No one has been shot , killed or hurt while being guarded by Blackwater. They are Bodyguards and Bodyguards are trained to fire first to prevent assassinations and to protect the VIPS involved.

You need to see the movie KINGDOM to better understand what goes on in the Middle East. Too Bad Blackwater was not in Al Khorar, Saudi Arabia when 19 westerners, UK & US Dependants, women & kids were killed by terrorist wearing Saudi Police Uniforms.

Tink Nathan, Kerrville, Texas USA

Ironically, when the Iranian President is saying more research should be allowed to investigate every aspects of 911, the forum moderator or Columbia University and the media is saying he is trying to deny the 911 incident. With the same logic, should we American say our administration who sent multiple teams to reinvestigate the Spet 16 shoot out is trying to deny conculsions coming the Iraqi authories?

Jane, NY, NY, USA

you watch some day the us government will use blackwater on its own people

dennis schmidt, round rock, texas

All these right wing neo-nazis always find ways too justify the slaughter of defensless brown people in their own nation that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Such is the nature of the occupation when just about the whole world stands against this criminal and illegal invasion. Oh well! What are the deaths of a few brown moslem people compared to the lives of the psychopaths and thugs hiresd by Blackwater?

Jose , new york, ny

Once again the Media is claiming false reports because everyone wants there say. Why doesn't the media actually report the truth instead of hear say because people wanna look important. Did you see the reports from this incident? Did you see what happened to that companies vehicles from the incident before that? No then why are you reporting false information that has nothing to support this........

John, moyok , NC

Britz and Euro trash fools would be speaking German right now, if we hadn't saved their a** in WWII.

Bill Occom, tx, usa

We went to Iraq on a lie and stay there for oil. We have to exert our "presence" in the Near East, we are told. We already have-our actions have directly or indirectly caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis, to say nothing of our own kids. No wonder they hate us and see us as invaders and occupiers, and only want us to leave-all of them. This is an extension of our "policy" there, which has seen us set up puppet dictatorships as "allies", who imprison and torture their own citizens. And Blackwater?-they are the natural extension of our John Wayne/Clint Eastwood mentality, a childlike and farcical attitude towards the real world. No wonder the world laughs at us.

mike, warwick, rhode island

Shoot first and ask questions later, it is a war zone.

J , kitty hawk, usa/nc

The day Blackwater types start enforcing this governments policy here at home, is the day you can call me an insurgent. :)

AR15liberal, Some Where, IL

The only reason we went to Iraq is for oil. And now the Iraqi people are suffering from the atrocities our soldiers have commited against Iraqi civilians.

We need to pull our troops back.

Ron L Wagner, Indianapolis,

Sir,
Call me old fashioned, but I don't seem to recall that many of our "private security firms" are armed with assault rifles and helicopters. A convenient euphemism for mercenaries a.k.a. "hired guns" perhaps? - sorry just a tad cynical, carry on regardless!

SC, London, United Kingdom

I agree with your argument that the ends certainly do not justicfy the means. You should have to break down an entire country in your attempt to put it back together.

That said however, it is always hard to tell what part of what gets reported is true and what is being blown out of proportion as part of a hidden agenda.

Ivan, New York, USA

Yes, there are over 200,000 "contractors" in Iraq... Thank God. These people are the ones piecing together power plants, water treatment plants, sewage, roads, pipelines, telecommunications... the basic infrastructure of the country is being built / re-built by American paid contractors.

The US Army cannot do it. For those of you who hear the word "contractor" and think "mercenary", you are wrong. Go into an Iraqi school and count the number of "mercenaries" fixing the plumbing or building a clinic.

Blackwater, DynCorp, and Triple Canopy have less than 5,000 men combined stationed in Iraq protecting dignitaries, politicians, and VIP's. Before you curse the security companies remember that the people they are hired to protect are the same people that are needed to put Iraq back together. Without competent professionals willing to place themselves between the VIP and the terrorist, the VIP wouldn't stand a chance.

Thank God for the Americans who choose to go over and help.

Rob, Columbus, GA.

The fact of the matter is that all you will ever know about any of these instances is from the media. Where any of you there?
No- so shame on you for believing an industry that feeds you constant negativity.
I find it hard to believe that Americans would rather listen and give validity to terrorists and militias.
The media will never focus on the men and women who were once soldiers, and obviously had to be, to be able to go back out in the field to do diplomatic security again.
There are people who truely believe that their duty is to protect the people who can't protect themselves.
It is a shame that a few bad seeds speak for a whole group of men.
FORGET ABOUT YOUR POLTICS, FORGET ABOUT YOUR SPITE, FOR MANY YEARS MEN HAVE FALLEN TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, SO WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE JUDGING OUR MEN OVERSEAS AND THE POWERS THAT BE, STOP AND ASK YOURSELF,
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE TO BE FREE? ALLI D.

