How do you feel about our government outsourcing our military?

Question

to ultra-right wing groups like Blackwater? And, since they are not soldiers, but many are American, are not being counted as military casualties. In addition, Blackwater is making billions from our tax money all the while they aren't giving their soldiers benefits for their work or to their families if they are killed in action. They are linked to Abu Graib tortures, Guantanomo torture, and the torture of many many innocent Iraqies. They don't have to answer to the American people or our government for their actions because they are considered a private business. They were used in post Katrina New Orleans and were allowed to shoot to kill if anyone questioned what they were doing.
Do you see this as a threat to our democracy? If so,why. If not, why not? Please read these
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/175406
http://www.alternet.org/katrina/25320/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1567656,00.html
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/983/81/

Oh, in addition. Blackwater's insignia is Red, White and Black. Just like the Nazi insignia.

NCAF33..... Dude, what do you mean by neutral? Fox (we account only to the president) News? Do some digging. This is well know. The Toronto Star, that I have listed above IS policitally neutral. It's a newspaper. And, Jerry Skahill is a world reknowned journalist who has won many many awards. He's researched this to death and has a book on the matter. You've been listening to Fox far too long to know what 'neutral' means.

spiritwal... My facts are right. You didn't read the articles. Clinton didn't downsize the military nearly as much as you think, dipstick. Afterall, he had a war in Bosnia to fight. And, this Blackwater thing started in the 1990's and Cheney was involved. Please read my sources. You guys sound ignorant and on Fox mental pills.

Answer 1

Dictators often use mercenaries to fight their wars. Bush is America's first dictator.

Answer 2

Thank you for bringing this to light. This is something that I was not aware of until your post. I am sure that there will be those here that will say you bleeding heart liberal! But what is different between what the outsourcing does by torture and rape and what Saddam did? There isn't any difference and Bush is very anti-American in his own right. Sad that Americans are more worried about gays having rights, than protecting THEIR rights as a human from a dictator like Bush.

To Spiritwalker: This is 2007, not the Revolutionary war where we didn't HAVE a military then. We have a military now that we should be using not outsourcing like Bush is.

Answer 3

To be honest, I would not care so long as the following conditions were part of the deal:

1. Full disclosure on cost/pricing of the contract...many of these companies have "cost plus" deals, which means they can charge 1.5-3 times the job. That's crazy considering the dime belongs to tax payers. Also, contracts awarded/tendered should be published for the public record and relationships with govt. employees disclosed fully.

2. They should have the same accountability as the armed forces have....the problem also is that when you have these companies providing services such as security, they are private entities and not under the umbrella of the military and therefore not subject to the same rules of accountability. This can create problems since they are in effect acting as de facto agents of the State.

3. They should contribute to a fund similar to the govt's VA fund to take care of their employees who are injured as a result of working in conflict zones.....

Answer 4

During the Revolutionary War, foreign troops were "hired" to help American patriots. Other than that, "out sourcing" our military would be like hiring bin Laden to guard a synagogue. Mercenaries have been used in some "covert" operations, but they were Americans. Anybody who would back OS is brain dead. Which means it isn't us Republicans, it must be Clinton libs. He downsized the military to the point of near disaster. Get your facts right. YBIC

Answer 5

right here is their cyber web internet site harmless until eventually shown in charge human beings have been shooting at our national safeguard human beings positioned up Katrina! i might shoot decrease back myself if i might been there. might that is greater advantageous to permit our squaddies to be killed by utilising some fool who theory it became a sturdy concept to stay in a position thats sixteen ft below sea point while a classification 5 hurricane became on the way? those nut circumstances in New Orleans are the prospect to democracy.

Answer 6

the U.S. military budget is roughly the same as all of the other countries in the world combined. Why in the world would we ever have to outsource with all that money being spent. It has and will only cause problems.

Answer 7

"They were used in post Katrina New Orleans and were allowed to shoot to kill if anyone questioned what they were doing"

Although wrong about most of your assertions in your question, you didn't really sound like a liberal wacko until you said the sentence above.

I notice most of your sources are historically one-sided. To add any legitimacy to your question, you may want to try and find a semi-neutral source to support the facts in your question.

Answer 8

It disgusts me. I think its a waste of money and an insult to the real troops.

Answer 9

No. Sometimes it takes a thug to get a thug.

You think the CIA didn't do this in the past to combat Communism?

How is the threat from radical Islam any different?

Answer 10

It's just another way Bush and his "friends" are using to bypass the checks and balances process.