AMERICAblog: Blackwater is still in charge of Iraq
jr
· 1 year ago
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power"-FDR in a April 29, 1938 message to Congress
BorninUSA
· 1 year ago
"Given the furor that surrounded Blackwater after the September shooting in Baghdad, critics say the decision to renew the company’s contract in Iraq is a sign of the Bush administration’s inability to curb its reliance on outside contractors in the war."
No, it is not Bush's inability to curb reliance on outside contractors in the war; it is another Bush slap in our faces and the American people be damned attitude. We should be used to Bush's total arrogance in what he does and his total disregard of what the people want. If McCain is elected in November we will see a continuance of this type of governing. Eight years is enough already.
ommzms
· 1 year ago
Ironically, the one job that most Americans would view as a legitimate for the U.S. military in Iraq - providing security for American diplomats (in Iraq) - is contracted out to a private, paramilitary, murder-for-profit corporation that has full immunity from all parties involved. Who really has the power?
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Blackwater has a lot of Fundie ties.
I'm sure that's the chief reason why Bush keeps those murdering thugs onboard.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Permalinkjr 21 minutes ago 1 point Please login to rate.
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power"-FDR in a April 29, 1938 message to Congress
-----
Never heard that before. It's a good quote.
Still baffles me why conservatives think private companies, who have no accountability to anybody but their stockholders, are more trustworthy than a democratic government, which is accountable to the voters.
Guess they don't trust the voters to vote in their favor.
Dianne_in_DC
· 1 year ago
The truth is that the volunteer army does not have the troop strength to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. You don't hear much about it, but for every member of our military in Afghanistan there are two contractors. And NATO troops, and they get to drink alcohol and our troops don't because of bad behavior.
maggiePA08
· 1 year ago
BTW (and prepare to be shocked)... The U.S. military, meanwhile, said Iraqi authorities mistakenly announced Thursday that the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, had been captured in the northern city of Mosul. American officials said a man who was arrested had a name similar to al-Masri's.
"Officials say only three companies in the world meet their requirements for protective services in Iraq, and the other two do not have the capability to take on Blackwater’s role in Baghdad."
It's pathetic, stupid and dangerous that the U.S. military with it's insane budget and bottomless resources can't offer protective services to whatever aspect of security is needed. There are SEALS and Green Berets and who knows what all other specially purposed units within the military. And a group can't be trained and prepared to protect diplomats? What a load of B.S. They like a corporate mercenary contingent for one reason. They are out of the normal chain of command.
All of the corporate mercs are a cancer planted in the U.S. military to sap it's strength and loyalty to country over corporation. The goal is to privatize everything. Everything. That includes the military from top to bottom. They are for profit enterprises whose existence, profitability, shareholder happiness and corporate well being depends on perpetual war, international discord and social upheaval. Blackwater, DynCorp International, Triple Canopy and all other corporate mercenary entities are a disaster for this country.
OlderAndWiser
· 1 year ago
Erik Prince has bent over so far for Bush & Cheney that his ass is permanently affixed to the sky...he doesn't mind, as long as he gets the billions, though.
As someone said earlier, this kind of privatization of military duties is anathema to democracy.
Wisconsin Liberal
· 1 year ago
The Nazi's had the SS and Gestopo and the Bush's have Blackwater.
BillP
· 1 year ago
It is very simple, really. Corporate, and fascist, interests do not like large groups of people to have any power. Labor unions, Congress, and even our Armed Forces are all cases of large numbers of people who have some kind of organizing power. This has to be blunted or eliminated, fascists do not allow the populace to choose policy or leaders.
Therefore the goal is to privatize anything that involves large groups of people, turning their organizations into a top-down directed organization. Hence the "unitary executive" that does not have to follow anyone else, and has no accountability to anyone else. Labor unions will be destroyed by NAFTA and China. Congress can safely be ignored, as has already happened. And now even the Armed Forces, hardly a bastion of left-leaning revolutionary thought, has to be suppressed.