Allison, Beach, USA

What most people fail to remember is that Iraq is a sovereign country. That said, the USA is at war there, which to some degree allows them to fight with dissident forces, but only up to the extent allowed by international law.

America is on record for repeatedly breaching these laws. All manner of scandal has been reported in millitary ranks calling to question its record as the enforcer behind the worlds biggest campaigner for human rights and justice.

To add salt to injury, there are now, people who can technicaly be regarded as civilians, opening fire at other innocent civilians so far away from home. To put it in my own words, thats simply not fair. If blackwater is there to save the millitary blushes when things go wrong, i wonder who will save them when they become targets in this bungled adventure called iraq.

I believe in liberation, democracy and human rights, but if you have to circumvert those very values to get there, the US should rethink millitary intervention

cleophas angwenyi, Nairobi, Kenya

These people are not risking their lives for the USA, they are doing it for the almighty dollar. I have no "love" nor "sympathy" for any of those money-mongers. Besides they have no rule of conduct and are more loyal to their company than they are to the US citizens or our governing body. Yes war is hell, but when our soldiers get held to "the" standard, and could be prosecuted for "going out of bounds" why should these war-mongers be left without any accountability. So what's new, we have a president that is held without any accountability. How does the saying go..."everything rises and falls on leadership" but I guess the buck is passed to our soldiers who ARE doing it for OUR country! Period!

Jose Viramontes, Madison, USA

War is a terrible occurance. people do die, some are innocent. We should look at the culture. Perhaps the enemy of progress in Iraq are using this situation to limit the use of a very effective group of contractors. It will be interesting to see if the effectiveness of the Blackwater is decreased due to new scrutiny of the operations, meaning more Americans will die.

Michael Rattler, Kannapolis, USA/ NC

this is war baby.... it is going to be ugly. stand back and shut up and let these people do what they do best.... hummm when was the last time you risk your life?

leroy redbone sfc, fort loudon, usa

having been in that country stuff happens fast. dont think for a minute that a weapon cant be removed from the scene by an "innocent by-stander". dont be so gullable america. if you want the truth jump in some boots and go find out for yourselves how twisted events can be in that environment.
they hate US and everything we stand for and will be tactfull in every way to get one American after another out of the country by plane, boat or body bag.
and i never really agreed with private organizations doing a soldiers job. it kinda defeats the purpose of a down size in the military if your going to pay double for security forces.
and i would like add that i am highly disappointed in the armys command for letting lower ranking soldiers take the fall after something bad happens on the ranking officials watch.
sure somtimes a bad apple falls from the tree and does something wrong. but thats all a part of love and war.
charlie mike soldiers.. dirty out..

dl, rogersville, tn

Having almost 200,000 civilian contractors in Iraq is just a way of getting around the limitations of our military and a way for the Bush administration to minimize our awareness of the war. He can say with a straight face that there are only 160,000 troops in Iraq. But there are really more than 350,000 including the civilians who are representing our nation. These civilians are not trained or overseen in the way our military is. This is just another trick of the Bush administration that is having dire consequences within our country and around the world. This administration is all about ideology and tricks, not about governing capably. The fallout from the ineptitude of this administration will drag down our country for years to come.

Julie, Irvine, California

The barely contained glee at the thought of the world's strongest democracy "falling" tides ill for the future. Not America's future of course, but Europe's. As your birth rate continues to stagnate and your countries slowly slip into economic irrelevance, who will be the natural choice to turn to for help? The United States. I hope we spit in your disgusting faces.

As for Canada, your economy would be nothing without the United States. I wonder if a few targeted tariffs would do Canada some good, teach you who butters your bread.

