Blackwater

I think Jeremy Scahill in his book "Blackwater" mentioned that, including Blackwater, there are over 100,000 "security forces" operating in Iraq.......

Blackwater Cowboys

Just another example of the blatant disrespect that the Cheney-Halliburton White House has for all other people. That gang has brought disgrace to the military, with their encouragement of torture and terrorism in Iraq. It is somewhat ironic to see the largest, most powerful, most out of control police state in the world, preaching and lecturing others about "freedom and democracy". God HELP America.

Prophylaxis anyone?

God HELP America? Well, that's a very charitable thing to say, cb0044, but I think that instead you'd be better advised to seek help for US from your God.

Relatively credible political analysts are now offering indications that Bush and Co are actually preparing for an attack upon Iran sometime next month. The likelihood of such a conflict being contained in the Middle East is very small. You can guess the rest.

The US is teetering at the edge of economic collapse. If they go down, the fear is that they'll take everybody else down with them.

Since Bush's fallback position is The Rapture, I think think we might be able to use some of them there Divine Interventions ourselves.

Nothing is forever.........

Historically, the lifespan of "empires" seems to be inversely linked to the speed of communications -- the more conveniently a society can talk to one another and get around, the less longevity that society is likely to have.

Response to RickW

Mr. Scahill tends to leave, well, inaccurate impressions.

There are actually estimated to be more than 180,000 contractors in Iraq. What is unfortunately left out is how those numbers break down - the contractors are overwhelmingly Iraqis and overwhelmingly unarmed.

In terms of security contractors, there are about 2,000 U.S. citizens doing security in Iraq, another 2-3,000 other Westerners, and some 5-8,000 Third Country Nationals (TCNs) including Fijians, Ugandans and Nepalese. The rest (more than 50%) of the employees of Western security companies are Iraqis. And then there are numerous Iraqi security companies.

In fact, most of the 180,000 contractors are doing reconstruction work, and second doing unarmed support services for the military effort - cleaning, cooking, construction etc.

I hope readers find this information helpful, and people should feel free to contact us if they need additional information.

Regards,

Doug Brooks
President
International Peace Operations Association (IPOA)

Blackwater Cowboys

I appreciate the subtle placing of a red herring by IPOA regarding "contractors", however, the subject matter is Blackwater and by association other SECURITY contractors, not maintenance and service providers. Now it appears that Blackwater is being investigated for arms smuggling into Iraq. Geez, I thought that was all Iran's fault?

ME2: I guess my parody of "God Bless America" somehow got by you? I know it's "in vogue" to be offended by the mere mention of someone's "God", but try not to be so sensitive that you immediately respond in ridicule mode.
I'm not a religious person myself, but I also learned many years ago that: "There are no atheists on a battlefield."

The idea of Bush attacking

The idea of Bush attacking Iran has been around for quite awhile. George is using the excuse to get ready to rumble.

If Iran who state they are working for non military uses of Nuclear, managed to get one bomb in the next years they would be downright stupid to deploy the supposed bomb. Isreal has a lot of such weapons and the good old US of a supports them to the hilt. Almost for got Pakistan and India.

The International Herald Tribune Jan 2007 said. The Mulahs are doing a good job of destroying Iran's economy.........Attacking them would allow the regime to escape resonsibility for the economic disaster it created.

But the thead is supposed to be about a bunch of out of control gunslingers in Iraq. What kind of a country occupying Iraq would need such people to do their dirty work? The good old US of A that's who.

Fromm Yahoo news one hour

Fromm Yahoo news one hour ago

BAGHDAD - Iraq's Interior Ministry has expanded its investigation into incidents involving Blackwater USA security guards amid the furor following a shooting that claimed at least 11 lives, a ministry spokesman said Saturday.

Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said the Moyock, N.C.-based company has been implicated in six other incidents over the past seven months, including a Feb. 7 shooting outside Iraqi state television in Baghdad in which three building guards were fatally shot.

Privatizing War.

Having mercenaries makes a lot of sense to the Bush Gang. Anything the private army does you don't have to account for. It is no different than privatizing a service to the public like BC Ferries or Healthcare. What could be better to the Bush-Cheney crowd than being able to wash their hands of any atrocity committed by these forces. The 100,000 that are there today are unaccountable, irresponsible and out of control - a mercenary's wet dream.

Blackwater pays $300 per day

Blackwater pays $300 per day and up, but the security staff have to work everyday. They recruit in rural areas where there are limited jobs and lots of ex-military.

Hmmph...

Have they announced the security plan for 2010 yet? Maybe.... naw, they seem a little too uptight, a little too trigger happy for an event like the Olympics, summer games maybe but not winter. On the other hand we sure could stand some six gun justice with the driving habits around here...