Comments on: The Pro-War Undertow of the Blackwater Scandal http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:36:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Seven http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-12969 Seven Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:03:09 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-12969 David - So five American invaders owe their life to mercenaries. And in September, 17 Iraqis were MURDERED (please, everyone - stop using the word casualties or collateral damage) by a PRIVATE ARMY. If you can't see how having a private mercenary army operating inside the United States and abroad is a bigger threat to freedom than any Iraq could ever, in their wildest dreams, wish to be. . . then I pity your narrow-mindedness. This nation is decaying. We all have front-row seats to the death-knell of one of the strongest empires the world has known. We deserve, as a collective nation - for all our warmongering and all the blood-spilling - everything we are going to get. And Thomas doesn't need to re-think his comments. You were in the military. . . good for you. You are not a hero, you are not my savior. You are merely a fool. Thank you defending me against threats that didn't exist. D. R. David -

So five American invaders owe their life to mercenaries. And in September, 17 Iraqis were MURDERED (please, everyone - stop using the word casualties or collateral damage) by a PRIVATE ARMY.

If you can’t see how having a private mercenary army operating inside the United States and abroad is a bigger threat to freedom than any Iraq could ever, in their wildest dreams, wish to be. . . then I pity your narrow-mindedness.

This nation is decaying. We all have front-row seats to the death-knell of one of the strongest empires the world has known. We deserve, as a collective nation - for all our warmongering and all the blood-spilling - everything we are going to get.

And Thomas doesn’t need to re-think his comments. You were in the military. . . good for you. You are not a hero, you are not my savior. You are merely a fool. Thank you defending me against threats that didn’t exist.

D. R.

]]> By: David http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-9283 David Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:05:06 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-9283 As Thomas comments, he sees clearly, from thousands of miles away. I owe my life as do four others as well, to a Blackwater rescue force who supported US and british troops as we came under fire and were sepaertaed from the military forces protecting us. Perhaps Thomas needs to re-think his comments ... David As Thomas comments, he sees clearly, from thousands of miles away. I owe my life as do four others as well, to a Blackwater rescue force who supported US and british troops as we came under fire and were sepaertaed from the military forces protecting us.
Perhaps Thomas needs to re-think his comments …
David

]]> By: Thomas http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-9055 Thomas Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:22:50 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-9055 American troops have not fought for freedom since 1945. Blackwater is purely a mercenary group with a private espionage army. History has shown that whenever a modern military uses mercenaries to bolster thier forces it is due to the incapability of the nations regualr troops to operate efficently. Also, when mercenaries are hired it destroys the moral of the regular troops. Blackwater mercenaries make nearly 8 times what a United States soldier does for the same risks. Face it, this war is over. The US simply does not know how to fight a counter insurgency warfare period. If they did they wouldn't allow Blackwater to go on shooting rampages whenever they wanted. Hearts and minds Bush? Are you fucking kidding me American troops have not fought for freedom since 1945. Blackwater is purely a mercenary group with a private espionage army. History has shown that whenever a modern military uses mercenaries to bolster thier forces it is due to the incapability of the nations regualr troops to operate efficently. Also, when mercenaries are hired it destroys the moral of the regular troops. Blackwater mercenaries make nearly 8 times what a United States soldier does for the same risks. Face it, this war is over. The US simply does not know how to fight a counter insurgency warfare period. If they did they wouldn’t allow Blackwater to go on shooting rampages whenever they wanted. Hearts and minds Bush? Are you fucking kidding me

]]> By: Russian http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-8513 Russian Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:19:33 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-8513 American Troops are fighting for freedom and Blackwater is helping the cause. Without them protecting important people we would be screwed in this war American Troops are fighting for freedom and Blackwater is helping the cause. Without them protecting important people we would be screwed in this war

]]> By: Timber http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7507 Timber Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:55:19 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7507 Maybe part of the problem is treating every person who carries a weapon for the government as a hero. Iraq isn't Europe in 1945, nor was Afghanistan, Bosnia, Granada, Vietnam, or even Korea. And yet most people with a family member or friend in the military labor under the delusion that their soldier/sailor/pilot/etc. is "defending freedom" no matter what they do and no matter where they are. Until we have the courage to challenge this myth of unconditional military nobility (tarnished only by the incompetence of civilian leaders, according to its adherents, including groups like Veterans for Peace), expect more of the same. Maybe part of the problem is treating every person who carries a weapon for the government as a hero. Iraq isn’t Europe in 1945, nor was Afghanistan, Bosnia, Granada, Vietnam, or even Korea. And yet most people with a family member or friend in the military labor under the delusion that their soldier/sailor/pilot/etc. is “defending freedom” no matter what they do and no matter where they are.

Until we have the courage to challenge this myth of unconditional military nobility (tarnished only by the incompetence of civilian leaders, according to its adherents, including groups like Veterans for Peace), expect more of the same.

]]> By: gerald spezio http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7417 gerald spezio Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:09:13 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7417 Blackwater is an integral part of uncle Milton Friedman's sacrosanct free market privatization religion. Do you think that God's own religion can be unseated by mere mortals? Blackwater's hiring mantra is; Dying for Dollars. We can murder for peace and justice. + Blackwater is an integral part of uncle Milton Friedman’s sacrosanct free market privatization religion.

Do you think that God’s own religion can be unseated by mere mortals?

Blackwater’s hiring mantra is;

Dying for Dollars.

We can murder for peace and justice.
+

]]> By: Tony S. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7408 Tony S. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:03:20 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/10/the-pro-war-undertow-of-the-blackwater-scandal/#comment-7408 When the Iraq War began, the United States had their "shock and awe" campaign which was dropping bombs from airplanes. At the war's beginning, the media of course went into a paroxysm of patriotism. We were murdering Iraqis, many of them civilians, and the media ignored the human tragedy. The same thing is likely to happen in Iran. Why can't the media face up to facts? Isn't that their job, to report what is actually happening? It certainly lessens one's respect for news people, when they won't even report on what is actually happening. When the Iraq War began, the United States had their “shock and awe” campaign which was dropping bombs from airplanes. At the war’s beginning, the media of course went into a paroxysm of patriotism. We were murdering Iraqis, many of them civilians, and the media ignored the human tragedy. The same thing is likely to happen in Iran. Why can’t the media face up to facts? Isn’t that their job, to report what is actually happening? It certainly lessens one’s respect for news people, when they won’t even report on what is actually happening.

]]>