Hundreds Mourn Contractor Believed Killed in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_HOSTAGE_MEMORIAL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) -- Surrounded by pictures of Ronald Schulz as a son, a student and a Marine, family members and friends filled a church Saturday to remember the 40-year-old contractor believed to have been killed by a militant group in Iraq.

Paul Sandstrom, who spoke on the family's behalf, said he feels anger and frustration, but added that the family wants people to think of Ronald Schulz and "replace that hole in your heart with a fond memory."

The Islamic Army in Iraq claimed last month that it had killed Schulz, who was working as an industrial electrician in Iraq. U.S. officials have not confirmed his death but his sister, Julie, said earlier that the family identified him in two videos from insurgents, including one showing a blindfolded, kneeling man shot in the back of the head. The video included Schulz's identification card.

[Surya Gayatri]

1. Condolences to his family, of course...

But, was he over there in that hell really to help the Iraqis or to profiteer from juicy contracts with Halliburton & KBR? SG

[Catrina]

2. He was part of Rumsfeld's 'private army'

This administration has their own army of mercenaries, who they call 'contractors' so the public will not realize that he money they okayed for the troops, playing on the emotions of the American people, has gone to Contractors who are hiring mercenaries, and of course other workers from not only the US, but from Africa, S.America, Central America and wherever the Contractors can get them.

I think the Cunningham scandal will reveal a lot of this stuff.

Another advantage to hiring mercenaries is that their deaths are not included in the official number of casualties. I don't know how many mercenaries (they hate that word, btw) have died there, but about a year ago, I read that at least 80 were known to have been killed.

These 'Contractors' are also taking the jobs that Iraqis used to do. That causes great anger amongst Iraqis, who are now unemployed.

I read a lot about Iraq's construction sector, after I realized that this administration was handing out 'rebuilding' contracts to their cronies, at huge cost to the American taxpayer, and found that Iraq had a very organized and capable Construction business, perfectly capable of rebuilding its own country. Had they paid Iraqis to do the work, it would probably be done by now, and it would have been a lot cheaper.

This whole war is one huge crime, every aspect of it.

'Creative Destruction' ~ the Neocon plans for the world. 'We go in and destroy everything, then we rebuild it' ~ I believe that was Michael Ledeen. They make money building the weapons they use for destruction, then they make more money, fixing what they destroyed, except they never fix it.

Is it legal for this country to hire Mercenaries?

I am sad when anyone dies, but why are these guys going over there when they know what a quagmire it is? I hope his family finds peace. :cry:

[Surya Gayatri]

3. "Creative Destruction", I like

the turn of phrase. (not to be confused with Inteligent Design which comes first!)

"These 'Contractors' are also taking the jobs that Iraqis used to do. That causes great anger amongst Iraqis, who are now unemployed."

This says it all--we are destroying and raping their country and relegating them to a jobless wasteland. No wonder they "hate our freedom"--our freedom to run riot over their ancient civilization. SG

[...of J.Temperance]

5. He was still a human being n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Of course, and I do not

condone the actions of his killers. If however, he was there hoping to clean up on war profits, I'm afraid that, as a human being, he has paid the price of his actions. That was precisely my question--what were his genuine motives for being there? SG

[Catrina]

8. The Iraqis are human being also ~ and I already said that any death

is a tragedy.

Don't tell me that this poor man was a human being ~ I know that, and I know that each and every person affected by this war, who has died, lost limbs, been tortured, is a human being. That is the primary reason for my opposition to it.

You need to tell Rumsfeld, Bush, Cheney and their neocon fascists that the lives they are so dismissive of, are human beings, who have people who love them, who had a right not to be lied to, or sent to fight an enemy (the Iraqi people) that didn't exist. Although no doubt it does now, which of course is part of the plan.

Rumsfeld probably despises men like this even more than he despises the troops. While they hide the bodies of the troops, sending them home in cargo planes like so much trash, at least they have to acknowledge the number of dead troops.

But as far as the mercenaries go, their deaths are not even reported most of the time, unless they can be used for political capital, as in Fallujah.

They are lured to Iraq, many times because they need the money. I need money, but would rather remain in need, than profit from the misery of others. Isn't that what distinguishes us from the rightwing?

Having said that, I know that many people who go to work for the no-bid contractors, do believe they are helping Iraqis as well as making money for their families. Many fell for the lies.

But members of Pinochet's death squads, said to be part of this 'private security army', what are their motivations, and who on earth would the US hire such criminals? They wouldn't if they knew the truth.

Again, may he rest in peace. At least his death has been noted in the press and his family and friends are making sure he is remembered as a human being. Good for them. They are not supposed to draw attention to this aspect of the war ~ he was supposed to take the money and if he was injured or died, no one was supposed to talk or complain about it. And as you can see, even if they do, they'll be called whiners by the rightwing, and their motivations will be questioned by the left. Both sides will say 'he knew what he was getting into' ~

This is exactly the trap the Machiavellian orchestrators of this war intended for the mercenaries. The true death toll in Iraq will not be known. Many, many of these 'soldiers of fortune' have died, have you seen it on the news?

I hope others think twice about going and realize that even if the 'money is good' the cause is not.

What I'm not clear on is, is this legal, to hire a private army from around the globe and unleash it on the population of a country that is under occupation? I have not heard even a Democrat address this issue. This cabal in the WH wants a private army that doesn't answer to anyone but the paymasters. But since the pay comes from US tax dollars, shouldn't they HAVE to answer for it? And why have they not?

[...of J.Temperance]

9. Surya Gayatri and Catrina...I apologize for not reading either comment

In it's correct sense. D'oh!! Here hit me over the head like this okay?

:)

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Thank you...

...and he was a recent resident of my part of Alaska and apparently a quiet, unassuming, outdoorsy type of guy, who fit right in here. I feel very sorry for his death under whatever circumstances he was in Iraq.

[LiberalPartisan]

4. Contractor = Mercenary

He knew the risk he was taking by going there but he chose to go there because he was a merceanry and the money was too good to pass up. I feel no remorse for the death of a mercenary.

[...of J.Temperance]

6. As I've just commented, he was still a human being n/t

[FlemingsGhost]

11. When you are a Merc, a hole in the back of the head is simply ...

an occupational hazard. Just desserts, to boot.

[nomatrix]

12. Contractors

This may surprise some people.
There are many different types of contractors.
Not all are contracted security. (mercs)

This list is about the best I could find, if there is one better, please post it.

I often see posted in DU these names ......KBR, Halliburton, Bechtel.

The Bigger Picture
http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/resources.aspx?act=total

This is the list of paid contractors in the region by awarded $$$ from 2002-2004 according to the Center for Public Integrity.

The list on this page breaks down what department contracted them. USAID, DoD or State.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro

[nomatrix]

13. Also on the site

is a research tool. Enter that page and you will find archives, also pentagon contractors not on the other lists.
If you click on the highlighted companies, you will be given the investigations done by the Center including lobbying, congressional support, company size.

When looking at the "Duke" Cummingham, Enron, Abramoff, DeLay one needs to look at the big picture of the many corporations that received contracts with our tax dollars.