Blackwater Blackbox
#1
Blackwater Blackbox
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/...ash/index.html
This sends chills down my spine. We really have to investigate these private firms more closely.
This sends chills down my spine. We really have to investigate these private firms more closely.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Petting Zoo
Posts: 2,074
#3
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/...ash/index.html
This sends chills down my spine. We really have to investigate these private firms more closely.
This sends chills down my spine. We really have to investigate these private firms more closely.
For anyone who is not familiar, Blackwater was founded by an ex-navy officer, and used to employ exclusively ex-US military special operations types. Due to the high demand in the middle-east, they have lowered their standards, but most of their operators are still ex-military (US) with ground combat experience.
These people are not really mercenaries, they are effectively US soldiers operating under a different pay and benefit program...they are still paid for by the DoD. Can't really blame them for getting 4-5 times more to do the same job they used to do.
The DoD is ultimately responsible for essentially all combat operations...maybe they should exercise more oversight over their subcontractors with a combat role. But that is not an easy thing, it's hard enough to manage the active-duty combat forces. If you put somebody in a no-win situation and then try to Monday-Morning-QB their decisions, things are never going to be cut and dried and easy to sort out.