Why Don't We Ban Blackwater and other Mercenary Outfits Here? By Dave Lindorff

[Demeter]

OpEdNews

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_dave_lin_070922_why_don_t_we_ban_bla.htm


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Let's give the Iraqi puppet government some credit: At least they have the sense to delicense and order out of the country the Blackwater mercenary outfit.

The real question is why we allow them here in the US.

Recall that FEMA and Homeland Security used heavily armed Blackwater troops in the aftermath of the Katrina disaster in New Orleans. They were seen wandering around in flak jackets and helmets, with no identifying tags, carrying heavy weapons and M-16s. It is not clear how many people they may have killed or injured in those terrible days.

Worse yet, there's word that Homeland Security has standing contracts with Blackwater and other private mercenary firms for other "national emergency" situations in the US.

This whole concept is an affront to democracy and a grave threat to the survival of our democratic freedoms.

While the rules are often honored in the breach by officers who tape over their badges during operations, the law requires police in the US to identify themselves with badges that show their number clearly, so that if they abuse their power, people know how to file a complaint or a lawsuit, which is the only recourse they have for illegal behavior by police forces.

Police are also supposed to be trained in things like Miranda rights, civil liberties and so on. Again, while many officers go on and act like laws unto themselves, particularly in poor and minority communities, there is a presumption that they will behave in a law-abiding manner, and when they don't it is possible to challenge them.

Not so private mercenary "police."

Such forces have no place in any democratic society, and they have no place in ours. Nor do they have any place in American military actions overseas.

Bear in mind that the British use of Hessian mercenaries during colonial times was one of the main grievances that fired up American revolutionaries (although in fairness to the German soldiers-of-fortune, many of them eventually went AWOL and become Americans).

Why isn't it being decried as a scandal that today America is increasingly turning over its military and its police to mercenary forces, many of whom aren't even Americans? Blackwater, Dynecorp and other such firms are hiring Israeli veterans, former South African police, and Latin American graduates of the notorious School of the Americas (Torture U) to fill out their ranks, along with veterans of such US outfits as Delta Force, Navy Seals and the Green Berets.

The Iraqis have seen close up the inhumanity and ruthlessness of these mercenary outfits, and are starting to take steps to rein them in or toss them out. Americans should demand the same here at home.
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DAVE LINDORFF is a Philadelphia-based investigative journalist and columnist. His latest book is "The Case for Impeachment" (St. Martin's Press, 2006 and now out in paperback. His work is available at www.thiscantbehappening.net




Authors Website: http://www.thiscantbehappening.net

Authors Bio: Dave Lindorff, a columnist for Counterpunch, is author of several recent books ("This Can't Be Happening! Resisting the Disintegration of American Democracy" and "Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Penalty Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal"). His latest book, coauthored with Barbara Olshanshky, is "The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office (St. Martin's Press, May 2006). His writing is available at http://www.thiscantbehappening.net

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Why? Simple answer.

Because there's money to be made, and a lot of it is contributed to Republicans.

[daninthemoon]

2. We're only a stones throw away from blackwater and other cheney

haliburton style contractors patrolling every street corner in America. They're officially in New Orleans. Who knows where else? Just because one is paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get us. Republican mantra: privatize and shrink government everywhere possible. 170,000 US troops in Iraq vs 180,000 "contractors". Coming soon to a city near you.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

3. Most Americans have never heard of Blackwater

And by the time everyone figures out who they are, the fascists will have gotten total control.

Ignorance is bliss.

Until they come for you.

[old guy]

4. I suspect that if the Dems can gain enough ground in congress

and capture the WH these types of organizations will be greatly diminished. Too naive?

[Bobbieo]

5. Blackwater et al is where Bush's martial law muscle will originate!

[sallyseven]

6. You bet. He would use them against us

every American.

[ixion]

8. When Clinton took office, he furthered Ray-Guns 'war on drugs' policies, rather than

eliminating them, as I thought he would do, so I'm skeptical.

One rule of bureaucracy seems to be this: it's easier to create something than it is to eliminate it. As with many of the government's prime operating directives, this is exactly the opposite from the 'real' world.

[superkia]

12. Remember, Blackwater is a corporation with allot of money to throw around.

There aren't too many of our candidates out there on the campaign trail speaking out against the corruption in Washington these days, wonder why? We need to elect one that is out there making a stand for the people, not just smiling and telling us want we want to hear.

[tom_paine]

7. Because Amerika is no longer America, nor free.

And as such, the Will of the People counts for 0%.

Lil' Boots Private Murdering Praetorian Guard is going NOWHERE, except perhaps to guard over your Bush-ravaged city amongst the ashes.

[Melissa G]

9. Great Post. Great Question. Blackwater should be illegal.

Ask your Congress critter to get rid of them. They are taking over the job of the National Guard. Congress is letting the National Guard be killed off and the weapons be used up over in Iraq.
Is Blackwater and a particular US ruling faction behind this? My thought is yes. Reinstate the National Guard here at home. Delete Blackwater from operating as a US Govt operation on US soil. Do it Now!

[bvar22]

10. Don't count on Hillary to diminish Corporate Power.

She is solid DLC.
Like her husband, she may slow the plunge to CorporateFascism, but she won't stop or reverse it.

The DLC helped build the Unitary Executive. Don't count on them to dismantle it, especially since their candidate is leading in the polls.

[yurbud]

11. kick

[OneBlueSky]

13. funny . . . I was just thinking about this very thing yesterday . . .

and I wondered how various Democratic presidential candidates might answer the question "Would you support halting the use of mercenary armies by the U.S. government, and making the existence of those armies illegal in this country?" . . .

I concluded that the only candidate who would answer "Yes" would probably be Dennis Kucinich . . . Hillary and the rest would tap dance around the issue and maybe promise to "look into it" if elected -- code for "no way in hell" . . .