Another successful privatization of governmental functions? How come it never seems to work?

What do you expect when the one running Blackwater is a rich boy from a family, politically well-connected (Repups only, thanks). Do you expect anyone from the party of family values and personal responsibility to be held accountable for their actions?

Blackwater attempts to do a thankless job that is easily dismantled by "arm chair quarterbacks". I'm not saying I approve of Blackwater, but they and their clients ought to know better. Americans demand guarantees for every aspect of their lives, and it's ALWAYS someone elses fault when things go wrong. Just ask idiots that get lost or trapped on Mt. Hood.

Black water activities sounds to me very much like a militia movement or even paid terror1sts. Any military group participating in the unjustified, illegal occupation of another country, executing or facilitating the execution of that country's leaders, killing and harrasing the civilian population, destroying property, private and state and managing it's resources are in my opinion terr1rists.

QUESTION:
Another successful privatization of governmental functions? How come it never seems to work?
Posted by: bobby stickers | Sep 20, 2007 5:28:06 PM

ANSWER:
Lack of accountability to any gov't org (which represents the people). The only thing they (BW) are accountable to is how much money they are getting paid.

Blackwater is just an example of what we can expect here at home if the extreme GOP-heads get their way about "privatizing" as many roles of government as they can. When police powers are handed over to civilian contractors - especially without adequate on-the-ground public oversight - the result will be "Murder, Inc."

The Democratic Congress can't take on credit card abuses do you really think they have a backbone to take on Blackwater in any realistic way?

The Democrats go puff, puff, puffing along- soft feel good things to say no real substance whatsoever. What a joke.

I guess you use a company like this because you need to be prepared, one thing about terrorists is that you can never be prepared enough. Blackwater is only as good as the quality of the people its hires. Its a very tough job and tough enviroment to live in. I would think its extreme living situation. I guess like in the streets kill or be killed.. thats what cops tell me in chicago.. so what is different about a war zone.. Theyjust happened to be on the watch.. im sure there are many more contractors out there who didnt make the news in similar situations..
I mean this isnt a situation for Miss Manners.. you get what the teams people have to offer.. at all risks
Pam IL USA

blackwater, the military wing of the republican party.

I will say that I agree that Blackwater whould be investigated.

Were I in Prince's shoes - Prior to appearing before congress - I would want a complete autopsy report on all 'victims' to include ballistics (was it a 7.62x39 or 5.56 round that caused death). If it were a 5.56 then I would want a complete investigation into the identity of the victim and their business in the square that day (did they moonlight as an insurgent?).

Looks like waxman is trying to showboat. And once again indirectly helping AQ with his ineptness and lack of understanding of an important subject.

We are at war and BW is working in a war zone... Its hard for soft men like waxman to sit in judgement and grasp the situation.

Good Ole boy politics and a big crook that will get away with murder....

Sam H: Blackwater wants as little investigation as possible. They've already stated that. Why? Because they are guilty of recklessly killing civilians. Al-Maliki
wants to see bullet holes in the blackwater vehicles. You think they'll be able to show that to prove they were attacked? I doubt it. Sounds to me like BW went "ballistic" and went into a panicked trigger happy frenzy.

I think in a few more years America will inevitably be a police state; especially with Eric Prince and his modern-day Pratorian guards.

Black Water, An American Terrorist Organisation any witch way you look at it. Hired Thugs. = Terrorists. look they just proved that as well recently. So America does support Terrorist and Harber them as well. Hmmm. We might as well strip the white off of our flag and show our true color. maybe even replace the white with gold. Hmmmm. Where did America go. I cant see it anymore. what happened too us. did we turn on cruise control or somthing like that.

If you ask me, the guy lools like some evil comic-book villain out to rule the world.

Wow...what a bunch of Monday moring quarterbacks! I wonder how many of you have actually been in a situation like that....yeah...that's what I thought

Might be wise to wait a minute or two here and see what is unveiled before lighting fires and burning things in effigy. The answer is??? I wasn't in the street, and I surely don't have any real information. How can I possibly pass judgement and throw stones? I can't... Yet! Seeing some of these somewhat inflammatory comments and rushes to judgement makes me wonder... When's the last time you were shot at?

As far as I,m concerned, Blackwater is Bush and Cheney's christian terrorist organization. Christian hipocrites and murders that is. Why is our military generals allowing this to continue. Is our Congress approving the money for these thug's.

Blackwater = Mercs for hire.

Expect the dodge the subpoena move supported by the whitewash house, which will lead to the emasculated congress to fully understand who they bend over and whinny toward these days.

I cannot believe you people sit there behind your computer critizing the American Government and the people who risk their lives on a daily basis...all you know is what the media tells you...and you act as if you were judge and jury. If you want change, get out and get involved, do something about it...

