It is enlightening to see these bubble up to the light of day somewhere. The fact that Congress can't review this and a hundred other reasons for the easy impeachments of bush and cheney means we only get it here folks. Thanks ABC now find another biggie for our AMUSEMENT!!!!!!

Expect more terrorists to infiltrate Iraq.

But then Rove saw how much they were donating to the Republican Party.... Oh well.

Too bad this wasn't brought up in the House Oversight meeting this morning with Rice!!!

Another ABC LIE.

It's only the beginning....follow the money.

Things have changed in this administration since the 2006 election.

Change for the good of this country.

I hear Turkey is addressing their Terrorist problem. I'm sure Bush will denounce the Terrorist activities that they are experiencing. Very similar to what Israel had to address with the Palistian terrorist. ..... Opps, but this time the terrorist are our allies... Guess they're can't be called terrorist since their on our side...... I know, let's call the freedom fighters. Yea, that's the ticket!!

There was a video that surfaced in 2005 showing blackwater guards firing on cars at random in a neighborhood, that was posted on several sites with music playing in the background, and the state department did nothing, neither did bush admin. this whole war is a big joke, the only reason its really going is to line the pockets of the Executives who hold contracts over there, and at the American Tax payers expense, and now BUSH wants more money for Iraq, Bush is going to purposely Bankrupt this country, thats the Bush/Cheney Goal !! IMPEACH them NOW !!!

Bush's regime must be impeached!!! Now!!!
They don't know history. No nation can colonize another!!! That is exactly what we are doing and there will be NO stopping the "insurgents" - "terrorists" - they are the NATIVES of their own country. THINK People. WHAT would you be doing if another country occupies the U.S.???

Great. Not only does our government allow these contractors to kill innocent civilians without being prosecuted, but they don't even follow through on financial compensation. What more evidence do the Iraqi people need that we hold them in contempt and did not invade Iraq for their benefit? No wonder the ranks of terrorists are swelling in Iraq and around the world. This administration has already destroyed out country's reputation and made us all less safe, and now they want to make it infinitely worse by attacking Iran. Is this a democracy or are we just going to roll over and let them ruin us? Vote! Impeach! Protest! Whatever it takes!

Bush, Cheney, and Rice should be in jail. These people are criminals! The lies, the cover ups, the gross negligence...the list is SO long now I can hardly keep track! IMPEACHMENT seems like a minor punishment for these folks. Prison time is warranted.

I've said it before and will keep saying it till after the next election--IMPEACH Bush and his cronies!!

There are issues within the United States as GREAT as this that will never see the light of day but have been brought before the public and the public did not react.

Blackwater has given the troops serving there a black-eye (Iraqi's don't distinguish contractors from troops)...when noone is held accountable for Iraqi civilian deaths, any goodwill the US had garnered over there has all but gone now...I imagine if they toppled a statue of George Bush in some public square (like Saddam from just 4 years ago), Iraqi's would be cheering and beating it with a shoe...

why is it that this country that keeps being called a "Christian" country cannot understand the simple law of "sowing and reaping?" ...

Don't forget about Colin Powell at the UN when he was in front of the world, literally, with his maps and pointer pointing to sites that housed the so called weapons of mass destruction. Now... if they only said "targets of mass destruction" it would have been honest.

IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! Their vile administration has made America less secure because their random madness and mayhem is the best jihadist recruiting tool ever devised. Their assault on our constitutional rights are unprecedented - notwithstanding the support by all the lilly liver cowards who have allowed themselves to become scared half to death. The war profiteering is staggering!!! Jail to the Chief! And his little dog, Cheney!

Nice to know she finally got her head out of the sand! We have known that Bush's private army is out of control and have for a long time. Just go to You Tube and watch them being used as snipers. What security guard company are used as snipers? Why aren't the Marines doing their job? After all, it is THEIR job!

Just what does the Bush Administration stand for? It is clear they only care about the republican party and its financial backers. How can Bush speak so righteously about the loss of innocent American lives at the hands of terrorists and then be so callous about the loss of innocent Iraqi's lives at the hands of our soldiers and hired mercenaries? This administration has no honor and has damaged America more than any administration ever by a huge margin.

This is just another item of a long list of why Bush/Cheney will be remember as the worst President/Vice President in the history of the nation.

The damage done by Bush should bring tears to the eyes of all Americans, except I suppose, the Christian Right - they have the Supreme Court they wanted.