Rob, pittsburgh, usa

A woman and a baby are extremists? And why does it take so long to report on a situation that has already been reported on? Do we not believe the people that witnessed this act? If we do not, then who are we fighting for?
If in the future we have to go to war, could it be part of the agreement that if a congressman, senator, or the President were to vote to do so that we would be led by their sons and daughters? At least I know then we are really fighting for our "freedom".

david, Santa Cruz, Ca

The blackwater contractors are doing the task that our forces have not been asked to. These men go outside the wire daily, to protect other defence contractors ,get things like "deisel fual"convoys to their destinations.and hopfully with no loss of life. the men that are brave enough to peform these nesasssary projects should allways be given the right to defend themselve without second guessers from their easy chairs. I have seen Blackwater employees and I for one am gratfull for the job they do for "OUR" coilition forces

L, Houston , Tx

Hey mike. You can't have this attitude. We have the right to defend ourselfs here at home not to go around the world kill pepole then trying to make it look like God giving right for us to kill others under the pre-text of defending our self.
Unless you think that you are the choosen ones. then we can have Blackwater rampage killing on behalf of the US Army.

Roy, detroit, MI

we're in iraq for oil? thats an interesting perspective,considering that iraq invaded kuwait because they didn't have enough oil of their own. and george bush and his family,are very wealthy due to oil,given the laws of supply and demand,wouldn't bush starting a war in iraq,to secure their oil,be kinda shooting himself in the foot? people should probably read a book or two in their lives,especially before randomly posting ignorance on the internet

Jeremy, Oklahoma city, oklahoma

It doesn't matter what the next story out of Iraq is as everyone on this board will rationalize it into their own way of thinking one way or the other. When faced with the improbable or with being wrong, most people will cling to the improbable. What I would love to hear is just someone telling me they were wrong. Then I would know some truth was starting to emerge. There has been countless stories of abuse and accusations about torture in Iraq and Guantanomo to soldiers commiting outright and rape of civilians to political firings of justice department, to lost emails on civilian wire tapping and obstruction of justice, to Haliburton jipping the army to Balckwater shooting to Iraq oil deals with big oil but we never find the truth about accuser or accused and no one will ever change how you think about all this anyway.

Rick, Westerville, Ohio

They are contractors, not mercenaries, by efinition of the term mercenary, it is one who engages in combat operations that are seperate from his or her countries, Since the US military is in Iraq, the US and British citizens wo are working in Iraq as security are not mercenaries, where as lets say some of the "contractors" that are from other countries who do not have a mlitary presence can be considered mercenaries. Yes I was a Contractor.

Del, Los Angeles,

I'd like to hear an honest, unedited commentary from US military personnel concerning their feelings about US Mercs presence and pay. Rolling Stone had an article a while back which detailed what almost became a gunfight between US Military and US Mercs because the exhausted soldiers couldn't sleep - the Mercs had the TV too loud and wouldn't turn it down. Since they also get paid astronomically compared to the normal soldier, the situation was exacerbated. The only reason Mercs are there is so Bush can pretend we don't need more soldiers than we have. Institute the draft immediately - no deferrals allowed. As soon as children of govt officials have to go, this will get ended quickly.

ToniC, Simi Calley, CA

I see that the Euro's on here are writing in English and not German. For that you are welcome! I come from a long line of military ancestry. I served my time and am very proud of it. For those of you that say that Blackwater employees are lining their pockets, I ask you have you seen their paychecks? Alot of them are former military and very good at what they do. They should be paid accordingly. I am glad that this company is able to hire the best and the brightest out of former military personnel. Our troops should have opportunities to make money when they get out. But people, I am sorry, making $100,000 a year to live in that warzone is hardly getting rich! I make a good living now, but I rarely am shot at. I applaud these quiet professionals who do jobs most of us would not for the compensation they recieve. And where are the accolades for the fact that no one in their care has ever perished!??? Thats a damn good job in my book. Keep up the good work boys!

Josh, Hidden Valley Lake, USA/CA

I direct all of you to read Naomi Klein's "Shock Doctrine" and the short movie available on YOUTUBE...The Iraq "war" is about oil and privatization of profits. End of story! May you flag wavers and Bush lovers rot in hell! Before going though make sure to send YOUR children to IRAQ because I didn't raise mine only to see them slaughtered in Iraq for you greedy beasts.

eliot m., harlem , ny

War is never fun or popular. Regardless of the reasons the US is in Iraq - We are there. We have a responsibility to make things right. It took 10 years to get Japan and Germany up and running after WWII, and the people who figured out how to do that did not leave an instruction manual that applies today. Nor was there outside influences fueling the fight. I am not defending Blackwater - but how many other people have had a car bomb go off near them and people start shooting - How would you react??? It's real easy to Monday morning quarterback an event you were not present for. If all the nay-sayers out there think they can do a better job there is plenty of work available in Iraq.

Wegner, Detroit, MI

I would like to applaud the guy from San Jose. Yes! Brilliant! Let's protect each country, the whole world with Blackwater's shootas! No more national armies! The postmodern times are private 100%! Good point, sir. Viva Blackwater, the protectors of the worlds!