Blackwater is what happens when Dems try to micro-manage the war from Washington...let the millitary do its duty and if they really believe what they preach they can cut funding..what???too close to '08 for that,huh?

I do not like the current CONONDRUM we are in in IRAQ any better than Democrats who are investigating every mistake we make over there, (or even percieved mistakes); or Republicans who must defend same. However, it might be good to remember that in every conflict in history, whatever the country involved, there are ALWAY "hired guns".
We can never solve Religious sectarion differences anywhere. But we are going to have to face the dangerous realities of a changed world, with REAL evil people intent on destroying us & every other civilized country, regardless of how many innocent people they have to kill to achieve their purpose. Remember Hitler, Attilla the Hun,
The crusades, etc.

Blackwater is a domestic Terrorist Organization. When the president declares Martial Law after the next attack they have planned on the American people, you will see Blackwater out in full force thoughout American neighborhoods, rounding up anyone that opposes the Bush Regime.
Hallibert already has been given monies by the administration and Congress to secure and restore concentration camps throughout the U.S. Google it if you don't believe me.

Good Luck Americans in your complacency.

Peace.

First, I believe that those calling Blackwater a domestic terrorist organization or Praetorian Guard for the extreme right are not helping the argument: it just gives ammunition to those who believe everyone critical of the war is an alarmist, anti-American lefty. Second, the idea of private security firms be used so heavily in wars does not sit well with me at all. I don't like the idea of forces under the U.S. umbrella having two bosses - the U.S. government and some corporate president. I also don't like the idea of armed people over there whose primary motivation is coin. If we do have a shortage of troops, the answer is to reinstate the draft. I am against the war in Iraq as a matter of foreign policy, but if we're sending soldiers over there, I want them trained by the U.S. military and loyal to the U.S. government. I want them to be serving out of duty, for old military traditions of loyalty and honor, not to make a buck. I don't trust anyone in it to make a buck. Would you?

Seems there is no limit in DickNBush world to the number of people who are "above the law". Like DickNbush, these are a bunch of incompetent criminal thugs. The investigation of Blackwater needs to very broad and thorough - it will lead directly to the White House.

If we paid our solders even 1/4 of what Blackwater employees make we'd probably have plenty of people signing up - to the point we wouldn't need Blackwater or other hired commercial gun slinger support. And we'd have more money to properly protect them to boot. I have no problem with contracting out support like food services but, lets keep the mission integrity solid - using only American solders and the honour and dignity they are pledged to represent.

Somehow executive privilege is going to be invoked... gotta happen somehow.

If Blackwater, as alleged, also supplied weapons to Iraqi insurgency groups, guess what? That means US tax dollars are supporting TREASON against US soldiers.
THAT is the main thing that needs investigated!

toni,
Oh! It's "...accountability to any gov't org (which represents the people)..." that solves this sort of thing, huh?

Gee, the Nam Vets exposed to herbicide spraying will be real happy to hear this.

I've heard so many lies from accountable gov't agencies that I can't count them any more.

tgsqrd

What do you want to bet that Bush claims "Executive Privilege"

If this were Kosovo we were talking about, and Blackwater was a company hired by the Clinton Administration to fight on behalf of the US, Republicans would be up in arms and simply -shocked- that America's foreign interests have been outsourced to hired guns. But, since Bush hired 'em, anybody who questions them is un-patriotic. Give me a flippin' break.

When are the talking heads on television going to start talking about what the Blackwater personnel really are..........mercenaries!!! and they are much better paid than our soldiers and Marines, I'm sure.....

When are the talking heads on television going to start talking about what the Blackwater personnel really are..........mercenaries!!! and they are much better paid than our soldiers and Marines, I'm sure.....

I concur with AppeaseThis, Hole Heartily.. Well Said my Patriotic American. Thank you for keeping a real level head. In my Opinion it's Unpatriotic to support Evil Bush, Who has shredd my consititution.
from a former (Staunch-Republican)
the Rebulicans SUCK.
Nothing further needed

Wait until George W. brings Blackwater back to the United States to take care of all the people who complain about Blackwater.

Stop all taxpayer funding for this politically connected ban of Mercenaries. Who do they have loyalty to besides that of the highest bidder? Who police's them and who are they accountable to? There should be absolutely no way that Black Water or any other private security firm should be above the law in any country including on U.S. soil. Privatization of the military has got to be one of the worst decisions that Rummy made before being forced out of office. All they're doing is robbing the American taxpayer and profiting from war. There's got to be a better way to spend the taxpayers money. Put it back into our own military and let our own military protect State Dept. Personnel. That's the way it's always been until Black Water came along. Seems like nothing more then a scam to make profit at the expense of the taxpayer.