RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,152379,00.html

We are in a 50 year war. We need to stop bending over for the Democrats. Patrick Kennedy can get his drugs in that area.

quote:

Of interest to the department is the possibility of forming Iraqi companies with Iraqi employees to protect U.S. diplomats as local guards do for embassy staff in other countries, they said. That would bring the guards fully under the jurisdiction of Iraqi law but is not a short-term option given inadequate training facilities.

I found that interesting. Then on a given signal, all the Iraqis could blow up all the embassies. Are these people nuts?

Nothing will get done, anyway. This study will take forever and we'll be at war with Iran by then.

It is time for Blackwater and like companies to be shut down in America.
Mr. Prince's defense of his company is disgraceful...to say that he is not the justice department, and bascially had no arrest authority is correct. However if the incident had happened on the streets of New Orleans, what would his defense be? Did Mr. Prince or his in theater Project/Program Manager notify state that they had a drunk employee shoot and kill an Iraqi bodyguard? in cold blood. Or did they just terminate him as if he had been caught stealing office supplies? It would seem to me that if state knew and did nothing, it was an accomplice to murder, and this can not sit well with the people we "liberated" and it should not sit well with the American people.
This Blackwater operative is supposedly laying low in Washington or Oregon..I hope the on going investigation gives some justice not only to the Iraqi people we "liberated" but to the American people.
Our government seems to be circumventing the limited use of Federal troops on own shores by using Blackwater in New Orleans, I for one would not listen to the direction of Blackwater operatives working in this country...I feel they are illegal, and I think our elected officials should be looking at this more carefully.
In closing I am for the war on Islamic fanatics, but I feel it should be fought by our armed forces, the ones the American people have given moral authority too. Not a for profit company, hiding behind the flag.

Bob Stodnick

quote:

Originally posted by 2571722:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,152379,00.html

We are in a 50 year war. We need to stop bending over for the Democrats. Patrick Kennedy can get his drugs in that area.

I found it odd that there are so many supporting private security being drawn down now ... when just last year when this link was released there was press on why we needed them there.

I guess it's always the same game of who cries the loudest.

only one thing will come out of a privateers drawdown ... the military footprint will grow.

quote:

Originally posted by TsgtTharin:

quote:

Originally posted by 2571722:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,152379,00.html

We are in a 50 year war. We need to stop bending over for the Democrats. Patrick Kennedy can get his drugs in that area.

I found it odd that there are so many supporting private security being drawn down now ... when just last year when this link was released there was press on why we needed them there.

I guess it's always the same game of who cries the loudest.

only one thing will come out of a privateers drawdown ... the military footprint will grow.

Possibly but all the politicians are talking about reductions in the military footprint too.

A nation state that uses private armies, is inviting an entire host of problems...it could start to errod not only the civil liberties of the people of Iraq, but what about when our government decides to use them here, as they did in New Orleans? the American soldier takes an oath, and not the one Mr. Prince has developed for his operatives...
By the government allowing private armed contractors to work, they could start to represent large companies in America (a nation state)via our elected officials visa via the lobbyist network...
Please count me out...this is bad for America..and if we continue down this path, we will have problems not only abroad, but prehaps domestically with these private armies...

Bob Stodnick

How much bigger would the Army and Marine Corps need to be to replace the estimated 50,000 contract security workers? I seem to recall a ratio between 3 and 5 to field a fighting force.

Put your tin foil hat on ...

The equation here is real simple:

State needs security - they inhabit some nasty countries and embassies.

1 - Either increase state's budget so they can hire more DSS agents.

2 - Or increase the mil. cap. and detail some to provide security.

3 - Or continue to use contractors.

quote:

Originally posted by BobStodnick:
A nation state that uses private armies, is inviting an entire host of problems...it could start to errod not only the civil liberties of the people of Iraq, but what about when our government decides to use them here, as they did in New Orleans? the American soldier takes an oath, and not the one Mr. Prince has developed for his operatives...
By the government allowing private armed contractors to work, they could start to represent large companies in America (a nation state)via our elected officials visa via the lobbyist network...
Please count me out...this is bad for America..and if we continue down this path, we will have problems not only abroad, but prehaps domestically with these private armies...

Bob Stodnick

quote:

Originally posted by 2571722:
RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,152379,00.html

We are in a 50 year war. We need to stop bending over for the Democrats. Patrick Kennedy can get his drugs in that area.

Wrong Patrick Kennedy ... this one is a career civil servant and no relation to the more famous ones. http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/biographies/kennedy.html

Besides, as you used to remind us, elections have consequences.

To 0crystal0,

I can remember a military build up in this country that ended with 18 combat divisions, and four battleships put sea...it can be done..it may cost a lot of money, but is not freedom worth defending at any price?
And I agree with your points 1 and 2...however number 3 should be scrapped. As members and former members of the armed forces we were given moral authority by the American people, and I think that aspect of using armed contractors both abroad and domestically has been overlooked by our elected officals.
Remember an alleged murder of an Iraqi bodyguard was comitted by a Blackwater employee, and he was flown out of country as if he got caught stealing office supplies...Mr. Prince failed to mention what actions Blackwater took to notify state about this alleged murder by one of thier operatives.
I for one am curious, very curious....
They were used in New Orleans, what happens if one of thier operatives pulled a stunt down there? teminate the employee?
Mr. Prince wants to purchase Brazialian fixed wing acft, with 12.7mm MG's(.50 cal), that are capable of dropping 1.5 tons of ordanance. What in would a firm that claims it is defensive in nature need it's own air force for?
In closing beware of these private armmies and and their use. And remember when you say increase the budget, keep in mind that Balckwater is not there doing chairity work undre the banner of God and Country. It is a for profit army.

Bob Stodnick


Bob Stodnick

quote:

Originally posted by 0Crystal0:
Put your tin foil hat on ...

The equation here is real simple:

State needs security - they inhabit some nasty countries and embassies.

1 - Either increase state's budget so they can hire more DSS agents.

2 - Or increase the mil. cap. and detail some to provide security.

3 - Or continue to use contractors mercenaries.

If we are truly at WAR, as the POTUS claims, then we should do #1 and/or #2. But absolutely we should not hire mercenaries.

I always thought the Marines had the Embassy duty. That was supposed to be gravy duty when I was in, but you had to be extra squared away in the spit and polish way.