Ion Roata, Vancouver, Canada

"The same people who sit at home in their EZ chairs drinking tea and dont give a second thought about what is happening over there"

Wrong sir. We're there for oil... nothing more, nothing less. Take a look at Greenspan's recent comments about this situation. We are deeply concerned... we're 9 trillion in debt, paying 1.5 billion a year in interest alone, and going bankrupt. Oh, we care my friend, we care.

Raguu, Spfd,

Does it escape you that we have amassed the largest private army in the world? These are career missionaries. If their orders, and the money behind them, say to control the people of the US, they will do it.

DJ, Bellevue, USA/MD

I can see that many people in this forum are confused about the Rules of Engagement for Blackwater in Iraq. They operate under a strict ROE as dictated by the Dept of State. In many ways it is far stricter than those that the military operates under. In the event of a shooting where people have been injured or killed, there is an immediate and thorough investigation not unlike the type that law enforcement officers must go through. You must prove beyond a doubt that you BELIEVED yourself or others around you were about to die, in a nutshell. The big difference between contractors and the military are what laws govern a crime during war. In the military it is clear, the UCMJ, and I personally believe that any contractor who criminally murders another should face prosecution in a US court of law. Let me say that it is an embarrassing and disgusting witch hunt for our representatives to indict Blackwater before an investigation is even started.

Sleepy, Brooklyn,

i support the troops, not the mercs. not a moral option in war, never has been. the sooner we get em out of the theatre the better. if they want to be patriots, then stay in the military and fight for reason of patriotism, not profit. i would suspect the majority of ameicans on both sides of the political spectrum want a return to a normal military, even if it means a draft.

lk, waco, tx

I like to quote a line rom a great movie " charging a man with murder here is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500"

charles, honolulu, hi

Government should open a full inquiry in2 there staff activivity as i can smell a rat, that has 2 b exhausted out, the firm employing cowboys & in the sense shoot first & then ask question later, thats if anyone is still alive ? .
The accountability of blackwater & the big brother not keeping up2 date reports and measureing the force & power blackwater staff a allowed to use and the force that they feel can b used in different situation speaks for itself ?
The owner of the business working for the government his lumping in a salary no problem, i dont have a problem with anyone making money, but the way it is made & in this situation it is a waste of tax payers money, not to mention the government needs a shake up and 2 put immediatly a task of what blackwater can do and what they cant.
If Blackwater keeps going on with shootings of innocent people, individual/s they should face prescution like anyone els commiting a crime, bcause they are a agent workers their excused. law is 4 all.

John Pennant, Croydon, Australia

I agree with R. Armstrong of Prescott, Arizona. What rights do the European countries have, criticizing US and Britain and all, when they have no military presence in Iraq? Are they afraid of committing the lives of their soldiers? The whole Europe would have been under the Nazi control during World War II if not for the Americans who shed blood and tears during the war. Thousands of American soldiers died fighting for the liberty and democracy of people who are not even Americans, some of whom don't even like Americans.

Now, American soldiers are dying in Iraq, fighting for democracy that was deprived from the Iraqi people during the reign of Saddam Hussein. When Saddam was in power, millions of Iraqi people were being terrorized by lack of democracy? Where were they? These countries play a waiting game, letting someone make the first moves and when things are going nicely, they join in. But when things go bad, they gossiped and criticized. Thats all they are good for.

MJS Dolendo, butuan city,

Having worked in the private industry for many years, I've collected both scars and big paychecks. In every theater of operations, the pool of talent gets shallower as time presses on. After a while, the flood gates open and it turns into amateur hour.

JR, Tulsa, Ok,

In a War Zone, when you are shot at, it is usually customary to shoot back. If the Iragi's dont like being shot, they should not let people use them as human shieds.

ray, lebanon, ohio

The problem here is they are simple MERCENARIES. The amount of corruption in the White House is simply unbelievable when they opt to substitute extraordinarily expensive and uncontrollable mercenaries rather than use real US troops who are trained and equipped for such a mission.
The logical conclusion is greed and lack of accountability.

This administration has been the worst in US history, and we have had quite a few bad ones in our 200+ years.

Steve Savage, Tulsa, OK, USA

I am wondering how betrayed all those who have believed the democrats feel now in light of the most recent debate. All three top candidates now admit that the troops are not leaving, even at the end of their presidency. Please, political bigots, stop your irrational hate and recognize the long term necessity of our presence in a region where much of the world gets the resources needed to grow their societies.

