My bad…I meant to say that I agree with Benjamin…sorry Ben.

On another note, Stephen Voss referenced the issue regarding Blackwater’s (and other PMC’s) accountability to Iraqi laws:

This is made clear by Mark Hemingway of National Review Online. His recent report of his 2006 interview with a Blackwater vice president shows that Blackwater itself understands that it’s not above Iraqi law.

Again, if (contractual) accountability was employed, perhaps U.S. law 18 U.S.C. 3261 would be enforced regarding the alleged killings of 17 Iraqi civilians. The “jury’s out” so to speak, we will see what happens.
Another read (OP ED) on the situation in Iraq, “Working in a Tough Neighborhood” cites the “context” or conditions faced by the “mercenaries”.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/EDHCSS9J7.DTL

An excerpt:

“A month after the shootings in Baghdad that left 17 people dead, more than a dozen public and private investigations of Blackwater USA have reached a seemingly irrefutable conclusion. Blackwater’s forces in Iraq are behaving as brutal outlaws.

A congressional investigation found that Blackwater opened fire far more often than other mercenaries. American soldiers counted shell casings at the scene of the shootings and found none that might have come from attackers. The Iraqi government interviewed witnesses and victims who said Blackwater fired first.
Blackwater denies the allegations. But all of it leaves an indelible image of lawless renegades.

I am not here to defend Blackwater – or Unity Resources Group, whose guards shot and killed two Iraqi women driving home from work earlier this month. But none of the investigations, hearings, lawsuits and reports generated in the last month has put the contractors’ actions in context. None of them noted that the contractors are working in an utterly lawless, anarchic society.”

Let’s not forget, however, that the “mercenary” employees in Iraq are choosing this lucrative, albeit very dangerous position. One cannot truly understand the affect of the Iraq “situation” on individuals, but to those individuals, this is your job…a job you chose. If you are unable to perform in a manner that supports the “mission” of your employer, perhaps you should choose the mess hall. And a mercenary is a mercenary, and if a mercenary is given a green light to be a mercenary (no questions asked, just “protect” those who we tell you to protect, it is doubtful that any good will come of it.

Finally, take a look (if you can find any reliable facts) at how much Blackwater is raking in. And what actions do you think will be taken against Blackwater, the employer, for the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians?

Accountability and transparency has to be employed just to begin to straighten things out (our involvement) in Iraq.

“To support national and international security policies that protect those who are defenseless and provide a free voice for all with a dedication to providing ethical, efficient, and effective turnkey solutions that positively impact the lives of those still caught in desperate times.”

Sounds like an appropriate mission statement…yes? But the reality (seemingly as a result of abhorrent accountability) is that Blackwater, and other private companies operating in Iraq appear to be enriching themselves at a cost of Iragi and western lives, a failed reconstruction effort and billions of dollars to U.S. taxpayers. Simply put, these private companies are not being held accountable. And if these companies (not only security, but those involved in the alleged reconstruction efforts and those supporting the military) can be provided with billions of dollars in contracts, the contracts can certainly be fashioned to allow for accountability and detailed reporting to ensure accountability.

What’s missing? A genuine effort to hold companies accountable, and this can be attributed to a variety of “justifications”. Such as:

- It will take too much time and hinder the process to accomplish mission goals and objectives
- Adequate staffing is not available
- Add your justification

Without transparency of western/U.S. policies, programs and actions in Iraq, and public accountability of efforts made to support the programs, policies and actions that are fashioned in the best interests of all Iraqi’s, little can be done to avoid corruption, exploitation and at best, the negative perceptions held by Iraqis and other countries throughout the world.

There have been many that claim that financial gain and the exploitation of Iraqi oil, is the basis of our involvement in Iraq. And that inflated, inaccurate and even fictitious billings (by PMC’s to the U.S. Military) is common practice. I, for one, believe this to be more accurate than inaccurate.

I agree with Nathan that there is no viable alternative to the presence of PMC’s in Iraq. But I cannot accept that a serious effort cannot be made to hold all aspects of U.S./western involvement in Iraq accountable.

It seems important enough, just do it. We owe it to ourselves (to justify the lives of thousands of American soldiers and the use of billions of tax dollars) to Iraqis (to justify our intentions to facilitate a free will to govern themselves and rebuild their country) and to humanity (to justify the value of true democracy).

The reliance on PMCs was part of the original plan as I understand it. It was a horrible plan and I am cautious to even call it a “plan”.

I don’t think Blackwater is going anywhere. Iraq can not survive without State Dept PRT teams. It can however survive the political embarassment of having to settle for something other than the total removal of Blackwater. If Blackwater does go. Then a new PMC will take its place. (no real change) And that Private Military Company’s members will be the exact same people that were in the Blackwater PMC because they have the experience and the training.

Nadia or someone mentioned the notion that the US military is hemoraging troops to Blackwater and PMCs and that is not accurate. A more accurate picture would be to say the US military is loosing some special operations troops to PMCs. The average military guy can’t work for Blackwater because they don’t have the skill sets.

As far as I can see, whether or not to keep Blackwater is no longer the issue. The Iraqi government started something that can not be put back. Blackwater will have to go because Iraqi public opinion will not tolerate them staying.

Anyone who pays attention to the situation there knows this. they know that the US military can not sustain its current numbers. So no it is not blindingly “obvious.” It is actually factually inaccurate.

Let me ask one more time. WHO will replace Blackwater?

Iraqis can’t.

The US can’t(physically) and if it could -would not(politically).

There are no more Multi-national troops to do the job.

The UN can’t because it is a paralized structure.

Who?

Please believe I am not trying to be difficult. I am just trying to facilitate a useful conversation. In the begining I stipulated that Blackwater was bad. But unless there is a replacement for Blackwater… to remove them all together would be worse. That would cripple State Dept provincial reconstruction efforts. It is easy to extropolate that without the PRT teams (secured by Blackwater) Iraqi hardship would rise… not fall.

But I guess it is expedient for the politicians to deal with unaccountable mercenaries than admit to their people that they need more troops in Iraq.

But that is not an alternative to the facts on the ground now.

I can’t make it any clearer.

Oh my bad, I rescind my first reply, I didn’t notice this was a joke comment.

But………

Where are the alternatives? Viable alternatives to Blackwater?

Who will guard State Dept officals -the Provicial Reconstruction Teams that go out everyday to do the grunt work of building something similar to democracy in Iraq?

Who?

Iraqis have every right to want Blackwater held to account. But overstating the problem will not help in Iraq. Bitching about a problem without suggesting an alternative is silly and actually counter productive. An informed alternative would be public admonishment of Blackwater and its members being subject to US courts or military courts. The hyperbolic reactions I have seen on this page illustrate quite clearly why Blackwater’s obvious and horrible mistakes can’t be left to Iraqi’s to adjudicate.

Sory Nathan, but the majority of your people believe Iraqis were responsible for Sept 11th, your testimony is invalid.

Anyways, how long did the ban last, 4 days? I so called it.

Don’t the majority of your people think that Iraqis were responsible for Sept. 11th?

You should also remember people in your part of the world still believe there were WMD in Iraq and that America is bringing democracy to the Arabs. A huge disconnection between image and reality exists on the American side of the ocean as well.