Navy SEALs are considered an elite force. The connections between Blackwater and Navy SEALs seems to be a concern for some people. Are Blackwater personnel sticking to core SEALs values?
More on this in the article ...

"Navy SEALs, Marines use positive human traits and virtues for success"

Those who have covered-up for Blackwater in the State Dept. seem to think the Blackwater victims don't matter - because they are Arabs. It's that type of institutional attitude by the US government that leads to many Arabs hating us in Iraq and elsewhere.

Checks and Balances, remove them and you have yourself an uncontrolable entity, like a teenager without supervision.

Considering there are more contractors in Iraq than military personnel, this is just another example of the giant gravy train that is the war in Iraq. We have paid Blackwater over $1 billion? That is a lot of money people. Can you say re-distribution of wealth? From us to them. Nice.

Blackwater has had over one billion dollars in no-bid contracts with the US government. That's quite a return on their campaign contributions to the republican party.

Blackwater is providing a service that is a necessity in Iraq. That being said there is no excuse for these actions. I believe there should be some major investigations into how they have received these contracts. I am willing to bet that someones pockets on capital hill are getting fat. That will answer the questions to how these actions have been swept unfortunately swept under the rug!

Its called getting the job done.

We're not there. They are.

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Corruption, handing out No bid contracts, no accountability, no respect for the people, wasteful spending... I could just go on.
This government is more of a threat to the US people than Iran or Syria.

Is there a law that says if both the executive and the legislative branch of the govt. fail to represent the people then we get to kick them out and hold them responsible for their actions?

Blackwater - Mission not accomplished! For 1 Billion Dollars my expectations would be that Osama would be incarcerated today. The task seems to be too much for this group; killing innocent individuals and covering up is not acceptable. Mission not accomplished!

This Blackwater thing is going to end up big. There is far more to it than meets the eye...

What about all the other contracted killers we have there? As guilty as Blackwater is, I think they are being made a scapegoat while the SAME THING CONTINUES with other murderous corporate outfits.

Blackwater's problems should not be a reflection on the military service's their employees happen to come from. It seems they haven't been doing a good job of checking references for some of their hire. The star shooter in the famous/infamous "An Najaf Turkey Shoot" Video was a case in point.
He was kicked off the Navy Seals and is an embarrassment to the Special Forces community by promoting himself as such.
When there is one bad apple that shouldn't have been in the basket, would expected to be more.

Well, first let's ask ourselves a question? Who are the insurgents or terrorists, whatever you want to call them. Are they the americans or arabs?
Who blows up people, cars and buildings?

I have an uncle who was a NAVY SEAL and at a recent reunion my uncle learned that he has little in common with the modern NAVY SEAL. I heard the sadness in his voice and now i get to see a picture of one of these modern day seals...bark like a seal torture grease...

Sounds like these Blackwater executives should be brought up on war crimes and murder charges.

As a two-time US Marine Corps combat veteran, I think its laughable that "Monday Morning Quarterbacks" who have never placed themselves in harms way would have the audacity to question the actions of some that has. In no uncertain terms to condone the alleged criminal behavior of Blackwater Personnel, many of whom served in the Special Operations community. Just as the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) governed their conduct while they were in the military, federal law should govern their conduct as civilians. Violate and suffer the consequences. In short, don't be so quick to judge.

Hire mercenaries, get thugs.

I would not believe one word presented by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Mr Waxman is a chronic whiner, he and Schumer, Levin, Fiengold, Fienstein, Boxer and the rest of the whiners should be impeached. I guess this clown Waxman did not realize it was Blackwater personnel that protected him during his visit to Iraq. Next time just give him a gun and let this clown defend himself.

Most of the comments here are from people who don't have a clue as to what they are talking about. All they know is what they have heard from bias news media reports, and propaganda from all types of unreliable sources, one of which being the so called 'reporter' Jeremy Scahill who wrote the book about Blackwater USA. Most people don't know that he is a confirmed left wing Socialist, working for the Socialist media outlet 'The Nation'. I think before you Hammer Blackwater so hard you should see where all this is coming from and why...It really doesn't have a whole lot to do with the way Blackwater specialist protect their diplomats, but more the political means to suit the desired result that can be played by the left.

these people are in a war torn country and yet you want them to act like they were in the USA?
come on now.They are defending people and themselves when anyone can walk up to them with a bomb strapped to themselves.
sorry, this is a non story.bet if it was a abc reporter over there depending on these people to protect them, they wouldnt be so biased against them.

"Dystopia"

dys•to•pi•a: n. - A society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding; An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror; An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives; an imaginary place where everything is as bad as it possibly can be, or a vision or description of such a place.