Brian P James, Newark, DE

Just got back from Vietnam. Went to see the war musuem and the horrifying photos of your so called "casaulties of war". The pain on both side is indescribable. When will you ever learned? Until another 50k US are killed? By the way, the Viets have done really well after the US left. So what was it all for anyway.

Chuang, Bangkok, Thailand

Thank god half of you have a clue! Blackwater agents are not "thugs", they are highly decorated and highly trained ex-special forces. You know, SEALS, Rangers, etc. These people are the elite of the military and should be commended for their work. War is not a good thing, but if you do not stop extremists (al-queda, saddam, hitler, and so on), eventually these people will be in our country, and we will have war on our soil. And I hope that all of you anti-war people stay out of my way if that happens, because you may end up in my crossfire and I won't lose a minute of sleep if you get hurt while I am protecting myself and my loved ones and my country.

Bill, Saint Louis, USA

This is the result of Bush's end run around the lack of military personnel to accomplish his strategy. The lack of volunteers in the military shows that our citizenry is not willing to support this kind of activity.

Personnel in the field who are authorized to use deadly force should at the minimum be accountable to follow some kind of rules of engagement, set forth by a leader who is also accountable.

Those who are responsible for gratuitous killing in violation of these rules of engagement must be held accountable with their lives and their freedom. As their superiors must be, should they issue rules which lead to such killing.

The military has such a system of accountability, as do the police. Others who have no rules of engagement are criminals and thugs, and should be locked up, not given free license and a fat paycheck. The state department is not the Mafia. But they are behaving like it.

Hal Hurst, Los Angeles, California

How can so many be brainwashed by so few? We are so interested in our own lives, cars, gadgets, jobs and educating our children, who will run the country some day, that we are not defending ourselves against the rulers. Are we teaching our children what has happened to the country ?Apathetic ? Agnosticism ? I know but I don't care ?? Blackwater sounds like an Indian name. Probably Neil Tall-eagle knows who murdered the real Blackwater ? Sick at the whole mess at 75 yrs old.

Ed Lee, Alajuela,

Baghdad is the most dangerous and violent place on the earth today. Everyday Blackwater makes High Profile runs from the quasi protection of the IZ into what I would call the real "sewage". They travel in highly visible black and white SUV's and our lightly armed. They have much less in terms of protection than your typical military squad. They are constantly under surviellance by the enemy, who spring their ambush when they spot a weakness. No other private security firm operates at such high tempo, in Baghdad and with State Department clients. What is a Mercenary? A mercenary will hire themselves out to the highest bidder. I cannot imagine a Blackwater employee working for AQ if they offered them more money. Many, not all, are from a Spec Ops background and are simply being paid for being the best. A shooting incident is usually a well aimed shot to warn off a vehicle that has ignored visual and audio warnings. Anytime their is a shot, even a warning shot, it is reported.

Sleepy, Brooklyn,

Hey Mike, the Netherlands had a taste of that 50 years ago. Read a high school history book, one printed for the kids of the 50-60's. The one's they do today fail to address a lot of history.

And for those who don't support our troops (with or without Blackwater), please feel free to stand in FRONT.

Randy, Portland, Oregon

To Mike, What help and what results are you/they offering. What good results of this policy/rules of engagement can you point to?

sven erik , oslo, norway

I cannot believe the absolute ludicrous comments of Mike from San Jose. It is absolutely disgusting to read such hateful commentary.

Mike, its people like you who help keep racism and extreme views alive in your country.

Lets re-look at what the U.S. has done before you start blaming Muslim extremists : Your country bombarded their way into Iraq against the entire world's wishes and no WMD's turn up. The only country in the world to use nukes on a country is the U.S. The only country in the world that talks about democracy and yet supports dictatorship states for years including Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, the Gulf states and sells them weapons of all kinds.

Do yourself a favour: watch the following two critically acclaimed and respected documentaries on You Tube: "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki and "Iraq for Sale" by Robert Greenwald. You might actually learn something new about Blackwater.

Jim De Salinas, Rio de Janiero,

Once again, many comments from people that never or will be in this type of situation. See if you want to drop your weapon and yell out "hey, lets talk about it... dont shoot, we can be friends" Doesnt work like that, and so we have to protect our butts and shoot first and say sorry later.

