What kind of background do these people have and why did they start shooting people in Iraq. I think they make us look stupid and need to be told to go home. Whats your opinion? Am I mistaken?
2007-09-17 09:55:44 · 3 answers · asked by happydawg 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) hired them in most no-bid contracts, which were issued by the Pentagon....keep in mind who the Commander in Chief of the armed forces is.
The background of Blackwater mercenaries are generally former army special forces, SEALs, etc., who make about 5-10x what they earned in the army....which is why Iraq is running about $12 million per hour ($9 billion/month). There are more contractors than US forces in Iraq right now, even with the surge.
My opinion is that it is a bad policy to hire mercenaries to do your fighting for you. Mercenaries work for money, not patriotism. Nor are they bound by the Uniform Military Code of Justice. Meaning that there are no laws which govern their actions. Even worse, Bush gave them immunity from local prosecution for crimes, after we invaded Iraq.
Remember, when Washington defeated the Hessians, the Hessians were paid mercenaries...no wonder why they didn't fight very well and were asleep on the job.
Blackwater folks are not much different.
2007-09-17 10:09:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You've never heard of Blackwater? http://www.blackwaterusa.com/ (seems their website has been pulled today... wonder why....?)
It's my understanding they were hired by KBR, a former division of Halliburton, to oversee security for contractors working for KBR. They are a mercenary group, basically. Members are former soldiers from nearly every military in the world, mostly Israel and American, but many other nations too. They operate outside the chain of US military command, and in some cases are doing jobs the military would normally do. They have been criticized for indiscriminate killing, they are not bound by the Geneva convention, US military doctrine or nearly all doctrines or conventions of war.
They are going home: their license to operate was revoked. They do worse than make us look stupid: they serve as excellent fodder and propaganda for the anti-war and pro-Muslim extremist crowds, and for good reason; it's my understanding that a majority of the criticism is true. I'm glad they are leaving.
2007-09-17 10:08:48 · answer #2 · answered by Pfo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Iraqi government has just expelled Blackwater from Iraq.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070917/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
2007-09-17 10:09:03 · answer #3 · answered by obl_alive_and_well 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