The nerve, still no Flowers and Parades.

I heard this morning that Blackwater was given carte blanche to not have any laws apply to them by Condoleeza Rice and the State Dept. Looks like Condi is going to have to rein her Iraq cowboys in from now on.

Looks like Condi is going to have to rein her Iraq cowboys

I heard Condi has a Boyfriend..

The Secret Service have code named him Captain Kirk.

Why you ask, He goes where no Man has gone Before...

Why you ask, He goes where no Man has gone Before...


And may never go again.

America should never again send private mercenaries to protect U.S personnel operating without legal oversight. The Marines have done a fine job protecting diplomatic and State Dept. personnel for decades. Just another way to cover up the true cost of Bush's folly.

Time for a draft. Maybe we can prevent anymore reckless presidents from taking us on preemptive and unneccessary wars.

Maybe they just think a large armed force that isn't actually sworn to any recognized side is a bad idea.

Anybody who thinks these guys are "patriots" on par with US Army or Marines is kidding themselves. They might be Americans (some of them, at least), but they're there for money, and they take their orders from managers and CEOs. Their agendas are not necessarily the same as that of our military's or our government's. They were created so that far-right interests wouldn't be beholden to elected government policy, and their very existance subverts democracy.

Why doesn't the Iraqi government show outrage and demand compensation when some crazy Cleric sends his bombers to kill innocent citizens?

America should never again send private mercenaries to protect U.S personnel operating without legal oversight.

What? You think that would stop mistakes from happening? Listen, in the US police have legal oversight, right? There are still a few bad apples who commit crimes like using excessive force, in some cases it leads to death. Most of them are punished by the courts.

Are you saying the personal involved are guilty without going to court and being convicted, after all that's part of legal oversight.

What I don't like is the Iraqi government deciding the amount of damages (in this case 8 million), which normally should be done by a court of law when all the evidence is set forth to a judge or jury.

I firmly believe, if there is enough evidence, that should be tried under Iraqi law since the crime was committed in another country without no treaty or contract to prevent it.

The Iraqi Gov't wants Blackwater out?

Sheesh, if you didn't know any better you'd think they had sovereignty or something.

U.S. OUT OF EVERYWHERE!

Why is the US Government on the hook for what private contractors do??? Blackwater USA ought to be made to cough up the dough before they are permanently forced out of business. Mercenary forces are unAmerican and all private contractors that do more than normal security type work should be outlawed. The last thing this country needs is an organized paramilitary organization backing up a president who decides we need a dictator. American troops probably would never shoot American citizens protesting in Washington over such a power grab, private contractors wouldn't even flinch.

Let me see if I can predict where this thread is going to go without it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy... Blackwater kicked out, have to return home, become the new "Brownshirts," Bush is hitler, in power forever, no Constitution, everyone tortured, put into camps, Bush hates blacks...

The last thing this country needs is an organized paramilitary organization backing up a president who decides we need a dictator.

Fuck, I'm good!

American troops probably would never shoot American citizens protesting in Washington over such a power grab, private contractors wouldn't even flinch.

Um... they're Americans too and a lot of them are probably ex-military. What experience do you have with private military contractors that makes you think they would participate in an unprovoked mass murder of unarmed American citizens?

Is Blackwater subject to any law at all for what it does is Iraq? Probably not. How could this happen, you say? That's what I said when Bush became President and then got re-elected. After that nothing about his administration, no matter how corrupt, stupid, unconstitutional or incompetent, surprises me.

Rob, do you agree with hired soldiers, not associated with the military, being in Iraq without the same guidelines as our military?

I know its fun to play devil's advocate, but I'm just wondering.

Rob, do you agree with hired soldiers, not associated with the military, being in Iraq without the same guidelines as our military?

I know its fun to play devil's advocate, but I'm just wondering.

Rob, do you agree with hired soldiers, not associated with the military, being in Iraq without the same guidelines as our military?

First part I'm fine with, the last part of having basically free reign to act and work without oversight no I'm not a big fan of that.

When there are no consequences to actions, people tend to act poorly (Hence me posting here during work hours for the past year or so...)

........looks like this Iraqi government needs another dose of "Democracy" brought to them........

