They better hope he didn't have a camera-phone
You can read my overall thoughts on the Blackwater "incident" in the post below. (Shorter version: the structural incentives for contractors are totally out of whack--and counter-productive to any larger counter-insurgency strategy.)
In the meantime, I just noticed this....
From Time:
Some reports have said the helicopter also opened fire on Iraqis, but a Blackwater official told Time that no shots were fired from the air.
From page A14 of today's WP:
A Washington Post employee in the area at the time of the shooting witnessed security company helicopters firing into the streets near Nisoor Square in Mansour. Witnesses said they saw dead and wounded people on the pavement.
Better hope he isn't working for the insurgents either. Might make him a little biased, but since when did WaPo care about that?
Posted by: doc75 | September 17, 2007 at 05:22 PM
"dead and wounded people on the pavement." Yes, surprisingly, when you shoot at U.S. forces, you do seem to have an increased likelihood of ending up wounded. Or dead. But doesn't the article sound better when you word it like they were all orphans and school-crossing guards? Now if only he had worked in 'bloodcrazed mercenaries' as well, it might have sold even more copy.
Posted by: Drew | September 17, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Funny I didn't see the words orphans or school-crossing guards in the article.
Did see a lot of strawmen in your comment, though.
Posted by: Randy Paul | September 17, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Civilized nations don't need to resort to mercenary forces, so Iraq should have kicked the gung-hos out long ago.
As for being trigger-happy, considering the US track record in Iraq, I'm completely content to believe that until evidence proves otherwise.
Posted by: TJ | September 17, 2007 at 11:02 PM
The Iraqi Parliament finally stood up. Blackwater needs to go, but there is NO WAY that the US will allow them to be thrown out of the country.
There is no way that they will let their Diplomats security forces be told to leave. Sucks but, true
Blackwater has a at least 500 million in security contracts in Iraq. Dangerous bastards.
Hell the Green Zone is Guarded by a company called Triple Canopy Inc.(Latin Americans)
http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2007/09/whose-guarding-green-zone-contractors.html
here is a Blackwater Magazine ad
http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2007/08/blackwater-usa-magazine-advertismest.html
Posted by: NewsSophsiticate | September 18, 2007 at 02:48 AM
The Iraqi Parliament finally stood up. Blackwater needs to go, but there is NO WAY that the US will allow them to be thrown out of the country.
There is no way that they will let their Diplomats security forces be told to leave. Sucks but, true
Blackwater has a at least 500 million in security contracts in Iraq. Dangerous bastards.
Hell the Green Zone is Guarded by a company called Triple Canopy Inc.(Latin Americans)
http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2007/09/whose-guarding-green-zone-contractors.html
here is a Blackwater Magazine ad
http://newssophisticate.blogspot.com/2007/08/blackwater-usa-magazine-advertismest.html
Posted by: NewsSophsiticate | September 18, 2007 at 02:49 AM
Oops. sorry for the double post
Posted by: NewsSophsiticate | September 18, 2007 at 02:49 AM
great post thanks
Posted by: Sildenafil Citrate | April 29, 2009 at 11:24 PM
nice reading ;)
Posted by: Tadalafil Discount | May 01, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Nice blog... very interesting... keep the good work it!!!
Posted by: Order Tadalafil | May 18, 2009 at 11:34 AM
There is no way that they will let their Diplomats security forces be told to leave. Sucks but, true
Posted by: Online pharmacy | June 10, 2009 at 11:46 AM