Now, stories about these guys have been bubbling since the war in Iraq began, and there has been a growing movement among some conservatives and libertarians that contracting out duties that had historically been performed by the military -- often at a far higher price tag.
One of Fred Thompson's campaign advisers was on the radio saying he thought everything that didn't involve fighting be contracted out. Not sure if he was speaking for Fred, and that's a pretty extreme view, imo.
I personally like the idea of a robust military that offers a variety of skills to recruits. Also (as y'all can guess), I don't trust contractors to do the work that the military can do and has done. That's the short take.
But the backdrops peel and the sets give way and the cast get eaten by the play, there's a murderer at the matinee, there are dead men in the aisles
And the patrons and the actors too are uncertain if the show is through and with sidelong looks await their cue, but the frozen mask just smiles
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 03:25
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From the documentary Iraq for Sale:
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But the backdrops peel and the sets give way and the cast get eaten by the play, there's a murderer at the matinee, there are dead men in the aisles
And the patrons and the actors too are uncertain if the show is through and with sidelong looks await their cue, but the frozen mask just smiles
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 04:00
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He's going to call Rummy? Hadn't thought of that? Heh, heh?!
WTF?!
Seriously, that can't have been the President of the United States of America- that must have been Will Ferrel. The real President at least knows this is an issue.
He must have been playing dumb. You can't be President and not have an opinion on something like that.
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Seriously, the Roman Democracy started deterioriating more or less when Julius Ceasar brought his army home from Gaul and threatened the Roman Senate with it.
500 years of Democracy began giving way to dictatorship, which lasted across the world for about another 1,000 years.
We really don't want to create private armies. Right?
Doesn't this seem crazy, that these guys aren't subject to any law and our President is either totally ignorant to this concept or pretending to be totally ignorant of it?!!!
This is just nuts. Up is down. Black is white. I swear I'm trapped in bizzaro America.
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 04:53
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Our president is making a profit at being his dad's sock puppet.
The VP is making even more of a profit.
They have exit strategies for leaving the White House already while there still isn't one for Iraq, and have covered their own asses accordingly. While they act above the law and look like they'll get away with it, that trickles down levels to other individuals and agencies assuming the same while we sit and watch it all on the evening news.
So.....
Who exactly are we supposed to complain to? __________________
But the backdrops peel and the sets give way and the cast get eaten by the play, there's a murderer at the matinee, there are dead men in the aisles
And the patrons and the actors too are uncertain if the show is through and with sidelong looks await their cue, but the frozen mask just smiles
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 06:22 Last Edited By: Danny
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That is more or less what I'm left with as well.
I have a hard time believing that such powerful people could also be so uninformed, but you never know.
Either way, such developments are very, very bad for this country.
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 15:21 Last Edited By: Tim
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I think sometimes a leader can't possibly know everything he had to compartmentalize, and delegate authority, and he might know the answer and not want to share it at the moment.
Or he might not be the most intelligent president of all time on certain aspects. Heck anything is possible. I'm still mad about the 2 border patrol agents rotting away in prison for doing nothing but shooting a drug dealer in the butt. I'm not sure they would have went to jail for 10 years for shooting a citizen in the butt much less a drug dealer. __________________
Lucas McCain the Rifleman: A man doesn't run from a fight, Mark...but that doesn't mean you should go running *to* one, either.
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 16:19
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I heard an interesting stat about Blackwater the other day. I heard that 88 of their personnel have been killed in Iraq, but none of the principals they were protecting have been killed. I'd say that is a remarkable record. __________________
1 TIMOTHY 1
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 16:24
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Vid 1: What a fucking simp. The age of the incurious president I hope is at an end. Though Thompson strikes me as kind of similar in that regard.
Vid 2: Needs a little more balance, but, yeah.
Quote: Or he might not be the most intelligent president of all time on certain aspects. Heck anything is possible. I'm still mad about the 2 border patrol agents rotting away in prison for doing nothing but shooting a drug dealer in the butt. I'm not sure they would have went to jail for 10 years for shooting a citizen in the butt much less a drug dealer.