It just concerns me that all of the sudden the government is going to start pointing fingers at one company in Iraq. Not one of those companies should be there and the U.S. should bring their people home. Why is it that we can isolate and make one company a scape goat for the wrongs that our government has done. Not only this we call it a War and then we are talking of how innocent victims in the war are not being compensated, since when did we start handing out money in a war to compensate war victims, and if we hand out to one what precident are we setting, who decides how much each person or family gets. The United States is in the wrong and we need to hold our heads up high and pull our selves together. we need to get out of Iraq, Impeach those up on Capital Hill and bring our country back where it belongs.

It's amazing how quick people are to become hangmen when they were not there to see what happened. Have any of you actually read a conclusive report by the officials investigating this matter that actually damns Blackwater for their actions most recently? Do you have any idea of what the rules of force are? Do you know that the DOS decides what those rules are for their protection contracts? Do you also know that those "unprovoked" shootings reported are actually almost guaranteed to be defensive in nature and well within those Rules for the Use of Force?
And what does the current Executive branch have to do with the deaths of some people in Iraq?

Had Enough..... how would you know what the Iraqis would do? Have you been to Iraq? Do you know any Iraqis?

so called weapons of mass destruction.
John..... You have no idea.
This is public knowledge.

Components to assemble COMPLETE Scuds with chemical warheads, AND the agents necessary, were found in sites all over Iraq. However, due to the fact that they were not assembled, rather stored separately in warehouses, they were not allowed to be labeled weapons of mass destruction.

Elementary, my boy!
Do some research.

Why aren't the Marines doing their job? After all, it is THEIR job!

As a Former Marine Infantryman, I will be the first to tell you that you are clueless. DDMs (look it up) are in use all over Iraq for force protection. Marines are OFFENSIVE in nature, not defensive. If there is a contracted sniper securing a compound, he is allowing the USMC to field yet another highly trained Marine to the streets. Not ever having been a Marine(obviously) what do you know of the role of the Marine Corps?

Is there no end to the incompetence of this administration? Every single day...another revelation. Usually, in most administrations, the incompetence is spread out...maybe a lie or scandal surfacing once every few months. But this administration has made incompetence a way of life. Who elected these idiots, anyway?

"we need to get out of Iraq, Impeach those up on Capital Hill and bring our country back where it belongs"
America Rights.

That's the brightest idea I have read today! You are right, let's bring 'em home. Are you ready for Iraq to become the world's best training ground for terrorists worldwide? What will you do when those angry guys come to your area? You will pray for someone to pick up a rifle and fight for you. Someone has to do it, might as well be a soldier, right? Or did you forget that you have the right to bear arms? Would you take up arms and fight in the streets of the US to save your family? I hope so. Because if someone takes your advice, that's what will happen. You won't be so quick to damn the men who bear arms, and are ready to defend our country's interests.

Williamwfh: Your comment is wildly contradicting.

"Just go to You Tube and watch them being used as snipers"
Cantcu

Yep, they are. Would you rather a suicide-bomber be allowed to get close enough to utilize his explosives on the poor guys at the gates?

Okay, sure, go check out the video. You will see a hairy-faced guy with a sniper rifle aggressively engaging the enemy, right? Make sure you research the rest of the findings on that video.
In particular that that video was taken completely out of context, and considering the DEFENSIVE nature of that man's actions, he was well within the Rules for the Use of Force. This is public information, and is easily found.
Look before you speak!

"...made America less secure because their random madness and mayhem is the best jihadist recruiting tool ever devised. Their assault on our constitutional rights are unprecedented..."
Phil P.

Then go enlist and do your share to protect our constitutional rights and our way of life. By the way, what do you know of opinions in the middle east? Have you walked the streets here polling for opinion?

And still the Republicans support them.

How can we fight terrorism when we ARE the operational terrorists in Iraq?

It is appalling that the Bush administration continues to engage in illegal and immoral activities while Congress is content to hold hearings that do little but divulge further skulduggery. Our governmental processes have become a travesty, we are enmeshed in a senseless war without end, and the American public is apathetic and/or clueless. Pay attention to the few individuals who know what they're talking about and have the guts to tell it like it is- Joe Biden & John Edwards...Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert.

The Bush Admin lied to get us into this war, and nothing good has come out if it. Karma perhaps?! It is time to go.
Believe it or not the Iraqi people will survive without us. We have done enough damage to the country and it's people. As for Bush and Cheney they should be hauled before Congress, it is time to put Impeachment back on the table, are you listening Madame Speaker?