I agree to an extent. I believe Blackwater should be subject to Court Marshalls and the Military code as well. Its all about appearance to Iraqis. Have a heiring, on American soil, and put the thugs away if they are guilty.

We have to watch out though. At some point Iraq will ask us to leave all together, especially if we have renegades trolling the streets. What will Bush do then? Topple the government?

At some point Iraq will ask us to leave all together, especially if we have renegades trolling the streets. What will Bush do then? Topple the government?

If they do at any point in the near future, I think it will just be a way to try to appease their people. They know at the moment they cannot control the country without us, and if we left now it would mean their deaths...

However, come next spring/summer, I would not be surprised if they did call for us to leave and that it would be fully expected (maybe even wanted or secretly asked for) by the Bush administration. This would give them an excuse to leave, and also a way of declaring victory (Yes, again). They could say we went in took out Hussein, established a new and free democracy, helped them build the forces needed to protect it, and now they feel they can go on without us and want to fight for their own way of life.

Its actually perfect... we can claim victory, and if they aren't able to maintain control we can say, "Well we would have stayed but they asked us to back down and said they could handle it."

""If they do at any point in the near future, I think it will just be a way to try to appease their people.""

Rob do you ever consider what you are saying???

Do you even see why that statement is pretty telling about what you really think about Iraqi human rights and political rights too.

Rob do you ever consider what you are saying???

If they asked us to leave tomorrow and we did, the current Iraqi gov't would be quickly whiped out... everyone knows that especially the Iraqis. So any call for a pullout in the near future would just be a way of appeasing their people without actually expecting us to act on it because they know it would mean their deaths.

Appeasing their people????

Personally I want to please the people and bring every American out of that chaotic disaster of Bush's making. Not one more American should die to protect the corrupt government of Malaki.
If Malaki wants to buy protection from Blackwater then that's his business but American soldiers need to be brought home.

Appeasing their people????

Yes, any call by the Iraqi gov't now for us to leave would be to try and appease the Iraqi people... make them think they aren't some puppet for the US. But it would not be a serious request, because the Iraqi gov't knows at this point they cannot maintain control without the United States protecting them.

What is so hard to understand about this?

Please inform your 2006 newly elected officials that you want our soldiers brought home.

Oh, wait, 2006?

When did they take over, in January 2007?

It is now October 2007. Is the war over? Are the troops coming home? Have we cut off the funding of the war?

Iraq is just a problem for the US, just ask Turkey. I wonder if Turkey will go to the UN first.

Yeah Petrous cuz you can still pretend that they really had the votes to do that when they didn't.
But hey, what difference does the truth make when you are just posting talking points anyway.

Fuck, I'm good!

At predicting something after the fact?

Yeah, you're good.

Real good.

LOL

iraqi "sovereign" government want blackwater out....umm they go....don't they?

Have we cut off the funding of the war?

Well, the Dems did, but the Republicans are still in favor of dead Americans and huge deficits...

Rob, as for maliki needing us, the shia now recognize the "niceification" of the sunni terroriists is simply Bush creating an anti-shia militia in Iraq. We're currently holding both sides apart, but maliki will eventually realise he's got to loose the shia dogs of war on the baathists we support. Two of the top shia groups have come to terms so the day is coming.

WOW! They managed to kill 2 unarmed women in a small car at an intersection today!

Making America SAFE from Terrorism!

If they aren't subject to the military code of conduct, then why are they not subject to Iraqi law?

Definitely undermines that whole premise that we're doing this all for Iraqis and their freedom when tell them Americans can do whatever we wish in their country.

They believe they're doing the "Lord's work


Cue "dueling banjos" intro...

Um... they're Americans too and a lot of them are probably ex-military. What experience do you have with private military contractors that makes you think they would participate in an unprovoked mass murder of unarmed American citizens?

Posted by Rob_The_A_Hole at 2007-10-09 08:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

There not all Americans. Blackwater is recruiting heavily in South America.....I guess they're technically americans (south). Is this what Bush meant when he said 'guest worker'? Who knew he meant mercenaries.

Not only not Americans but some are former thugs employed by......Augusto Pinochet.
Arent' you proud??

"I heard Condi has a Boyfriend.."
"The Secret Service have code named him Captain Kirk."

I should change my name to "Captain of Her-anus"...

I would totally tap that....

