Blackwater mercs likely to stay in Iraq, despite gov't ban

send them to Gaza to help out with ending that war.

These guys are ex Green Berets, Rangers and Seals. They are highly disciplinned, expertly trained and protect all the asshole politicians who show up in Iraq and want to feel safe. Got it? They don't rape and are not above the law. They are TOP notch at what they do, because their rules of engagement are different than the army. In the regular military - you have to be fired on before returning fire. With these guys - if they feel that the lives of those they protect are in danger - they can engage first!!! It is that simple. Which means the folks who make the rules value the lives of the regular military less than those of the diplomatic core Blackwater protects. And for those of you who apparently hate them so much - I have one thing to say - you are scared shitless of our top notch killers!!! Blackwater - I salute you! We need more like you in our ranks - kick ass and take names. Then perhaps there would be less idiots who chant "death to America". Whoaaa...

the army isn't really anything other than a mercenary force itself.

this is a damn shame. bad news for a lot of ppl. they need to be expelled. they shoulda been expelled a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time ago. Damn shame

I can't help to think these guys probably just have a wierd love for combat and should join the military if they want to help so much.

I wonder if these guys are going to miss being able to kill, rape and steal what ever the fuck they want and be completely above the law.

What kind of fucking assholes would ever employ these criminal organizations?

USA I'm looking at you.

"He is at this Time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with Circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation."

Quote about King George III from the first draft of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson.

These people are nothing more than paid murderers. I have no respect for them.

For the one who prays for their death - same to you!!! These are top notch soldiers, doing a dirty job - and doing it extremely well. They have some of the most dangerous jobs in the world - with a perfect track record. No, they probably wouldn't fit well into a civilian lifestyle - but they are Americans - so let's not wish them any less than you would wish yourself. I say bring them back to the States and let them kick some liberal fat ass!!! Whoaaa!!!

I guess there are jobs soldiers can't do. Mercs are gonna be there till the war is over.

Good, let them stay there with no immunity and less military back up.

I think the Iraqi Government is too chicken to say they need Americans to intervene and protect them so they are using these corporations to do what their soldiers cannot do, keep them safe from insurgents who would like to see the government of Iraq in body bags.

Our operations over there the last year or maybe more was purely to help stabilize the region and help their government gain control of their people. Their government rather drug their feet as if the coalition forces would do EVERYTHING for them. Well? We cannot. They have to participate.

They had pressure to have Americans leave, mostly from America, so the US troops are pulling out and they still need protection.

So what options does the Iraqi government have? Black Water and the other protection agencies. They are made up of x-navy seals, rangers and outstanding men that served in the US military. I don't know if they had gotten conflicting instructions on missions or what. We have heard both good and bad.

But Iraq wants them so they can't be that horrible.

The idea of private armies scare the shit out off me. what happens when they get big enough to rival global armies?

WE COULD ONLY PRAY THEY DIE OVER THERE...

At least if they stay there they are not coming home to tack regular jobs as say, police officer.

Mercenary companies are the private armies of the rich, moving to take over. Far-fatched? Not really. Thanks for f-ing democracy world-wide, Bush!

This is a mirror of the whole pattern of the Bush administration, and I think the two should be treated the same. The chain of guilt should be followed all the way, not restricted to punishing a few scapegoats. What matters in this case is money. When financial penalties reach the point where it's no longer profitable to ignore crimes, then you might see some change.

let em stay I say, who wants mercs like that in the states?

I would really like to see Obama tear up the contract with these firms and tell them where they can shove it. Why are we paying rediculas amounts of money to these firms that are just doing the jobs that our military has always done for a fraction of the cost? Cheney is gone so lets kick his buddies out to.

International or local, Blackwater rakes it in...whatever !

"During Fiscal Years 2005 through 2007, Blackwater or an affiliated company obtained a total of 39 contracts that were set aside for small businesses even though the bidder may not have met SBA's criteria to be considered a small business," the OIG report concluded. It referred the matter back to the SBA for further action.

The report, released this week, is the latest in a long series of investigations that have revealed large corporations on the receiving end of hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts that are supposed to go to small firms. Mismanagement and lack of accountability at the troubled agency have been a persistent part of the problem. And that was also the case here.

The OIG investigators said the SBA did not adequately explain its reasons for concluding that Blackwater security personnel were independent. It also said the SBA "did not follow up on or attempt to reconcile conflicting information in its files that the total number of Blackwater employees -- even excluding the security personnel hired under federal contracts -- exceeded the applicable size standard."

Business Intelligence
SBA Faulted for Role in Blackwater Security Guard Scandal
http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices/11382379-1.html

Also...
Blackwater Expanding Its Domestic Reach
http://current.com/items/89765569/blackwater_expanding_its_domestic_reach.htm

"A rose by any other name........