[SomeReasonableDude]

I’ve been surprised to hear such negative reactions to Blackwater by men and women I work with that have served in Iraq. I mean, people inside and outside of the conflict realize that there’s a need for diplomatic security that the military just does not have the resources for, but this encroachment by contractors into the active battlespace has been going on for a while now.

There’s real frustration on the part of soldiers and commanders when these guys are outside of the military chain of command and are rarely held accountable when their actions jeopardize ongoing operations or endanger troops and civilians. Men and women of our armed forces are giving their blood and sweat to stabilize this area, only to have private cowboys come in and shoot up the place indiscriminately.

And, to add to the frustration, they’re paid exorbinant amounts of money for the same work as an E4.

[Calpernia]

>>>but this encroachment by contractors into the active battlespace has been going on for a while now.

Encroachment? They have been there from the beginning.

Remember?

The terrorists that paid Iraqis to hang BlackWater Contractors from the Fallujah Bridge.

[freedomdefender]

"I’ve been surprised to hear such negative reactions to Blackwater by men and women I work with that have served in Iraq. I mean, people inside and outside of the conflict realize that there’s a need for diplomatic security that the military just does not have the resources for, but this encroachment by contractors into the active battlespace has been going on for a while now. There’s real frustration on the part of soldiers and commanders when these guys are outside of the military chain of command and are rarely held accountable when their actions jeopardize ongoing operations or endanger troops and civilians. Men and women of our armed forces are giving their blood and sweat to stabilize this area, only to have private cowboys come in and shoot up the place indiscriminately. And, to add to the frustration, they’re paid exorbinant amounts of money for the same work as an E4."

I'm not surprised that US soldiers are frustrated. And, unfortunately, I'm not surprised that the Bushbots won't look at this situation objectively, instead of ritually and unthinkingly defending the apparent government policy of giving contractors free rein.

[ßuddaßudd]

Wasnt there a big battle where US troops had to go and rescue some Blackwater personnel, which turns out to be illegal for them to do? or someting like that?

[Terirem]

I’ve been surprised to hear such negative reactions to Blackwater by men and women I work with that have served in Iraq. I mean, people inside and outside of the conflict realize that there’s a need for diplomatic security that the military just does not have the resources for, but this encroachment by contractors into the active battlespace has been going on for a while now.

Am I the only one who is troubled that the US government is funding a bunch of Rambo-wannabees who apparently have no accountability for their actions?

I just want to add that while those Blackwater men who guard American diplos and other high level VIPs tend to be American nationals the Blackwater low end employees tend to be men hired from all over the world. Is my understanding correct?

[Proud2BAmerican]

I'm not surprised at all -- these morons are basically putting the lives of every single U.S. soldier at risk with their wanton slaughter of civilians. Because when they do that, they basically inspire the Iraqi populace to identify anything with an American flag as murderers just like Blackwater, increasing the chances of our own soldiers becoming casualties.

I have no sympathy for Blackwater after they murderered an innocent little girl in the back seat of a car at that square.