Lizard aliens are supposed to be firecrackers in the sack!!!

ROB... "When there are no consequences to actions, people tend to act poorly (Hence me posting here during work hours for the past year or so...)"

FF

Rob-

Let me see if I can predict where this thread is going to go without it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy... Blackwater kicked out, have to return home, become the new "Brownshirts," Bush is hitler, in power forever, no Constitution, everyone tortured, put into camps, Bush hates blacks...

Don't ever let them know that you have stolen their playbook!

"Why is the US Government on the hook for what private contractors do??? Blackwater USA ought to be made to cough up the dough before they are permanently forced out of business. Mercenary forces are unAmerican and all private contractors that do more than normal security type work should be outlawed. The last thing this country needs is an organized paramilitary organization backing up a president who decides we need a dictator. American troops probably would never shoot American citizens protesting in Washington over such a power grab, private contractors wouldn't even flinch.

Posted by danni"

Danni, the US gov't hired Blackwater and their mercenary friends so they wouldn't have to force regular Americans to actually fight in Iraq. They are your soldiers for hire so the buck should stop with the person who hired them - the decider in chief. If Blackwater won't come up with the compensation for the murdered Iraqi's then the US taxpayer should. It's your war, they're your mercen... er... contractors. In the end, you're on the hook for the damage they do while they're in your employ.

Of course you guys wouldn't need all those mercenaries if all of-age Republicans (that means you, Britney Spears and the fat, slutty Bush girls, too).

Blackwater etc. take no oath to support, honor and respect the constitution of the US, I am sure. The mercenary loyalty, as we all know, is to the big bucks. History has shown that a large, trained mercenary force is not a desireable thing.
Take a look at the attempted coup by the 1st parachute regiment of the famous mercenary organization, the French foreign legion. A plot to asasinate Charles DeGaul(sp?) was uncovered and the coup was aborted.
The 1st paras were disbanded, and the Legion is quartered in Corsica and will peobably never be allowed into France proper.
Blackwater on the other hand is big in one of the Carolinas, is building big in Fla. and Ill.
Frankly, the existence of this private, unregulated, mercenary army quartered to a large degree in the CONUS is scary. But congress, House and/or Senate, doesn't give a damn, why should I.

"Of course you guys wouldn't need all those mercenaries if all of-age Republicans (that means you, Britney Spears and the fat, slutty Bush girls, too).

- Me"

Whoa... Talk about a stream of lost consciousness there. What I'd said in my head but got too bored to type was this: Of course you guys wouldn't need all those mercenaries if all of-age Republicans (that means you, Britney Spears and the fat, slutty Bush girls, too) would sign up for duty in Iraqistan. If you support your party and your president then you must do your duty in any way you can.

The Blackwater people are doing our work for our benefit. They are our people. Their tactics have insured the safety of the people they guard. Not one has yet been killed or suffered serious harm.

This is because they are proactive, and act to take out threatening people without waiting until they are under fire. They respond to ambushes with alacrity.

Also, many regular troops are reluctant to fire their weapons and kill people. These Blackwater people are elite forces, and unlike the regulars, are willing to do their duty and kill their enemies without hesitation.

We should advise the Iraqi that we are in charge, and that if they don't like it, they can lump it. This guy al-Maliki is getting too big a head because the Americans have been far too indulgent. We have portrayed ourselves as willing to play second fiddle. It's time we put the Iraqis straight. We're in charge. There is an expectation and the reality of collateral damage when there is confrontation with those arrayed against Americans.

Iraqi scum, if you want to reduce casualties have your Shia buddies cease launching attacks, and have them cooperate with American authorities. Otherwise, let the devil take the hindmost. Of course you will suffer casualties if you undertake attacks. Your civilians will be caught in the crossfire. Get together with you Shia friends and stop attacking Americans. Jerk.

We are nuttier than he is if we indulge the fantasies of the Iraqi President or Premier, or whatever he is, that he has any control over our activities, and that we'll modify our actions to conform to his wishes. You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself. We have our own program, and our own goals and objectives. When they differ, we prevail. Make it clear.

Or the Iraqis can say, "fuck you", and go on killing thousands of American invaders as they have over the last four years. ... or did you forget that little detail Johnson during your pussyass rant,