Comments on: What About the 100,000+ Contractors in Iraq? http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/ Firedoglake weblog Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:40:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: That American Chap http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-410548 That American Chap Thu, 07 Dec 2006 21:25:59 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-410548 <p>I’m not going to dig through 190 messages to find out but…. the thing about these mercenaries that is never talked about is their position outside of the law. No wonder Rummy loved ‘em, they can commit what even this administration would have to admit are “war crimes” and walk away scott free, unlike (theoretically) US soldiers. If the troop levels are forced down by public discontent (doubtful…this administration simply doesn’t give a shit) you can pretty much assume that the number of US mercs will go up. I’m somewhat of a “gun nut” and so I’m on all kinds of weapons-related catalog lists. One thing that has become “in-your-face” about all of these gear selling companies is that their market is nearly completely made up now of mercs, buying up every little gadget and doo-dad that is built to foster some psychmacho dream of the hyperwarrior. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, it will sell if there’s a picture of some cammy painted paramilitary type wearing it/holding it/ shooting it. The merc market has become gigantic (Blackwater has it’s own gear-making company that sells to “independent” psychos) and the catalogs have become part of the government propaganda campaign, focused on shifting the american hunter subculture towards “human hunting”. You can’t imagine how intense it has become unless you see a few of these publications yourself. Considering the sociopaths that glom onto this kind of imagery, one can only wonder at what is and will be taking place in our name and how this is going to affect the reputation of the U.S. worldwide in the days to come.</p> I’m not going to dig through 190 messages to find out but…. the thing about these mercenaries that is never talked about is their position outside of the law. No wonder Rummy loved ‘em, they can commit what even this administration would have to admit are “war crimes” and walk away scott free, unlike (theoretically) US soldiers. If the troop levels are forced down by public discontent (doubtful…this administration simply doesn’t give a shit) you can pretty much assume that the number of US mercs will go up. I’m somewhat of a “gun nut” and so I’m on all kinds of weapons-related catalog lists. One thing that has become “in-your-face” about all of these gear selling companies is that their market is nearly completely made up now of mercs, buying up every little gadget and doo-dad that is built to foster some psychmacho dream of the hyperwarrior. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, it will sell if there’s a picture of some cammy painted paramilitary type wearing it/holding it/ shooting it. The merc market has become gigantic (Blackwater has it’s own gear-making company that sells to “independent” psychos) and the catalogs have become part of the government propaganda campaign, focused on shifting the american hunter subculture towards “human hunting”. You can’t imagine how intense it has become unless you see a few of these publications yourself. Considering the sociopaths that glom onto this kind of imagery, one can only wonder at what is and will be taking place in our name and how this is going to affect the reputation of the U.S. worldwide in the days to come.

]]> By: Loretta http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-410244 Loretta Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:30:57 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-410244 <p>I want more of us to examine an overlooked and alarming section of the Baker-Hamilton report that is not only disturbing but that helps explain bush’s strange deer in the headlights obsession with staying the course.</p> <p>Although Baker et al went light on how we can get out of Iraq now, they did manage to fledge out a concrete strategy for privatizing Iraqi oil fields. Gee wonder who that would benefit? And wonder if Baker and friends could possibly have interests, or ties to, the oil industry or possibly even Halliburton? Could someone on the report team served on any relevant company boards, or could someone have deeply vested interests and ties with the oil giants? Maybe someone’s legal firm has represented oil giants for decades? That Virginia would be a big, fat yes on all counts.</p> <p>So just maybe bush keeps repeating his bleak, weak we stay in Iraq till we win tirades because it’s just a ruse to buy time, to distract us for long enough to get those oil contracts sewed up for bush’s petroleum pals. He’s buying time for his buddies: the longer we stay in Iraq, the better the rape and pillage of Iraqi resources for the Houston bunch. The more he bleats innane and amazingly stupid pronouncements, the more we’re forced to discuss them and the less time we have to see the real issue here — OIL — same ol same ol. It’s about the oil stupid. Big oil’s immoral profits for the very few bought by the many of us and Iraqis and paid in blood, ours and theirs. </p> <p>Let’s pull this ugly greedy thing out from under its rock and into a national discussion. Let’s hear it debated on Countdown. Please, let’s wake up.</p> I want more of us to examine an overlooked and alarming section of the Baker-Hamilton report that is not only disturbing but that helps explain bush’s strange deer in the headlights obsession with staying the course.

