"civilian military contractors" = mercenary

[Postman]

The new propaganda buzz-word for today is "civilian military contractor"

Definition = MERCENARY working for a private army.

For the dis-interested casual reader of the news, this term implants a visual in their mind that a defenseless civilian working on a military project in Iraq has been killed. And of course, this is the purpose of calling them that term, which fits right in with the Bush propaganda machine's fouling of the English language for their sinister goals.

An interesting strategy is revealed in the use of private armies to do the dirty work.

First, in using a private army they are not compelled to adhere to any pre-ordained standard of warfare (Geneva Conventions), thus allowing the "privatized army" to roam free in Iraq as if it were the Wild West and shoot down any perceived threat it deems fit.

This strategy allows the Bush administration to deny involvement in any human rights violations that happen to occur with the excuse - "it wasn't our troops who did it, but we'll launch an investigation"..and of course the "investigation" will go no where and fade into our memory.

I said OUR MEMORY. The Iraqis will not forget.

Second, the "official" casualty count becomes a smaller number to report in the news because the "private army" does the real dangerous stuff and thus becomes a "political" win for the administration.

Third, we see one result of a republican ideological point (privatization) in action. Privatization means - no accountability, no govt oversight, and you can skirt the law or completely avoid it to arrive at your goal.

They are fascists.

[Rick Myers]

1. Also, when they add up the KIAs

They don't need to count the 'civilian contractors.' One company reports they've already lost 13 people in Iraq!!!

[m-jean03]

2. Not always true -

A number of civilian contractors are only linguists, including a good friend. Others serve other non-mercenary positions. When you hear of an American "civilian contractor" death, you ought not automatically assume they are a soldier of fortune.

Example:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2003 - A third person possibly tied to espionage at the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- this one **a civilian contractor who worked as a translator** -- was charged today with making false, fictitious or fraudulent statements regarding computer disks he carried during a flight from Egypt.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2003/n10012003_200309307.html

However, I do agree with your point that these hired guns ought to be called by their rightful name!

[Vickers]

3. You can bet yer ass if they were there drilling freshwater wells

(for instance) they would have made sure to mention that.

Calling them "civilian contractors" in this case is lying by omission.

[suegeo]

4. How about Corporate Combatants?

I prefer to label them as Corporate Combatants.
Or how about privatized soldiers?