introduce them to allah. They'd really love us then!

[Mo_Gearhead]

If I understand correctly, these hired guns (mercenaries almost) do not fall under ANY military or USA jurisdiction of any sort?

Rather frightening for your average Iraqi citizen I would say ...that their Government allows such hired guns to roam.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Some of them look like burnt shish kabobs.

They love us because we gave them freedom.

Hey, posting this photo is not really needed. Troops or not, these are American citizens who were shot then burned, some of them possibly still alive.

Come on Kach, have some descency and pull the photo...

[K9Torro]

Blackwaters days of roaming are over - they just got booted out of Iraq-i-stan.

Todd

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Come on Kach, have some descency and pull the photo...

It's what your favorite war looks like, deal with it and never forget it.

[azasadny]

Mercenaries are scary, regardless of what they call themselves or what others call them. The military operates under strict rules of engagement and the mercenaries do not...

We've seen what happen when the occasional "bad apple" military do something terrible, but imagine what the mercenaries can do and have no controls placed over them at all...

[on-ramp]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Hey, posting this photo is not really needed. Troops or not, these are American citizens who were shot then burned, some of them possibly still alive.

Come on Kach, have some descency and pull the photo...

personal attack removed - chill - ns
this is the war you support....it's reality . if you don't want to see those photos, and there are thousands of other similar ones, then don't support the man who started it. Blind arrogance and hatred defines you.
What "we' have done in Iraq is unspeakable....and I don't see any politicians in the electric chair over this, do you? There is no accountability. War was based on WMD, oops, none found, "we're sorry". life goes on..

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

hey maggot $hit,
this is the war you support....it's reality . if you don't want to see those photos, and there are thousands of other similar ones, then don't support the man who started it. Blind arrogance and hatred defines you.
What "we' have done in Iraq is unspeakable....and I don't see any politicians in the electric chair, do you?

Watch the name-calling, it's really not necessary as we are all (most) adults here.

[t951]

Yes, without question, they are terrorists. People who are willing to kill people they do not know for someone else, especially for compensation, are terrorists. Yes, I realize the implications of that statement.

There is much hatred and ignorance, and it is not all over there.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by kach22i

It's what your favorite war looks like, deal with it and never forget it.

class George, that is the first thing I think of when I think of you

Actually they are mercenaries, not terrorists, that is more accurate way to define soldier for hire. They have different goals, if not always different techniques.

Some of you guys are so full of anger and self loathing, it is sad.

[on-ramp]

your tax dollars at work....
-------------
While the Bush Administration calls for the immediate disbanding of what it has labeled "private" and "illegal" militias in Lebanon and Iraq, it is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into its own global private mercenary army tasked with protecting US officials and institutions overseas. The secretive program, which spans at least twenty-seven countries, has been an incredible jackpot for one heavily Republican-connected firm in particular: Blackwater USA. Government records recently obtained by The Nation reveal that the Bush Administration has paid Blackwater more than $320 million since June 2004 to provide "diplomatic security" services globally. The massive contract is the largest known to have been awarded to Blackwater to date and reveals how the Administration has elevated a once-fledgling security firm into a major profiteer in the "war on terror."

read more here:

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0811-20.htm

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Tobra

class George, that is the first thing I think of when I think of you

So little time to insult everyone. Must be that self loathing.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

How many times do we need to see the face of war before we learn?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

How many times do we need to see the face of war before we learn?

Some people never learn, that's the problem.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/jgraz

[on-ramp]

There's much suffering out there. and a lot of filthy rich CEOs and politicians over here.... doesn't seem right. "we" are killing the world for the Almighty dollar.
God Bless the Almighty Dollar

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

There's much suffering out there. and a lot of filthy rich CEOs and politicians over here.... doesn't seem right. "we" are killing the world for the Almighty dollar.
God Bless the Almighty Dollar

You should be writing this in college textbooks. Pure literature.

[many944s]

I am not going to take either side in this argument, but having been in the middle of the situation, these "contractors" are a necessary evil.

Face it, there are tasks that need to be accomplished, and frankly the government and military won't accept the responsibility for these tasks, hence someone else has to do it.

Do I agree that the U.S. military should still be there, no!

But you know what? This is war. It's not pretty!
People are going to die, they are supposed to, that's the point. And along the way there are going to be civilian casualties and that IS an acceptable risk.

Wars were so much more effective when the media wasn't involved!