Oh...forgot Keith Olbermann!

"How can we fight terrorism when we ARE the operational terrorists in Iraq?"
Jim
Jim, are you a terrorist? If so, what are your contributions to the global effort, and where can the CIA or FBI locate you? Are you in Iraq, Jim? I am, and I am not a terrorist. I am a prior-US military contractor, and I am authorized to carry weapons here. And you better believe I do, Jim. And I am not a security-contractor "mercenary", Jim. And I am not liberal, Jim. I resent being called a terrorist. Have you fought for your country, Jim? I don't think you have, Jim. Yet you say Americans are terrorists? Were the people jumping out of the WTC buildings terrorists, Jim? The only reason you had the right to post that garbage is because of men like me, who stand ready to visit violence on those who would deny you your right to free speech or air-conditioning, Jim. I am fully-operational, Jim. I think before I speak, Jim. How about you?

Okay, who's the genius that spent a sleepness night coming up with that obvious tidbit?

Believe it or not the Iraqi people will survive without us. We have done enough damage to the country and it's people.

Will they? When we pull out, there will be a power vacuum that will only bring out another Saddam. Are you aware that the current Iraqi government majority are not Iraqis? And that most Iraqis despise their current leadership? That is not stopping them from organizing militias and fighting insurgents, as well as malevolent militias, such as the Sadr or Mahdi militias. But you wouldn't know anything about that. Do you know that we are training every operational aspect of their ministries (with contractors and military, I might add), as well as their army? We invaded, ousted Saddam (executed by Iraqis), and now are obligated to help them back on their feet. More to follow in the next brief post.

I'm getting frustrated with the whole status quo in Washington. The Democrats know how ticked off we are getting and are stone-walling any compromise initiatives to break loose the grid-lock. They are depending on us to be so mad that we vote the Dem across the board giving them the WH, Senate, and the House. Then they are going to be just as uncompromising as the Repubs have been (2000 - 2006). What do think they will use that power to accomplish. Pork at the tax payers expense to pay back their big contributors. Increases in taxes rather than reductions in spending. More of the same criminal mind set on the world stage.

Cont'd....

The average Iraqi man believes there is little hope for the current situation. Most of them want change, but like many Americans, are too lazy to get off their duffs and do something. You will require an understanding of the Iraqi culture to speak intelligently, sorry.

unless you know a BW Operator...you know not of what you speak. Hats of to these Men ! America needs them.

If you want the unedited, unbiased accurate reading of the document in question, look for it. Google it. I have found it and saved it to my hard drive. Educate yourself. Don't always fall for the mainstream media's interpretation. What makes them more qualified to decipher government documents? You are American citizens. Stop being lazy and find out for yourself. Exercise those rights you always claim are being revoked or denied.
Do you have the effort?
When taken out of context, and without any clue of what is going on in Iraq, media agencies will say anything to make a story, and include minimal facts. Welcome to today's liberal media, people. They are "on the front lines for your freedom!!"

I beleive they could be if there from Michigan most people here cover up there tracks like most school adiminstrator here when they do so much wrong to kids here in Michigan.
I hope black water is not controled by those people who are in for it for the money.

I'm betting there are MORE state dept emails that say "Iraq" is hurting us.

In the corrupt corprocracy of America (land of the fee & home of the slave,) nothing's actually "illegal" until you get caught &/or the media shines their spotlight your way.

It's all about party, power, greed...oil. Blackwater, major contributor to the repugnant party, why would they want to shut down the lucrative war profiteer Prince? It was always about the Iraqi oil, and since the insurgents are actually fighting for control over oil, cheney can't leave until they sign over 70% of Iraqi oil to the International oil companies, and our troops die to protect the oil that oil companies want to steal. Hunt oil (one of Bush cronies) was able to obtain Kurd oil. Greenspan said occupation was all about oil. Cheney's energy meeting with oil companies...a conspiracy to go after Iraqi oil. Ironic that we are shedding blood for the black goo that is likely to lead to further ecological destruction. There was NO alqaeda in Iraq before we got there, but now there is a wanna-be alqaeda (not from Osama's original group)that is very small...intelligence says maybe 2000 or less, and the Iraqis have said that they can take care of Alqaeda by themselves and want us out. They don't need us to fight the Alqaeda in Iraq. Since the intelligence agencies have told us that Alqaeda is the smallest percent of fighters, Iraqis have said they can take care of them by themselves, why do we need 160,000 troops to fight 2000 wanna-be alqaeda? Why do we need another hundred or so mercenary? If this war will cost each US citizen $8000, of devalued dollars. What in the name of God are we doing there. 3800 dead and 82,000 of our troops wounded. Don't forget 4 million (liberated) Iraqi refugees, 1 million dead civilians. Their country destroyed.

