In general, what do people think of the idea of hiring others to kill people on your behalf? And, when they aren't hired to kill people, but do a lot of that instead of the work they're supposed to be doing, how should that be handled? How many people out there think the rule of law should apply, especially when the goal is to steal oil bring democracy to a former dictatorship?

Blackwater is preparing to answer for the unprovoked massacre of 17 civilians, and the harm this has caused to the army's mission and the personal safety of all Americans in Iraq.

The hired soldiers from Blackwater have turned themselves in, to stand trial, in Utah. One among them has any connection to the state of Utah, the others are hoping for a soft on crime jury, in light of the state's past. (Mountain meadows) This bid failed. So far the defense appears centered around a technicality - the rule of law itself is over any individual working in support of the Department of Defense's mission, but Blackwater's checks were signed by the Department of State. Defense lawyers argue this should make their clients unaccountable.

There are more private contractors supporting the US mission in Iraq than there are US soldiers. Blackwater has been bilking the taxpayer some $800 to $1,100 a day for toy soldiers - by contrast, General Patraeus is paid "only" $500 a day for his services, and only 1 of him.

Blackwater has fired a disturbing number of their guards. The most common reasons are "weapons incidents", followed by "drug and alcohol related violations".



My quesion is, do you think these people should be accountable? Or is anarchy a better way to establish the rule of law?

I think they do a great job for the US and its money well spent. The killing of 17 has major problems in its case. The biggest problem is all the bullet holes in their vehicle. Amazing that the vehicle was shot up by civilians.

I think that if we had a more reasonably staffed and outfitted standing professional fighting force we wouldn't need to rely so heavily on reserve and mercenary units to fill in the gaps..

Why do you think it is that more people don't volunteer to staff the army you describe?

And, if we're going to start and fight wars to steal oil for the president's buddies, does this mean we need a draft?

You are aware that recruitment and re-enlistment are at all time highs, aren't you??

The main reason that the army is as small as it is is because there is no annual funding to hire more soldiers.. They are constantly RIFing great people simply because they can't afford to keep them..

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Why do you think it is that more people don't volunteer to staff the army you describe?

And, if we're going to start and fight wars to steal oil for the president's buddies, does this mean we need a draft?

And how exactly are we stealing oil again? That makes no sense what so ever.

Canada is much closer than Iraq and has more oil.

If the war was about oil then Canada would be a much better targer


Nevermind the war for oil is a catch phrase, i forget people just like to say that.

Noob, the answer is implicit in your radical statements: the solution - the US needs to quit stealing oil. Bottom line! But hey. Winter needs to be warmer. Tasty food need to be less fattening. Muslims (I dare to say) need to have more sex. So let's cut the US some slack.

Although I suppose that killing so many (100s of 1000s of) innocent people is not really deserving of THAT much slack. Still, maybe President Obes can learn to be a humbler, less criminal president than his predecessors (after all even William 'the cigar' Clinton helped starve many iraqi children to death with sanctions that were created as a result of a phony war sponsored by US intervention pre-kuwait-invasion... the kuwait slant-drilling ops and other aggression against iraq's children and families and taxpayers was allegedly set up by Cheney, who also forced the Saudis to "invite" the USA to intervene...)

I think the USA needs to spend a few decades in total poverty before it figures out the right behaviour... and guess what: that's what's going down!

Still, I hate talking politics. Once I start I'll still be at it 1000 posts later, and will have FAR fewer friends! So I'll just leave it at that and let YOU do the politics thing and I'll just stick to promoting perl, trying to convince the world that PAYING ADVERTISING PROFESSIONALS is not immoral, and citing the occasional random comedy/scifi-drama on the general forum!

If the war was about oil then Canada would be a much better targer

Jesus! The human brain has SO many levels of operability.

We have had a long history of this and the good doctor Ron Paul pointed out how we destroyed democracy in Iran by taking our mossadegh in the 1950's and because of our actions , Iran now is a theocracy instead of a democracy