Although Baker et al went light on how we can get out of Iraq now, they did manage to fledge out a concrete strategy for privatizing Iraqi oil fields. Gee wonder who that would benefit? And wonder if Baker and friends could possibly have interests, or ties to, the oil industry or possibly even Halliburton? Could someone on the report team served on any relevant company boards, or could someone have deeply vested interests and ties with the oil giants? Maybe someone’s legal firm has represented oil giants for decades? That Virginia would be a big, fat yes on all counts.

So just maybe bush keeps repeating his bleak, weak we stay in Iraq till we win tirades because it’s just a ruse to buy time, to distract us for long enough to get those oil contracts sewed up for bush’s petroleum pals. He’s buying time for his buddies: the longer we stay in Iraq, the better the rape and pillage of Iraqi resources for the Houston bunch. The more he bleats innane and amazingly stupid pronouncements, the more we’re forced to discuss them and the less time we have to see the real issue here — OIL — same ol same ol. It’s about the oil stupid. Big oil’s immoral profits for the very few bought by the many of us and Iraqis and paid in blood, ours and theirs.

Let’s pull this ugly greedy thing out from under its rock and into a national discussion. Let’s hear it debated on Countdown. Please, let’s wake up.

]]> By: The Oracle http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409608 The Oracle Thu, 07 Dec 2006 05:45:09 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409608 <p>There’s one figure that is never mentioned by the Bush administration (or apparently in the Baker/Hamilton report: how many support/private contractor personnel are there in Kuwait?</p> <p>In other words, the support/private contractor personnel in Kuwait are just as much a part of the total count as those support/private contractor personnel located within Iraq, but they aren’t being counted.</p> <p>My guess?</p> <p>The total number of support/private contractor “outsourced” personnel is two to three times the number of troops we have deployed in Iraq.</p> <p>I presume Democratic Party chairpeople in Congress will get to the truth starting in January. Enough Bush administration deception. American citizens deserve the truth.</p> There’s one figure that is never mentioned by the Bush administration (or apparently in the Baker/Hamilton report: how many support/private contractor personnel are there in Kuwait?

In other words, the support/private contractor personnel in Kuwait are just as much a part of the total count as those support/private contractor personnel located within Iraq, but they aren’t being counted.

My guess?

The total number of support/private contractor “outsourced” personnel is two to three times the number of troops we have deployed in Iraq.

I presume Democratic Party chairpeople in Congress will get to the truth starting in January. Enough Bush administration deception. American citizens deserve the truth.

]]> By: Millineryman http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409351 Millineryman Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:02:48 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409351 <p>As late as I am on this thread, I highly recommend Iraq for Sale, it’s done very well. It’s honest, it’s infuriating, and it needs to be seen by all.</p> As late as I am on this thread, I highly recommend Iraq for Sale, it’s done very well. It’s honest, it’s infuriating, and it needs to be seen by all.

]]> By: oregondave http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409335 oregondave Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:46:44 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409335 <blockquote><p>The Baker-Hamilton Report calls for a reduction in troop levels to 70,000 by 2008 “subject to unexpected developments.”</p></blockquote> <p>When I heard Lee Hamilton include this in his comments today on NPR, I shouted to the radio “waffle!” (Well, not really, but I’m cleaning up my language for this comment). This was about #4 in a string of ifs/ands/buts opportunities for waffling out for a Chimp who’s going to do as he pleases, regardless. Worthless.</p> <p>Hamilton — the same Democrat who failed us on the 911 Commission. Democrats have got to do better than this.</p>

The Baker-Hamilton Report calls for a reduction in troop levels to 70,000 by 2008 “subject to unexpected developments.”

