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Outsourcing Iraq war a grave threat to democracy
We should say no to the wider use of mercenaries

By JEREMY SCAHILL



As President Bush took the podium to deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday, five American families received news that has become all too common: Their loved ones had been killed in Iraq. But in this case, the slain were neither "civilians," as the news reports proclaimed, nor were they U.S. soldiers. They were highly trained mercenaries deployed to Iraq by a secretive private military company based in North Carolina — Blackwater USA.

The company made headlines in early 2004 when four troops were ambushed and burned in the Sunni hotbed of Fallujah — two charred, lifeless bodies were left to dangle for hours from a bridge. That incident marked a turning point in the war, sparked multiple U.S. sieges of Fallujah and helped fuel the Iraqi resistance that haunts the occupation to this day.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4500876.html
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People like PDA feel short changed when a contractor is killed. They just don't get the rush they get at hearing of American soldiers deaths. They have reached a careful balance between calling call them rapists and murders while at the time saying they support the troops. In actuality they don't give a flip about the troops unless they are in body bags at which point they are of propaganda value.
quote:
Originally posted by Ubermensch:
People like PDA feel short changed when a contractor is killed. They just don't get the rush they get at hearing of American soldiers deaths. They have reached a careful balance between calling call them rapists and murders while at the time saying they support the troops. In actuality they don't give a flip about the troops unless they are in body bags at which point they are of propaganda value.


Sadly, I think you are right. What irks me is that the media and anti-war groups want released the pics of flag-drapped coffins being shown at Dover. I say no out of dignity and respect for the deceased and for the deceased's familly.
These are hardly Mercs, they are bodyguards. There are many security companys there. I would be most afraid of having Blackwater watch over me. They use the force on force approach, travel in large black SUVs with Helo escorts (usually 2) it is a parade each time they travel with flashing lights, sirens and the like. Kind of a shoot me I'm here mode of travel. Most of the security forces travel in non-descript up armor cars with great communication and tracking that goes straight to the govts central alarm station. There are probably more Britts filling these roles than americans. They are pretty good jobs, I think Blackwater starts at about 180K.
quote:
Originally posted by Ubermensch:
People like PDA feel short changed when a contractor is killed. They just don't get the rush they get at hearing of American soldiers deaths. They have reached a careful balance between calling call them rapists and murders while at the time saying they support the troops. In actuality they don't give a flip about the troops unless they are in body bags at which point they are of propaganda value.


We have had rapists and murders in all of our wars from our own. That does not mean that all our troops are bad,does not mean all are good.
we have bad cops and good cops,anyone could go bad.
quote:
Originally posted by Brentenman:
quote:
Originally posted by Ubermensch:
People like PDA feel short changed when a contractor is killed. They just don't get the rush they get at hearing of American soldiers deaths. They have reached a careful balance between calling call them rapists and murders while at the time saying they support the troops. In actuality they don't give a flip about the troops unless they are in body bags at which point they are of propaganda value.


Sadly, I think you are right. What irks me is that the media and anti-war groups want released the pics of flag-drapped coffins being shown at Dover. I say no out of dignity and respect for the deceased and for the deceased's familly.



You say,Sadly, What irks me is that the media and anti-war groups want released the pics of flag-drapped coffins being shown at Dover.

No, You know what the truth is, if people saw all these flag -drapped coffins it might remind the people that we have a war going on that was a lie to start with, and our troops giving blood for oil. People that support the war don't want people to see the lie behind Bush's and the rich man's war.
The article said,A Civilian Reserve Corps. "Such a corps would function much like our military Reserve. It would ease the burden on the armed forces by allowing us to hire civilians with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs them," Bush declared.

My answer,I doubt this would work. A military reservist signs up with the idea that he will give up his daily job and put on a uniform when our nation is in need of defense, a commendable patriotic act. But how many would do that with no uniform, no medals, no VA benefits, and no military funeral? A few would, I am sure, but given a choice of which reserve service to join I would bet most would choose the miltary reserve.

Even worse, how many would sign up with the idea that they are prime candidates for Iraq, Iran or any other random country Bush decides to invade? And that there would be no end to the service until they die or are so old their life has passed them by?

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