I think it's time that Congress shuts down Blackwater, and other companies like it.

[trumad]

or else someday I'm going to be fighting as an insurgent to take my country back.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Without the contractors, we neeed to bring our troops home

We can't fight this war without Blackwater.

So yeah, I am very much in favor of getting Blackwater and the other contractors out of Iraq.

[baldguy]

4. The US State Dept uses Blackwater because the US Marines can't handle the job.

If that's not one huge fucking red flag about the ABSOLUTE WRONGNESS of our involvement in Iraq, I don't know what is.

[Occulus]

11. I see your red flag and raise you one

They're also not accountable to any particular set of laws. On purpose, even.

[mod mom]

14. Another transfer of wealth. Public funds to corporate profiteers.

[melody]

2. I'd rather have them public and regulated -- but heavily regulated

If they go underground (and they've always existed underground), they fly beneath the radar and
would just move base to some third world outpost.

[MiniMe]

3. That would be one way to end the war

Maybe not, * is too damn stubborn. According to the testimony on Friday from the Democratic Policy Committe, Blackwater and others like it are the only reason * has been able to keep the war going without a draft. Pulling out all of the mercenaries without a troop withdrawl really would put our troops in danger, it would be like cutting the "forces" in half.

[tekisui]

5. BW's actions will lead to Iraqis retaliation, big time.

Americans are going to have to pay a price, and very likely already have, due to these rouge bandits. How is Blackwater any different than AQI or another death squad in Iraq. They kill indiscriminately and cannot be held responsible.

I guess murder is ok as long as you are a private company profiteering in an illegal occupation, on the US taxpayers back.

[pscot]

6. Private armies are a damned dangerous phenom

They are a tool of the corporations, not the state. Use of controlled force is purely a state function. Contracting it out is a slippery slope. Eventually it will be used against the citizens.

[msongs]

7. the republicans rule and control congress, ain't gonna happen nt

[ljm2002]

8. I totally agree...

...these organizations will be turned against us. You can feel it. The authoritarian grip is tightening and there does not seem to be a damned thing we can do about it, except rage against the dying of the light.

[bobthedrummer]

9. "Security Company Death Squads Timeline by Dirk Adriaensens and Sarah Meyer"

cross-posted thread with extensive Blackwater links and profiles of 19 other mercenaries (started 9-25-2007)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x309935

Dennis Kucinich made the comment that Blackwater executives appearing before Henery Waxman's House Oversight Committee should be considered as accessories to murder.

Erik Prince links

from Media Mouse.org
"The Far Right in West Michigan: Erik Prince"
http://www.mediamouse.org/resources/right.php?personId=8

Source Watch.org profile
"Erik Prince"
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Erik_Prince

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST

[blm]

10. Bush1 and Cheney set this in motion in 91, Clinton continued, and Bush2 ratcheted

it up so fast that we could finally see the fuller picture here.

Fascism.

The deniers are effing crazy or complicit at this point.

[bobthedrummer]

12. You got it blm

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST

[mod mom]

13. Stop the funding or you will be held responsible for their actions!