Encroachment? They have been there from the beginning.
Remember?
The terrorists that paid Iraqis to hang BlackWater Contractors from the Fallujah Bridge.
Yes, encroachment. What happened to those men is despicable and sickening, but they were solely providing security services at that point. Now they are actively involving themselves in ongoing military operations with no coordination or accountability to commanders on the ground.
You can speak in generalizations about “the enemy” and people can make comparisons to WW2 all they like, but this is a radically different kind of war. The armed services understand that, but it seems that Freepers don’t. A stable Iraq is our ultimate goal. Guns indiscriminately ablaze in a public square (according to the military report) is counterproductive and will only help to destabilize the region.
But, I guess vengeance and blind violence makes more sense. How very Christian of you.
First off there are good and bad troops in Levis or BDU’s in country.
That said .....
Everyone here is outraged by what they read vs what happened. ONE (1) contractor was firing wildly into the crowd and was forced to stop by other contractors after an IED attack /ambush they couldn’t drive out of. That individual as well as his employer will pay if the investigation finds he committed a criminal act. I’m sure he will be punished if the investigation finds he screwed the pooch per se.....
If found guilty then this was no less than any other lone whack job that slipped thru the background checks and committed a CRIME in a combat zone be they DOD or under Dept of State contract security.... Be the criminal act conducted by an active duty serviceman or a veteran working for a civilian contractor tasked with moving non combatants thru hostile areas to contribute to the common mission.
I challenge anyone here ranting about wannabes to get a TRY and get a job with blackwater or any other gun for hire contractor right now. So called rambo wannabes are weeded out fast in a three part process....background / resume experience check. Physical Fitness and personal interviews by established professionals with Spec op or SF bonefides. And his or her coworkers / instructors in training that can 99% of the time smell BS a mile away.
DOD is paying big bonuses to keep experienced combat arms specialties, Spec Ops, SF, Intel, EOD, language specialists etc etc
Contractors are paying almost 700$ to 1500$ a day in some cases depending on threat, mission and area etc . A young troop at the end of his initial enlistment or an older retired veteran with the skills desired and still fit and functional will go for the money more times than not per my experience.
Bottom line....they are all veterans of DOD or LEO world pretty much. I treat veterans with the respect they deserve until proven otherwise.
If this guy is found guilty punish him to full extent....