ABC is obviously looking for news headlines, as this has been out for some time. General knowledge, people. If you wait for the media to provide you with knowledge, you will fall in with the general public.
I applaud the liberal media for being timely in reporting the "news" that helps Americans make informed decisions. ABC dropped the ball on this one!

God bless Blackwater. They are great American's and given the shortage of men they are providing an important service. We need to make sure that they have unfettered ability to conduct business....if you know what I mean. No questions asked...no rules of engagement.

Another example of the total incompetence of this corrupt, disgusting administration! I CANNOT BELIEVE how these people got within 5 FEET of the Whitehouse!!! I say IMPEACH NOW! Dems who say that impeachment is 'off the table' are not in touch with the people.

I don't understand why members of the State Department would think covering up and stonewalling is a good strategy for the future of Iraq. Sometimes it feels as if the Bush Administration is actively trying to do the WRONG thing, make the WRONG decision. Honestly, I'm baffled more than anything. Do they want us to lose in Iraq? Do they want al Queda and other terrorist organizations to grow stronger? Do they want to weaken America in the eyes of the world? That's the only explanation I can come up with for the myriad of boneheaded decisions this group of supposed professionals contines to make.

Well I hope all of you can read between the lines, I feel we are headed toward a war with Iran. The Bush administration is gearing up for this just like how they presented the facts for going to war with Iraq. I hope that the Bush administration is out of office before this happens!!!

God help us if this happens!!!

If you are truly a security contractor in Iraq, how the heck do you have time to make the myriad of posts you do on this site?

Furthermore, why do you see the criticism of Blackwater as something personal? Blackwater has a notorious reputation in Iraq, which none of the other firms have. When was the last time Executive Outcomes got hauled to the mat? Why is that? Simple - they actually expect their men to behave in a professional manner, unlike the cowboy clowns run by Mr. Auto Parts America.

We are tired of Blackwater soiling the name and mission of the Armed Forces. The only way we can be successful in Iraq is to hold ourselves to a much higher standard than the status quo now. Arguing that this isn't necessary is completely stupid.

people seem to have a remarkable ability to ignore what is happening to them. The advantage of having private security guards is so the Iraqi VIPs won't look like America's puppets, as they surely would if guarded by US troops. The disadvantage is that the UCMJ and treaties don't cover them. Would you rather have a draft?

Thank Bruce you said it

Black Water, An American Terrorist Company, They promise to be better terrorists than any other terrorist's around. Wow Bagdad the new Wild Wild West brought to you by Bush.

To "e",
If you actually paid attention to my posts, I am not a security contractor. What I do here is not your concern, nor are my daily activities.
I do not see the criticism of BW as a personal matter. Quite frankly, I have heard things from people who have worked for them, and others who have worked closely with them. However, since I was not there to see what happened (closer than you, still), I will not pass judgement on the incident until the final reports come out. Have some of you forgotten our justice system? Innocent until proven guilty, right? For people to just jump on the wagon and cry hangman, is just as ignorant as the old vigilante posses who hung people in our own country so many decades ago.
And I assure you, "e", that contractors, even BW are not spoiling the name of our Armed Forces. Since you know so much about what is happening in Iraq, and have all the answers, why don't you run for office?

"e"

Furthermore, BW and the other two major corporations that work under the DOS contract have an extremely dangerous and high profile mission of protecting the most politically valuable targets in Iraq. Of course they have a horrible reputation, because none of you understand how things happen here, and only see that some Iraqis got killed. The Iraqis ALL know better than come close to those convoys. Signs on the vehicles, past incidents, etc. So, if they got killed, they were too close to a bunch of very aware people. I say again, Mr. Answers, run for office!!
Do not assume all contractors are working for BW!

WAKE UP THE HAGUE COURT, SOMEBODY! IMPEACHMENT AND WAR CRIMES CHARGES SHOULD BE PLACED!