We are told that the function of evolution is to perfect the species. Man adapts and mutates constantly, discarding characteristics that hinder his survival, and assimilating those that strengthen it. Given that premise, the human race could evolve into the much-heralded Superman: a living God.

Look around. And think again.

Are we seeing the survival of the fittest? Or could it be the survival of the unfittest? What do you see? The decline of intelligence year after year, accompanied by the radical increase of numbers.

Black water An American Terrorist Organization. When did we loose our American way. How did we come too this.
oh yeah we voted for, The dumb Emperor Bush.

Whether or not one agrees with the story or some of the comments here, it's good to read all of the different perspectives Americans can have on the same topic. This is proof of a true Democratic society in which we can "speak" our mind...hopefully in an intelligent and civilized manner. With that said, it is my opinion that its never a bad thing to have accountability. Blackwater may or may not be guilty of inappropriate use of force, but the fact that they now know that they may be held accountable may ultimately improve their training programs, hiring process, internal oversight, ethics, etc. Accountability, especially where taxpayers' money is involved, is never a bad idea. Accountability forces a person, company, etc. to become more responsible for his/her/its own actions.

Listen to the blackwater clown prop up his side of the story while he conveniently forgets that PROPAGANDA is a main element of his sides strategy.

How do I get a job with Blackwater? Maybe all you people that disagree with the way they do things can go over there and solve this matter by blowing kisses and holding up peace signs. Oh yea how do we as americans enjoy our freedom. Let me think. Hmmm by kicking ass thats how. Just think about blackwater as fire and instead of running towards them -how bout running away from them because it sounds like they will burn your hide.

Gotta admit the fact that a client of theirs in Iraq has never died, in six years. They are amazing, maybe the military should take on their same policies.

I think its such a joke when I hear someone suggest that our "freedoms" in this country are due to the men and women fighting in Iraq today. What are you talking about?? Iraq had no ability to affect our freedoms. In fact, the only people who take away our freedoms on a regular basis bit by bit are the large corporations and insane amount of money it takes to run for office. You think we're free? We're not as free as you think.

Don't be too quick to judge these guys, we may need them to cleanup our own legislators some day

Dito Omar, Well said. you spoke the word right out of my mouth, If Iraq was a danger to our country, and our freedom. Then we really have big problems bigger than Iraq much bigger. In this country Freedom comes at a price, and I am talking about $'s, If you have money you have freedom if you do not have money you have slavery.

USMCInfantry and Jake: Right on!! The comments appear to be from “bleeding heart” Liberals, who would like to see our troops, Blackwater, and any other US personnel in Iraq blown to pieces. Are they suggesting that the Blackwater personnel who are guarding State Depart and other Administration officials should wait until the enemy blasts them to smithereens before trying to defend themselves? How often have we heard about the al Quada people moving into a group of civilians and then opening fire on US forces? That is a standard tactic; give us a “proper response” to that, Libs!!

I am no Liberal or Damacrat or a Rebublican. I am Me. and I know evil when I see it. and if you ask me Black water looks, feels, smells like a Terrorist Organisation that we sanction, SHAME REAL SHAME on us. And we got the nerv to betray our own contitution and the American way. I bet George, and Benjamin roll in their grave.

Throughout the history of warfare, mercenaries have been hired not only to fill out the ranks of an army, but to TERRORIZE the civilian population.

All we hear from the administration is "Support the Troops" but how does turning hired guns loose and paying them many times what a soldier earns, support?

All the whiners in Washington and elsewhere, these people are affiliated to a country USA, they are not mercenaries. They are bound by the rules as dictated by the state department. They cannot just provide services to every country of their choice like other service businesses. The reason all the politicians are going over to Iraq and Afghanistan and coming back in one piece is not because of the US military, its because of companies like Blackwater. Yes they get paid more because they have to manage everything on their own not by being supported by the US military and protect the assests of the companies doing business there.

I spent alot of time in Fayetteville, NC, where the US Army Special Forces are headquartered in Ft. Bragg. I heard from many of the soldiers how crazy and shady in character the Blackwater Guards were in Iraq. Word on the street was some of the Blackwater guards even had criminal backgrounds. Don't know how true that was. Lots of them are the type of guys you'd see playing the bad guys in an action flick with tatoos, beards, shaved heads, etc. They have tons of weapons and lots of funding so they like to play the part.

Fabulous example of, guilty til proven innocent. How pathetic people have become, to judge others so quick. Jealousy makes for mean humans, just read how obvious it is in those comments.... sad and so unamerican. Hope someday in your personal futures that those comments don't come back to haunt you and bite you in the...

At least they are still alive to face questions. If you haven't been involved there don't slam someone for what you haven't experienced.