I read it again. Along with the articles. Did you go to Iraq and see it with your own two eyes yet?

The article attacks the lawlessness of the situation. It uses fact to point out several instances where crimes have been committed and a total lack of justice. It does not, in any way, point the finger at the men fighting, but rather, the companies themselves. And the lack of laws.

It does not in any way paint all private contractors as bad, but it does point out that the system allows very bad people to commit crimes at will, with no repercussions.

That is complete and utter bullshit. There mere title of your article suggests that anyone who would work for these companies is nothing but a lawless, cold-blooded, merc. And the "facts" that you have reported, except in the instance of what the lawsuit claimed, are only part of the story. And convieniently, one that supports your arguement. Only problem with that is the reports on what actually happened on the events in quesiton, more than likely will not become public domain for some time. Ever heard of due process? Let the higher-ups do their job, and report truths, not half truths.

As a member of the press, I respect you and what you do. But you and I both know that there are not only inconsistencies, but also plenty of false allegations. I appreciate your opinion, and also the fact that you atleast made an attempt to find out as much as you could about the aforementioned. No hard feelings, but some one has to stand up for the people that are far to busy condusting these operations in their absence.

Sir,
I thank you for the sacrifice that you say you & your friends have offered as members of the armed services. If you and your friends are concerned about the national security of the US, I would suggest maintaining your commitment to those services and /or any of the branches of the National/Coast Guard. If you are interested in humanitarian work in this country or any other part of the world, there are plenty of venues for that as well.
Supporting heavily armed and "working for the highest bidder" mercenaries that do not seem to be bound by or concerned with US & international law, however, identifies you as neither a patriot or a humanitarian. Please do not soil the service of your brothers & sisters in arms by trying to attach honor or good intentions to the actions of Blackwater and its ilk.

I like it. Kudos you you man. I have a habit of nerdy musings on the US-Rome thing myself.

And the fact that they make their own armoured vehicles.
Source: their own website.

How dare you... To suggest that I would do anything but hold in the dearest of regards the memories of my fallen brothers. You sir, are the most base, proud, and deviant for of my enemies. To attack my morals? To what is more dear to me than my own life? You, SIR, never met Patrick B Kenney. Nor Nikolas Cherava. Or Tyler Troyer, Nick, Shane, Jason, or Lt. Cathy. Do not ever, and I mean EVER suggest that I would sully there names, on an internet forum of al places.

You also, I would assume, have never met a Blackwater operator. I don't know any currently residing in Cali, however, you should do your best to seek them out before you label them as "heavily armed... mercenaries."

You know who else accused me of the same? You remember Cindy Sheehan? While I was convalecing from the wounds I recieved the day Pat, Chevy, Shane, and Jason died, in Bethesda National Naval Medical Center, she had the gall to accuse me of the same. She said that I was disgracing their good names, "by continuing to support their actions overseas." Therefore, since I know little else about you (and you can easily do the same to the Blackwater operators you do not know), I will write you off with the same regard as I have for her. The same lady that protested my fallen brothers' funerals because they were "baby-killers".

I'm going to go ahead and call your statement defending mercenaries as complete and utter bullshit, then.

Go stand up for pedaphiles, while you're at it. If you think that is my way of going after a group of people, you clearly have not been paying attention to my writing. I don't like the mercenaries our government employs. I think they are inherently fucked up individuals who should receive nothing but scorn. To fight simply for money is an example of how to be human trash. They can go fuck themselves eternally. If they really wanted to fight for patriotism, they would sign up for the armed forces and stand alongside those who actually do. What they are doing, is taking advantage of a reckless government and a chaotic, deadly situation to increase their bank accounts. They are parasites.

So, if you believe I attacked these parasites, you are sadly mistaken. But, I do get most of my ideas from people's posts and you can be sure in the future I will shine a bright light on your friends who kill for money.

yep, VIDEO GAMES make kids kill people. and the best part? Kids in Iraq are playing "Call of Duty" in the most realistic simulation format possible.

I wonder what the background checks are like?

Draw weapons on US soldiers? How are the security personal that did such a thing not dead?

Again, I thank you & yours for your service. Having many family & friends who were members of the armed forces from WWII and on, I am very aware of the cost of that service. It has taken it's toll on their hearts, minds & bodies. In some cases asking for the ultimate sacrifice. I know that I would never want the unlawful and unethical actions of war profiteers or hired guns associated with those I love & respect.

Actually, I was born & raised in North Carolina. As such, I am very aware of Blackwater's presence & practices within a community I consider my own. The only Blackwater employee I ever met was Mr. Grumiaux. He lived 3 houses down from my sister.

Never once did I suggest that you should not support the service and sacrifice of your brothers & sisters in arms. Never once did I use a derogatory term to describe you or your comrades. I did suggest that it is not reasonable to equate the actions of Blackwater & its employees to the honorable actions of the US military and its service men & women.

I'm just going to take the Ghandi option here and out on the basis that nobody should have guns. Nobody, period. I think Michael Moore said something about "immoral behavior breeding immoral behavior." These days it seems like we (meaning society at large) have granted the government, police, army, etc. some kind of moral ascendancy over us simply because they are the government/authority/lords of all that is holy/whatever. I believe that more often than not, that superiority is not earned. Giving somebody a gun does not make them superior to anybody, it just gives them the means to eliminate the other side of the argument, not win it.

A marvelous and utopian view. While I wholeheartedly agree that nobody should have guns, I'll keep mine around incase I need them. But until I do, it's going to stay there doing nothing. We should also eliminate poverty, famine, and disease while we're at it. Nobody should have money, having more money doesn't make them superior to anybody, it just gives them the means to buy stuff. Everybody should have as much food as they desire, and nobody deserves to be stricken with a debilitating disease. As much as I believe what I'm saying, it's still terrifically fantastical. Lets not make this into a gun argument, deal?

I don't think that the Iraqis want the US Military out of Iraq so much as they want Blackwater out of Iraq. The US Military kinda has the UCMJ to keep them in line, blackwater has.....the fear of a lawsuit that can be settled out of court for a bunch of dollars? Oh yeah...biiiiig threat there. I know that I would like to see Blackwater out of Iraq (or at least, since they want to play army, they can play by the same rules and make the operatives subject to the UCMJ and all current ROE) more than I would like to see the US Military leave iraq.

the title sounds like a Dethklok song.

and the middle east seems to be once again taking on an aspect much akin to what it did back during the Crusades. except, instead of traveling there to amass a fortune and gain land of your own, it's to have the chance to be a complete dick and act like a fucked up action movie hero, only without the "being a hero part." and shoot people in the face.