I can smell a well-informed paid shill in here. Defend Blackwater all you like - the public is beginning to realise (finally) the corrupt and despicable nature of these mercenaries. It is too late for astroturf public relations efforts. The gravy train is pulling out.

Well-Informed: It is easy to assume that you are not only a paid PR consultant (your command of language is a dead giveaway), but that, as you stated previously, as a "prior US military contractor", you served in some capacity as a military contractor, presumably in Iraq. Does this also mean that you worked for Blackwater, and that you are currently employed by Blackwater, or are looking to retain your services with Blackwater (or a related firm) in the future? Relationships are everything in this business, eh? Your reputation proceeds you, eh? As for your contention that replacing Marine snipers with mercenaries (look that up) in order to allow "highly trained" Marines to carry on the offensive against terrorists (the whole idea about being offensive against an elusive enemy that melts back into the population defeats the purpose of being "offensive" and reduces them to an essentially defensive position as they drive around Iraq getting blown up by roadside bombs!) is absurd; the snipers in question are probably better trained and more experienced than the average grunt, so the question is why aren't don't Marines stay inside and let the "Real Men" go out there to rain hellfire and damnation on the Iraqis, as they seem so fond of doing in their convoys? It seems equally absurd for the average Marine to be asked to take all the risks and get none of the rewards, who, unlike their mercenary counterparts (funny how sensitive you are toward that term, as though you can't bear the thought that you fight for money rather than country now), aren't as highly paid and are subject to much more restrictive rules of engagement and the rule of military law. Interesting, too, your take on "justice", since on one hand Iraqis are expected to obey the rules of their land but foreigners are not (remember, Paul Bremer exempted mercenaries, sorry, contractors from Iraqi laws with his infamous Order No. 17, but you already knew this), which essentially means that you can kill with impunity (fact, has been and continues to be done). How can justice be served in such a lawless place, and whose justice do you want meted out on your kind? The U.S.? The Iraqis? The law of the jungle? If the U.S. Justice Department and the State Department essentially refuse to deal with these kind of problems, if these kind of problems occur in a legal vacuum, and if the interested parties continually stonewall and refuse to provide an accurate accounting of events (the coverup itself only encourages the growth of rumors, innuendo, lies) then what kind of justice can there be, saving only mob rule? I would love to hear the facts, but there is a concerted effort to distort all the facts in question by limiting their exposure, smearing anyone who dares to bring up the facts, or outright lying. And now we're supposed to just trust you? How absurd.

Saddest thing is that the situation there is complex. I'm not an advocate of withdrawl, and am very much supportive of the attitude, "We broke it, we fix it". I don't generally despise either soldiers or the contractors supporting their mission, but you make it extremely difficult to get support when you "shoot first, and ask questions later" both in your posts and real life. This is becoming less and less of an issue of patriotism and more a question of how much longer the American public can sustain their interest or the borrowed money we use to finance the war effort. I believe that so long as we are there, we should require the people back home to make sacrifices that are worthy of the deaths of all those Americans; the least we could do is pay taxes and institute a draft, rather than relying on the efforts of the few and passing on our obligations to future generations. I am also a strong advocate of fiscal accountability, and believe that paying a contractor enormous sums of money for jobs that soldiers should be doing themselves is a bad idea. U.S. soldiers, while well paid by almost any comparison, are not as highly paid as their contractor counterparts, and are risking a lot more for a lot less. Moreover, contractors are themselves only paid a fraction of what goes into the company coffers, and the companies siphon much needed federal dollars into the pockets of already rich CEO's like Erik Prince, that could be spent elsewhere, more efficiently. In other words, employing contractors is, from a conservative standpoint, not fiscally prudent. Look at what all the billions spent on reconstruction for the Iraqis have yielded, and the sheer amount of corruption and illegal wrong-doing that surrounds all the government contracts with Blackwater, Halliburton, and the like. It's sad when we have to rely on such corrupt and inept outfits to supply our military units both with equipment and expertise, despite their long history of political connections and payoffs to the right Congressmen and political appointees looking to expand their future career options. It's not for nothing that Blackwater rose to the top, and they did so by exploiting their political savvy (no bid contracts), not by employing the best and the brightest (remember, a mercenary works for the highest bidder) or having a higher degree of experience and professionalism. And yes, I did look up the information concerning DDM: Designated Defensive Marksman, aka "Sniper". It's on Blackwater's website.