But what do you think about contracting out duties historically performed by the military?
Quote: I heard an interesting stat about Blackwater the other day. I heard that 88 of their personnel have been killed in Iraq, but none of the principals they were protecting have been killed. I'd say that is a remarkable record.
Those principles used to be under the watch of the marines. As well, Blackwater isn't dealing in a vacuum. US forces often escort them on missions.
What do you think overall, though? A private army, which operates under no law, except their regulations, performing duties historically the military's, at a much larger cost?
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 17:20
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There are legitimate functions of government, and defense is one of them. Having said that, I have seen where a sub-contractor can do the job better the military. I actually work in a related field.
As far as it being more expensive, assuming it's true, I obviously would have an issue with that.
I would be more comfortable with a company like Blackwater functioning as a for-hire bodyguard service for visiting dignitaries rather than as an arm of the military. Although I am familiar with Blackwater, and have known people that went to work for them, I don't claim any special knowledge about exactly what their duties and limitations are in their current capacity. __________________
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15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Posted: 03 Oct 2007 17:25
Captain America
Blackwater costs the government $1,222 per employee per day, a salary of $445,000 each year. The average Army sergeant earns between $50,000 and $70,000 per year, according to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Have issue.
I do think there's a place for contracting with the military; I also work in a related field. But, combat, bodyguarding in a combat situation and general logistics should be performed by the military. I know it's a conservative stand, but, what can I say …
Hello Kids! Can you say 'Cost Plus'?
You will after this.
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But the backdrops peel and the sets give way and the cast get eaten by the play, there's a murderer at the matinee, there are dead men in the aisles
And the patrons and the actors too are uncertain if the show is through and with sidelong looks await their cue, but the frozen mask just smiles
Posted: 04 Oct 2007 15:53
Captain America
It's funny. These reports have been surfacing for years, and you don't hear a peep of protest from the so-called "fiscal conservatives."
You get these people who talk about letting business regulate itself and that the market will sort it out, but it's such a farce. KBR/Halliburton were given a no-bid contract (most likely due to its ties with our VP) and our soldiers suffer for it. Where's their consumer's choice?
Do you think there's any connection with the election of a democratic-run Congress and Halliburton moving its corporate headquarters to Dubai?
Posted: 04 Oct 2007 16:14
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Quote: Do you think there's any connection with the election of a democratic-run Congress and Halliburton moving its corporate headquarters to Dubai?
Yep. Been sayin so for almost a year.
But of course, they have responibilities to their shareholders to make the smartest move. The "comparative advantage" of avoiding any sort of oversight, competition or accoountability dried up in the US. So, Halibrton moved to the promised land of Dubai- where no one was around to prosecute them. Of course, they took all our tax money with them. Not just the taxes of liberals- EVERYBODY'S tax money. Simple economics really.
Posted: 08 Oct 2007 15:15
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It will be interesting to see what comes out of all this. Let em go n record as saying if there were legitimate abuses going on, then they should be hammered. However, you can take all the Enrons and Worldcoms and any other 'evil corporate entity manning the lower levels of hell in the Erin-Brokovich alternate universe' and their scams, shady deals, etc are but a drop in the bucket compared to the gross graft and kickbacks and waste that is a normal functioning fact of our bloated federal government. __________________
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15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Posted: 08 Oct 2007 17:02
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Definitely.
Now let your mind roam around in all the possibility of the things we are not hearing about.
Go ahead.
It's fun. __________________
But the backdrops peel and the sets give way and the cast get eaten by the play, there's a murderer at the matinee, there are dead men in the aisles
And the patrons and the actors too are uncertain if the show is through and with sidelong looks await their cue, but the frozen mask just smiles
Heck anything is possible. I'm still mad about the 2 border patrol agents rotting away in prison for doing nothing but shooting a drug dealer in the butt. I'm not sure they would have went to jail for 10 years for shooting a citizen in the butt much less a drug dealer.