This is done by cutting their pay, lengthening their contracts, stop-loss, cutting their benefits, and replacing them with highly-paid private mercenaries.
burro
· 1 year ago
"They like a corporate mercenary contingent for one reason. They are out of the normal chain of command."
Excuse my commenting on my own comment but there's two reasons. The other is because it's a great way to Hoover cash out of the U.S. Treasury and have it disappear into private hands.
gwpriester
· 1 year ago
Uh, isn't this what the armed services supposed to do?
kiki
· 1 year ago
Blackwater is still in charge of Iraq
Blackwater still in charge? If that is the case, let them stay there and "SEND OUR TROOPS HOME!"
This administration and congress reminds me of a bible verse in the "Living Bible" Jude:12-13 They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much, but producing nothing. They are like fruit trees without any fruit at picking time. All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace like the dirty foam left along the beach by the wild waves.
Mike_G
· 1 year ago
Like all authoritarians, the Repigs want a mercenary army loyal only to them for whatever dictatorial bullying they have planned, and they're funding it with taxpayer dollars.
tofubo
· 1 year ago
Officials say only three companies in the world meet their requirements for protective services in Iraq
what about alpha company, bravo company, or charlie company of the Marine Embassy Security Command ?? or has their abiltiy been decimated by the current administration and can no longer do the job
All Comments
No, it is not Bush's inability to curb reliance on outside contractors in the war; it is another Bush slap in our faces and the American people be damned attitude. We should be used to Bush's total arrogance in what he does and his total disregard of what the people want. If McCain is elected in November we will see a continuance of this type of governing. Eight years is enough already.
I'm sure that's the chief reason why Bush keeps those murdering thugs onboard.
Please login to rate.
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power"-FDR in a April 29, 1938 message to Congress
-----
Never heard that before. It's a good quote.
Still baffles me why conservatives think private companies, who have no accountability to anybody but their stockholders, are more trustworthy than a democratic government, which is accountable to the voters.
Guess they don't trust the voters to vote in their favor.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_re_mi...
It's pathetic, stupid and dangerous that the U.S. military with it's insane budget and bottomless resources can't offer protective services to whatever aspect of security is needed. There are SEALS and Green Berets and who knows what all other specially purposed units within the military. And a group can't be trained and prepared to protect diplomats? What a load of B.S. They like a corporate mercenary contingent for one reason. They are out of the normal chain of command.
All of the corporate mercs are a cancer planted in the U.S. military to sap it's strength and loyalty to country over corporation. The goal is to privatize everything. Everything. That includes the military from top to bottom. They are for profit enterprises whose existence, profitability, shareholder happiness and corporate well being depends on perpetual war, international discord and social upheaval. Blackwater, DynCorp International, Triple Canopy and all other corporate mercenary entities are a disaster for this country.
As someone said earlier, this kind of privatization of military duties is anathema to democracy.
Therefore the goal is to privatize anything that involves large groups of people, turning their organizations into a top-down directed organization. Hence the "unitary executive" that does not have to follow anyone else, and has no accountability to anyone else. Labor unions will be destroyed by NAFTA and China. Congress can safely be ignored, as has already happened. And now even the Armed Forces, hardly a bastion of left-leaning revolutionary thought, has to be suppressed.
This is done by cutting their pay, lengthening their contracts, stop-loss, cutting their benefits, and replacing them with highly-paid private mercenaries.
Excuse my commenting on my own comment but there's two reasons. The other is because it's a great way to Hoover cash out of the U.S. Treasury and have it disappear into private hands.
Blackwater still in charge? If that is the case, let them stay there and "SEND OUR TROOPS HOME!"
This administration and congress reminds me of a bible verse in the "Living Bible" Jude:12-13
They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much, but producing nothing. They are like fruit trees without any fruit at picking time. All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace like the dirty foam left along the beach by the wild waves.
what about alpha company, bravo company, or charlie company of the Marine Embassy Security Command ?? or has their abiltiy been decimated by the current administration and can no longer do the job