Iraq has thousands of civilian professionals employed at various things that our misdirected Departments of State and Defense need to have done. Due to the particular love that the Bush administration has for entrepreneurs, and maybe their contempt for cannon-fodder volunteers (I remember the glib, glowing praise that corporate personnel officers had for my fellow employees before they sent their jobs to Mexico), they find it preferable to fill the pockets of their professional pirate friends who will go along with anything if there's a buck in it, rather than trust some simpletons who might have some moral scruples. Yes, bring back the draft or bring the troops home until you can give them honest work.

Bill,
I would never ride a desk, as I am sure some of you do. NOR have I ever worked for BW, nor will I likely. That is not out of personal taste, rather that I simply do not qualify for their company. My command of language, (as you stated) comes from the education system of the US, as well as self-education. It has nothing to do with the work that I do in Iraq, believe it.

As far as my title, and this goes for some of you others out there as well: I am a Former Marine. I am now one of those blood-thirsty, sell my soul to the highest bidder (as you all love to say) mercenaries. Guess what- I have a skill set that you could not fathom, learned from being in the combat arms of the USMC. I also have a family to feed and a house to pay for. Would you turn down a huge promotion for something you were already doing? That's right, folks. Those operators you are so jealous over because they make more money than you do are doing the same thing that current military crews are doing. The US Army has soldiers riding around with Generals, Sgts Major, Field grade officers and other DOD officials to provide them with the same services the "mercenaries" do. Without violating OPSEC, I will say that the military would have reacted EXACTLY the same way to what the BW guys reportedly did. But add to it an IED. Had it been some of the "up-armored" Hummers, there might have been major injuries to those soldiers. Now, factor in that those guys are less than 25 usually, with nowhere near the training and experience of the "mercs", and are just trying to get in and get out. I am not defending BW, rather contractors in general. Yes, I am one. Already established. I proudly served my country in the Corps, and now continue to do so EXCLUSIVELY to US Government contracts and companies by providing a vital service to this effort in Iraq. If I was not a contractor here, there would be a servicemember with the fount of knowledge and experience I have conducting my mission, instead of being out in a unit and sharing that knowledge with his troops, thus allowing them a slightly higher chance to survive in this place none of you understand.

Your lack in understanding the role of the Marine sniper is evident in your comments. Research (there's a notion for you, for once) the actions of USMC snipers in Fallujah in 2004-05, or anywhere in the Anbar Province. Some of the longest sniper shots recorded were taken in that time. They were laying out on top of buildings conducting counter-sniper operations and robbing the enemy of proficient personnel, one shot at a time. I applaude them! Now, employ a highly trained/experienced contractor to provide defense of these bases, to include expert observation and counter-sniper abilities, and you allow a Marine (or soldier) to be able to lay out on the roofs and conduct those offensive missions in support of a patrol in the streets on a goodwill mission. Contractors are expressly forbidden from conducting offensive operations, period. So, why can they "get away" with firing first? It's called defensive fire. As previously stated, anyone here is entitled to self-defense. If you are escorting an official in a convoy, and you identify a POTENTIAL threat to your life, you may utilize lethal force (look up the military policy) necessary to eliminate that threat. Also stated previously, the people ALL know to stay away from these convoys. Some of them are indifferent, thus enhancing the learning curve for others here. If they get shot for being too close, than whose fault is that? Not the "merc," I will tell you that. Not if he felt his life and his protectee's life is in danger. Research, people!

To those of you who are so anti-war, and obviously introverts and isolationists:

Shame on you. If the generation of your family that endured WWII spoke openly to you of your opinions, they would (I am sure) be disgusted. Yes, the world has changed. What ever happened to American pride and rallying behind your service members? Yes, that's right, I said it.
You may swear you are right there for Joe, but you are not. Joe reads the papers, and he sees the news. He sees all the discontent and strife caused by liberal extremists crying "conspiracy this!" and "impeach that!" and "end the war!" Well, by expressing these opinions (you have the right to, but not the obligation), you are telling Joe that you do not trust your government, and that you will not support the war in any way because of your political views.
By displaying such separatism, you are saying that you will do nothing to ensure that Joe has the proper equipment or resources to fight his fight, much less stay alive. If you would spend less time being so paranoid of your "war-bucks" government and got out and rebuilt damaged Hummers to be redeployed, or created some revolutionary new optical device or armored vehicle, or means to provide surveillance with standoff capability, you would be giving Joe a shot. Yes, that's right, support the war. That could be your son or husband out there doing the fighting and dying. If all contractors go away, you better believe your sons and husbands WILL be going over here. Then, instead of maintaining a highly professional force of VOLUNTEERS who know what they are getting into, you will throw criminals and people who do NOT want to be here in to the fray to wash clothes, fix vehicles and roads, move supplies, provide security, and other jobs in the thousands. You want to reduce the number of troops over here, but then you want to get rid of contractors like me. You can have one, not both. It simply won't work. Once again, I do not defend BW, as I have not been there with them to see what they have done. I do know there are some professionals who have sold their services to the EXCLUSIVE bidder, their own country! I will tell you this, folks- they love America more than you do! They are civilians and are out doing something to contribute to the fight against terror! What are you doing for your country?

"...so the question is why aren't don't Marines stay inside and let the "Real Men" go out there to rain hellfire and damnation on the Iraqis, as they seem so fond of doing in their convoys?..." Bill.

The REAL question is: Do you know any Marines? Have you ever spoken with one? I WAS one. If you think you could keep a Marine grunt out of the fight, stuffed inside a FOB, and not being out on the tip of the spear, you need to go swear in. But you would not make the selection process, Bill. You lack the qualities necessary to make it far. Yes, the Marines weed out the weak, most of the time, and eventually they all go away. I find this comment to be asinine and unnecessarily inflammatory.

And know this, Bill: most of the shooters here are either bored/misguided Iraqis, or INSURGENTS (extremists from other countries who do not want Iraq to succeed in any way as a bastion of Western success in the Middle East) who are highly trained or at the least stupidly brave. There is also the matter of "unconfirmed ( as you liberals put it)" state-sponsored insurgency. Have you not read about the rocket attacks on US bases over the last 4 months? Those rockets were supplied by Iran. The same people who claim to have 11,000 rockets aimed west and south to attack Iraq if any offense is made. Do you think the Iraqi people would allow their country to be rocketed by their traditionally mortal enemy? Oh, no, of course not. And would we, providing reconstruction efforts to Iraq, allow the gains made here to be threatened by even more extremists? That would be rather foolish, wouldn't it? Of course we will go on the offense! And I would personally label any person who protested this matter as a terrorist sympathizer! Why? Because we are fighting the GLOBAL War on Terror! Would you have them come to your part of the globe? If we don't do something as responsible citizens of this world, the extremists will continue to plan and execute operations that will make you liberals need to change your shorts hourly! Once again, "run for office" is all I can say to those of you who think you can solve this age-old problem in minutes!

Mike Maus,
Have you forgotten (or maybe don't understand) the basis of our country's financial success? Capitalism, Mike. Initiative, Mike! How can you fault a professional from pursuing his career further by taking a raise in pay? If someone is not happy with thier way of life, and their pay, maybe they should consider other options, such as re-education/specialization in a new job skill. Too late for that, or too time-invested in your current skill set? Solution: find a way to make yourself marketable to the highest paying entity out there: Corporate America. Hating any contractor because he/she makes more money in a year than someone else may make in ten does not a better person make. Rather, they become a more popular follower. But there will always be those who lack initiative and are insecure. That's fine. There are so many jobs that pay less than $10 an hour and are also vital to the lifestyles common in America.
I personally will not succumb to that life. I choose to give my family the best I can, while sacrificing a short amount of time in my life, making some wise decisions, and then getting back home. Is there really something wrong with that? I know that communists believed there was. What happened to the USSR? Ideas like those have been proven to fail, and I would simply point out what caliber a person must be to share them: Un-American!

Well Informed, nice job of reducing the argument against the war to some rhetoric about un-American terrorist sympathizers and how capitalism is the basis for the American Way Of Life.

The issue at hand is mercenaries and profiteers, regardless of how one feels about the legitimacy of the war. You can try to deflect the argument with accusations against those you disagree with you, but the fact remains that the public is finally waking up to what's been happening in Iraq. Murder will out, as the bard said.

I'm sorry but we can write letters,calling the Bush admintration a Scambag and join the crowd holding signs to end the war, but guess what? Nothing good will ever happen because Bush will continually veto any Democratic bill and can't overide his veto. So, why not list the names of Republican Senators that will not join the Democrats to overide Bush veto. Reminding the voters not to vote for any Senators that is listed on the ballot. Let them know that next election they will be standing on line at the Employment Office. Hit them where their wallet is.