Blackwater under Federal Investigation for Smuggling weapons - Page 5

TarBaby · #41 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 05:10 PM

Weapon smuggling is hardly the worst problem with Blackwater. This company is under investigation for murdering civilians, reckless fire, unprofessional and illegal behavior, and conspiring to cover up their actions. While I'm sure there are good men with them, that love their country and puppies and blah blah blah, they serve alongside blood-thisry barbarians so my respect for them certainly is lessened as a result. The Iraqi government wanted to pull their license only to discover they have been operating without one since 2005! Weapon smuggling is the tip of a dark and brutal iceberg. Get them out of Iraq, they are only doing damage to American credibility.

catzmeow · #42 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 06:09 PM

Define respect?

I can have respect for F100, and support him offering an opinion, while disagreeing with it, correct? Nor have I noted that F100 is particularly pro-U.S. forces.

So, I don't really see where I have failed to demonstrate respect?

Whereas you have failed to present a coherent argument. A far worse crime, in my book.

f100supersabr · #43 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 06:22 PM

Catz says

Quote:

* Must be a native US Citizen

is a requirement !!

The US military does not even make "native US Citizen" a requirement to serve. You got to be kidding!!

catzmeow · #44 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 07:25 PM

Came directly from Blackwater's site, so I'm not sure what your issues are with it. If you have one, take it up with them.

Yes, their standards are SIGNIFICANTLY MORE STRINGENT than military requirements for the average military service person.

shintao · #45 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 09:34 PM

[quote="catzmeow";p="398642"]

Quote:

Looks to me like they are an overpaid security firm assigned to the rich boys for protection. We might call them "body guards," or "security guards."

Quote:

I guess overpaid is in the eye of the beholder. Are you volunteering? If not, what amount of money would it take you to be enticed into getting shot at daily?

I have a hard time feeling remorse for people who do stupid things like go to Iraq in the middle of civil conflict. You might end up uneccessarily dead. Apparently there are stupid people willing to trade their lives for a paycheck. I am not one of them.

Quote:

These convoys, for the record, aren't hauling around rich privileged white folks. They are transporting people who are trying to accomplish the job of stabilizing Iraq and making it safer and more secure. I wonder why the insurgents are shooting at them?

You are probably right. It's poor people get shot for the rich people in Iraq, and being hauled around on the rich persons money. They are idots as well, putting themselves in harms way for peddly sums.

shintao · #46 (**permalink**) 10-01-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catzmeow";p=&quot

Beyond that, the idea that 4 years later, this is some sort of payback is just stupid. A stupid, stupid idea.
Because we all know the insurgents are peaceful pacifist types who desire nothing but to live in love and harmony with everyone...

I thought I might nail you on this - because "payback" isn't stupid - it's what the guy with the stick does to others for what his brothers have taken in combat. The BW boys have a lot of pent up emotions from combat & it comes out occassionally, regardless of how well your trained. You might be familiar with Lt. Kelly & a squad of soldiers who were doing the same thing other US squads had done before and got away with. Occassionally you get caught if you do it repeatedly, and I doubt this was a first time for the BW boys.

Combat has a flavor the protected will never know.

catzmeow · #47 (**permalink**) 10-02-2007, 04:19 AM

Blackwater guys get fired on almost DAILY, or deal with IEDs. They've had several helicopters brought down. They work as a team. They are highly skilled, more highly skilled in combat and protective roles than the average military servicemen. While I don't believe they are above payback, I also tend to think that the average American doesn't even understand what these guys do, or how highly trained they actually are.

TarBaby · #48 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catzmeow";p=&quot

Blackwater guys get fired on almost DAILY, or deal with IEDs. They've had several helicopters brought down. They work as a team. They are highly skilled, more highly skilled in combat and protective roles than the average military servicemen. While I don't believe they are above payback, I also tend to think that the average American doesn't even understand what these guys do, or how highly trained they actually are.

If they are so highly trained you'd think they could show a bit more restraint in their fire. These guys are trigger happy to a pretty shocking degree.

nomorechemo4me · #49 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shintao";p=&quot

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsqtr";p=&quot

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomorechemo4me";p=&quot

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsqtr";p=&quot

Are Blackwater contractors "non-uniformed combatants"?

The neocons have said we can't follow the Geneva convention because it was "quaint" because the terrorists are not following the same rules. But are contractors and mercenaries hired by our government uniformed combatants?

I'm kinda sad this point hasn't been raised yet. Thanks nonsqtr .

I actually checked into this (sorry it took so long).

The Blackwater types don't exactly qualify as "mercenaries", as that term is defined in the Geneva Convention.

I'm not sure exactly what they are, in terms of that document - hmm.... maybe John Bolton was right. That document probably could be updated a little. These are strange times we live in.....

Yeah, darn that Bushie - I mean, a statesman could have used that, right? Like, called an emergency meeting at the Hague and said, "geez guys, we might be the first, but we're facing something new here, so we better define what it is" -

I mean, if He'd have said it that way, I'll bet everyone would have been on board (I mean, we're not the only ones with a terrorist problem, right?) -

But instead we got "bring it on". Thanks George.

I went over to the BW site to see what they call themselves, and here ya go.

Blackwater USA is the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world.
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/

We are in position across the globe ready to provide rapid planning consultation, rapid mobility/logistics, and security assistance support in areas devastated by war or natural disasters.

Looks to me like they are an overpaid security firm assigned to the rich boys for protection. We might call them "body guards," or "security guards."

Many US companies have their own security forces where there is something to secure. ie. Nuclear plants, US treasury, banks, diamond exchange, schools.

I recall several of those Blackwater boys were butchered and hung on a bridge years back - so it probably is all about focused payback consulting in Iraq.

Quote:

Blackwater USA is the most comprehensive professional military

Direct quote from THEIR site!

THEY call THEMSELVES military. They have NO country. They are attached no one. They are mercenaries by their own definition.

If they get caught then the "quaint" Geneva convention doesn't apply according to neocons.

nomorechemo4me · #50 (**permalink**) 10-03-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amepro";p=&quot

Quote:

Originally Posted by catzmeow";p=&quot

talk about your inability to stay on subject for a bit. And I'll pursue the convo about F100 with him.

K, sugar britches?

Well, since I think it's my patriotic duty to give the military my utmost respect, I thought I'd give my respect to F100 since I do believe he's telling the truth when he says he was in the military.

We we're talking about respect for the military weren't we?

Quote:

I thought I'd give my respect to F100

Respect? No way! He questions our commander and the war! He's a "phony."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode