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A number of Iraqis I know could fill this blog with harrowing tales of their encounters with Blackwater and other security contractors. These are only my recollections:

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jovial

Grew up In Brooklyn. Joined the Navy in 1976 stayed in 10 years. Aircraft Electronics tech. Worked for Major Govt. contractor then settled in California ...

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Comments: 42

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jovial
Oct. 10, 2007, 7:21 p.m.
I know there probably are thousands of more unreported incidents that went on in Iraq. What kind of people are these? Absolutely no regard for human life.
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sumptuousdigs
Oct. 10, 2007, 7:39 p.m.
Mercenaries. Guns for hire. Soldiers of fortune, and some are just desperate for the cash. The few rules of the game are not applicable to these freelance armed squads. To whom are they accountable? What kind of people are they?
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not2needy
Oct. 10, 2007, 7:58 p.m.
Barbarians!
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gamahuche
Oct. 10, 2007, 8:05 p.m.
The most important thing about them is that they are the ugly face of America which is being burned for a lifetime into the hearts and minds of the many people whom they encounter at the end of a gun barrel. Clearly from this story there were Iraqis who WERE ready to welcome those who brought them freedom from Saddam. But to follow up with the atrocities that were committed both by the US forces and especially by these marauding bozos is a sure guarantee that the hearts and minds have been lost for decades.
Next the planned oil coup will equate American "democracy" with plain old piracy.
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Eagle_Eye
Oct. 10, 2007, 9:12 p.m.
What I don't understand is the fact that we need a company like "Blackwater", I was under the impression that we had a military with lots of equipment.
I thought soldiers of fortune fought only in illegal wars for big bucks.....oops my mistake I just answered my own question
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engineer
Oct. 10, 2007, 9:36 p.m.
They wouldn't be there if it wasn't for being a pal of Bush
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Locky12
Oct. 10, 2007, 11:46 p.m.
The truth is Blackwater's employees are not above the law and never were. They are almost always subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and to Iraqi law. Congress could add clarity on how to enforce the rules of private contractors. Heck, Congress could address why our military is too small. Henry Waxman should address these issues instead of bashing Blackwater.
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ETproductions
Oct. 11, 2007, 1:09 a.m.
The mercenaries are a big problem for our troops too. Their job now is to win the hearts and minds of ordinary Iraqis. And every time some private contractor smokes an unarmed Iraqi woman or child, that job gets way harder.
The problem is we don't have sufficient forces to transition to an all military force. That's because, as Rummy so eloquently explained, "You start wars with the army you've got, not the one you would actually need to secure the peace." Well, maybe not quite those words, but something like that.
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mamasan
Oct. 11, 2007, 10:07 a.m.
It is all well and good for something to be done about them NOW, as this horrid "war" is winding down.
These guys have raped
pillaged
and plundered Iraq. This money will turn up in the GOP one way or another.
They will funnel it into shell corporations and then use it to fund the GOP.
This war was nothing more than a big banquet for the Conservative war chest to win/steal elections in the USA.
God save us all.....
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jovial
Oct. 11, 2007, 11:26 a.m.
Read the story. It's an eye-witness account, not a media report. Also read the additional comments that people made to the original story.
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hamy
Oct. 11, 2007, 1:46 p.m.
Really!? So it's the Iraqi people's own fault that security guards are shooting them? That is what you are saying?
If the innocent people would just stop defending themselves against murderers and rebuild what we have blown up and destroyed, then all would be well in the land.
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NoWayMan
Oct. 11, 2007, 11:54 a.m.
what do you expect when you hire a bunch of commandos who used to be part of pinochet's death squads?
PsychoHosebeastComment has been removed: Spammer, Abusive
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mr204
Oct. 11, 2007, 1:10 p.m.
I was in private, armed security in the early 90's. I hate to agree with all you Commies but, if true, the lack of professionalism of the Blackwater crew is unprecedented. It's like they hired some mall rent-a-cops and gave them guns.
I'm hoping it's just media spin. If they really were former Marines and SEALs, whatever they learned in the Corps or the Navy has been forgotten... except for the shooting part.
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jovial
Oct. 11, 2007, 1:14 p.m.
F u on the commie part, but here's to agreeing.
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nikkibabe
Oct. 11, 2007, 6:12 p.m.
Iraqis got freedom, thanks to Bush. Their homes bombed, their markets destroyed, their schools uprooted, no water, no electricity.
If they stay home, they are killed by US air strikes. If they venture out to get milk or groceries, they are gunned down by Blackwater mercenaries. If they go to pray, they are killed by the other sect. If nothing is happening, Al Qaeda tortures them.
What price freedom? I hope some sympathetic American can answer them. Is that guy out here somewhere?