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These guys have a union?
Priceless.
But I don't know what this has to do with real jarheads.
Untouchables have friends in high places
Email Print Normal font Large font September 21, 2007
WASHINGTON: Blackwater USA, the private security company involved in a lethal shoot-out in Iraq last weekend, operates under State Department authority and is untouchable, US and Iraqi officials said.
The department's protection meant the company, which provides security for the most senior American diplomats, was exempt from US military regulations governing other security firms. The State Department defended Blackwater at every turn, the officials said.
In recent months, the State Department's protection of Blackwater has become a central issue as Iraqi authorities repeatedly clashed with the company over its aggressive street tactics.
The State Department has allowed the company's heavily armed teams to operate without an Interior Ministry licence, even after the requirement became standard in Defence Department security contracts.
Blackwater is not subject to the military's restrictions on the use of offensive weapons, its procedures for reporting shooting incidents or a central tracking system that allows commanders to monitor the movements of security firms on the battlefield, officials said.
Baghdad again criticised Blackwater on Wednesday, with the Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, saying his government had reports of seven cases in which its guards had killed Iraqis.
The shoot-out on Sunday that involved a US diplomatic convoy and killed at least nine Iraqis infuriated Iraqi authorities, prompting them to ban Blackwater.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Mr Maliki said: "This act, which I call a crime, has created a state of tension and anger among all of us. It is better for this company to freeze its activity, and the embassy can drive out with other companies."
He said the Government was rewriting the rules that regulate private security companies, which have immunity from Iraqi law.
"This company should be held accountable for these violations," Mr Maliki said, "because we will never allow Iraqi citizens to be killed in cold blood by this company that is playing with the lives of the people."
Lawrence Smith, the deputy director of the Private Security Company Association of Iraq, said Blackwater "has a client who will support them no matter what they do."
These guys have a union?
Priceless.
But I don't know what this has to do with real jarheads.
are you kidding? making real dough and avoiding any repercussions for doing the one thing you love to do? being a jarhead could take on a whole new meaning, with reward.
That's priceless.
I think it's more a sociopath's dream come true. Most military folk I know actually like the code of conduct.
I should have been more clear. able to throw the code away.
So Blackwater is run by former Marines?
i saw a do entary some time back. i think it was formed by a seal and stocked with former marines. if i were a marine, i'd think this is the way to go. why not make 5 times what a soldier makes and avoid any prosecution for minor indiscretions.
So, all former Marines are folks who kill for thrills and are looking for the easy buck?
...quit generalizing, not all the private contractors in Iraq are former Marines, in fact, some served in the most brutal dictatorships in Central and South America.....
Let me say put a one thing in perspective first.
Countries that the US military operates in have what is called SOFA (status of forces agreement) agreement. There is likely no such agreement in Iraq yet, and at this point there needs to be, if we are to respect Iraq's current government.
Now in my opinion, if the allegation against the Blackwater employees are true, they need to be dealt with. If they indiscriminately are killing civilians, they need to be tried for war crimes. I am not willing to believe that off-hand, just because so many erroneous reports have been and still do come out of Iraq.
Iraq's government should enforce it's sovereignty in any way it wishes. We set them up to become a self governing nation, and if there first action is to kick out Blackwater, then so be it.
Ever watch a TV series called "The Unit?" I was so pissed when it first came out because it is based on a book called "Inside Delta Force" yet the Hollywood twist has some serious flaws in the characters that would never be tolerated. Sure, on of the characters might have a chance of slipping by... but... the number of character flaws is like winning the lottery. Anyway, there is a storyline where recruiters are trying to get people from "The Unit" to join contract forces. Some of the story gets a little interesting. Now who joins there 'Blackwater' forces? Is it the ones with integrity who believe in their missions, or the ones who get kicked out for not maintaining standards? Could it even be some of the washouts? Teams like Delta Force and The Seals have a very high wash-out rate. Only the best of the best make it. I think it is only about 3% who try for these units make the cut. Still, just to be selected for testing, is an honor, even if you get washed out!
Hey bake why don't you get that clam out from between your legs. You've probably never even served much less in the Corps. Your real tough behind a screen right?
And if they felt like prosecuting and beheading some actual US soldiers or marines for some similar crime, so be it? We will never allow this. I believe Lindsey Graham is trying to make the mercenaries subject to the uniform code and there is a clunky mechanism to try them in US federal court. That's about as good as it's going to get.
You're an idiot.
Equating getting kicked out of the country with beheading is classic MasterBAiter logic.
oh great we have another keyboard chickenhawk... I know your a real tough girl..
well there can't be a thing as a keyboard lib . because the pussiness factor would be redundant in the words Keyboard and Lib .oh great we have another keyboard chickenhawk... I know your a real tough girl..
Hi I wear pink becuase I smell and look like a pussy..
Except I'm right. We will never allow Iraq to try them.
no i wear pink becuase it smells and looks like your chicks pussy.
That's completely pointless. Stay on topic, MB.
It's completely on topic.
Iraq govt could vote to make us leave, and we'll leave. But we'll never ever let them try our citizens. That's about every country.
This fact has no point to the thread.
Are you this re ed?
No it's not. Blackwater is not going to be tried in court in Iraq. Everything is not black or white, Master or Bait.
No. If you were at all intelligent you would know I am not talking about all US citizens. Expecting anything other than a red ass from you is too much.But we'll never ever let them try our citizens.
"except we'll never allow our mercenaries to convert to islam."
-I'm chumpdumper and i think i make sense.
Mercenaries are our citizens dip . They're private contractors wad, just like a haliburton or s employee.
Did your translator take a day off?
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