When I heard Lee Hamilton include this in his comments today on NPR, I shouted to the radio “waffle!” (Well, not really, but I’m cleaning up my language for this comment). This was about #4 in a string of ifs/ands/buts opportunities for waffling out for a Chimp who’s going to do as he pleases, regardless. Worthless.

Hamilton — the same Democrat who failed us on the 911 Commission. Democrats have got to do better than this.

]]> By: kemo http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409254 kemo Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:04:24 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409254 <p><a href="#comment-409224"><em>raven @ 179 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.</p> <p><a href="#comment-409221"><em>Oklahoma kiddo @<br /> 178 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…</p> <p>The real suffering is yet to begin.</p></blockquote> </blockquote> <p>Ahhh ya right. It’s OK then, what’s another 2 megatons of explosives on Baghdad durning shock and awe… They would all die eventually, anyways.</p> raven @ 179

Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.

Oklahoma kiddo @
178

The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…

The real suffering is yet to begin.

Ahhh ya right. It’s OK then, what’s another 2 megatons of explosives on Baghdad durning shock and awe… They would all die eventually, anyways.

]]> By: atdnext http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409234 atdnext Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:54:26 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409234 <p><a href="#comment-409197"><em>punaise @ 162</em></a></p> <blockquote><p> routine maintenance to trim a burgeoning ziggurat</p></blockquote> <p>Sorry, punaise! </p> <p>I was so in the moment…<br /> I forgot to watch the growing Tower of Babble.</p> <p>; )</p> punaise @ 162

routine maintenance to trim a burgeoning ziggurat

Sorry, punaise!

I was so in the moment…
I forgot to watch the growing Tower of Babble.

; )

]]> By: angie http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409233 angie Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:54:13 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409233 <p><a href="#comment-409224"><em>raven @ 179</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.</p> <p><a href="#comment-409221"><em>Oklahoma kiddo @<br /> 178 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…</p> <p>The real suffering is yet to begin.</p></blockquote> </blockquote> <p>well, the garden of eden <em>was </em>there if one believes in such a garden and it was decidedly not here in the west and I would argue that the western interference, greed, desire for dominance and for resources certainly has caused most of the bloodshed.</p> <p>and our very young country has surely done plenty of killing…</p> raven @ 179

Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.

Oklahoma kiddo @
178

The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…

The real suffering is yet to begin.

well, the garden of eden was there if one believes in such a garden and it was decidedly not here in the west and I would argue that the western interference, greed, desire for dominance and for resources certainly has caused most of the bloodshed.

and our very young country has surely done plenty of killing…

]]> By: Oklahoma kiddo http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409232 Oklahoma kiddo Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:54:07 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409232 <p><a href="#comment-409224"><em>raven @ 179 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.</p> <p><a href="#comment-409221"><em>Oklahoma kiddo @<br /> 178 </em></a></p> <blockquote><p>The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…</p> <p>The real suffering is yet to begin.</p></blockquote> </blockquote> <p>‘They’ may have been killing each other long before we got there. Not with nuclear weapons though.</p> raven @ 179

Come on, you make it sound like it was the garden of eden. They’ve been killing each other since long before we got there.

Oklahoma kiddo @
178

The will be a regional war in the Middle East. The U.S. government started it. And from whence this war spreads…

The real suffering is yet to begin.

‘They’ may have been killing each other long before we got there. Not with nuclear weapons though.

]]> By: HotFlash http://firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409230 HotFlash Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:53:50 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/what-about-the-100000-contractors-in-iraq/#comment-409230 <p><a href="http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/12/06/whats-wrong-with-nancy-keenan/">new thread</a></p> new thread

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