The Whole Blackwater Mess

The Basics: On September 16, 2007, employees of Blackwater USA (our State Dept.'s main civilian security contractor in Iraq) killed at least 11 Iraqis. The Blackwater fellows say they'd come under fire and were defending their lives. The Iraqi government says that's a lie. Our own U.S. military faults Blackwater. Blackwater does have kind of a shaky history, after all, being involved in 195 other shootings.

Some reactions:

FROM THE BLOG, JESUS' GENERAL:
Lawless Mercenaries: Fueling Imperial Ambitions & Imperial Downfall

Since its earliest days, America's war in and occupation of Iraq has included a larger number of mercenaries — men and women doing the jobs that used to be done by soldiers, but for a lot more money and without the same legal responsibilities. Some aspects of the privatization of military-related jobs may make sense, but not when it comes to combat roles. Even some of those that do make some sense (transportation, for example) make a lot more sense in peacetime than in a combat zone.

Mercenaries probably aren't going anywhere any time soon, even though they may not even be legal under the Anti-Pikerton Act and complicate matters incredibly. READ MORE

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FROM THE FREE REPUBLIC FORUM:
"It’s a witch hunt...the Dems in Congress hate all those that carry a weapon in defense of this country whether that be a US soldier or a Blackwater operative..."

"I see Waxman’s name attached, and I automatically want to take the opposing view. It’s reflexive."

"They cannot beat our Military. ..so now they are trying to take out the 'underpinnings'. . .the support systems. The hand of Soros is at work here. . ."

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TALKING POINTS MEMO HEADLINES:
5/27/07 - Blackwater Contractors Open Fire in Baghdad
9/19/07 - Blackwater VP is Romney Adviser
9/20/07 - Blackwater in Iraq: Above the law and beyond accountability....
9/22/07 - Blackwater to face arms smuggling investigation
9/23/07 - Blackwater -- caught on tape?
9/24/07 - Let's be clear here: The recent Blackwater shoot-'em-up is by no means the first time the contractor has acted with impunity in Iraq....
10/01/07 - Still More Blackwater Goodness
10/02/07 - Blackwater CEO Testifying Now on Capitol Hill

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FROM THE LITTLE GREEN FOOTBALLS BLOG:
MSM Bias Totally Out of Control

Did I miss something? Has it been proven that Blackwater contractors are trigger happy goons who go on shooting sprees, slaughtering innocent civilians?

No? It’s still being investigated, you say?

Then how the hell is Agence France Presse allowed to throw all the rules of responsible journalism out the window? Rice’s low-key agents stalk trigger-happy armed guards in Iraq.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Aided by radio and video links, a little known enforcement arm of the US State Department is to stalk the guards of American private security firm Blackwater in Baghdad after their trigger happy ways anger Iraqis.

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What is a mercenary?
***To be answered later***

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What is Blackwater and what is their connection to Halliburton?
***To be answered later***