NEO, DC, US (censor) A

well,let's consider this situation from all angles in a rational way and away from emotions!., true Iraq is a dangerous place to be in at the moment and many westerners have been abducted or killed and are targeted by the insurgents there, which justifies using forcfull means to preserve life and protect yourself and others you are responsible for in the path of your duty as a private security contractor.However those security guys who are in Iraq mainly because of the masses amount of money USA are paynig them out of the poor American tax payer pocket are suppose to be professionals not happy trigger cold blooded killers with no regard to human life,when those men killed 11 people in cold blood despite having most sophisticated weapons to distinguish between a women or child and a person carrying a weapon it indicates to any reasonable person that there has been an element of carelessness in this matter if proven right. just go to you-tube and see some the videos posted&make ur mind!

Ayad , London, UK

I served too.

I come from the train of thought that mistakes can and will happen. This is just one of those mistakes that hit the fan, at the wrong place at the wrong time. These guys are going to either disappear in the shadows, get crucified, or get a slap on the wrist, the larger perspective is that this contractor indeed lacks the same rules of engagement of our soldiers out there. These guys are mercenary soldiers for hire, and can take whatever means necessary in completing their mission and getting their objective. In this case extracting their client safely from point A to point B. Their mission was accomplished, yet the means don't meet the ends here. I think there is much more to this story than meets the eye.

John Knott, Reno, NV

What is the difference between these types of military contractors and mercenaries?

I had thought that a military contractor is a company that sells supplies or services to the military outside of the battlefield. I had thought that a mercenary is a hired gun who works for a private, for-profit company instead of an organized military in a battlefield.

I guess the biggest difference I can make out is that if they are from South Africa, they are mercenaries, and if they are from the USA, they are "military contractors".

In America, the term "blackwater" is also a synonym for sewage. This sure smells like it.

Drew, San Francisco, USA

I'm sorry, but war is murder. No matter what the reason, killing another person, even in self-defense, is murder. It's just that the manner in which we view it happens to change depending on the circumstances. However, do not fool yourselves and try to make yourself feel better by telling yourself that war is not murder.

Scott, Burlington, Vermont, US

Yea, Its easy to bash these men even though they are working in one of the most hostile enviroments known. And yes they are "mercenaries" "contractors" whatever. They work because they need the money just like all of us. And you America haters out there WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE SOON So get used to our imperialism! ahhh..... its great to be the top dog. Oh and by the way I AM THE NRA. : )

Jesse Cambre , The Southwest, Arizona U.S.A.

mistakes happen all the time, in what ever work we do. blackwater were doing just that. who have a problem with what happen should apply for a job with blackwater and let me see how thay handle it next time around.

j. coppin, bridgetown, barbados

PULL OUT of Iraq. Everyone thinks that Iraq will fall once we pull out. They have been fighting for not years people, but millenia! Get a grip. We need out -- bring our boys home, stop this stupid, unjust war. Let them kill themselves. I don't care about Iraq. It was a lie that the Bush admin. & the Prez. told us so his friends, "THE HAVES" not the Have Nots made so they could get richer. That's what this war is all about. Cheney and his crew were in this from the first election--makes deals with Haloburton, etc... OPEN YOUR EYES AMERICANS!!!!!

LYNN, CENTRAL CA, US

When countries other than the US start to pull thier own weight, economically and militarily, I will listen to their criticisms. Until that time they should go about their sheltered lives as usual. Maybe our Euro friends can tell us why it is that the US has spent over 3 BILLION dollars in aid ( economic and military ) to western europe. Is it abject poverty? Is it plague and natural disasters? Is it political unrest? Or is it there failure to provide for and police themselves and their neighbors. Are these the same countries who laid down their arms and let the Nazis sweep over them only to pray for salvation by the US? If you have forgotten the lessons of the past more is your woe.

R Armstrong, Prescott, Arizona

The 'goons' who makeup Blackwater are no different than the same types who massacred the Native Americans... human life means little to them... unless it happens to be their own!

Neil Tall-eagle, Bellingham, WA

Once again, we went to Iraq, because it is the militarily strategic battlefield in the middle east, we are on the western border of Iran in Afghanistan and the eastern border of Iran in Iraq. Iraq had 5 cross country highways and airports so that we can supply and support our forces for the long term. In the second world war, we didn't just drop in on Germany and Japan, we had to take the best battlefield to advance and continue to support our forces. Americans seem completely ignorant of military tactics and history. We will be in Iraq until our cars are running on hydrogen or some new fantastical energy source that some young Einstein will provide and we must have nuclear facilities across the country for our domestic energy, we are decades behind Europe in nuclear energy. China will be setting up small nuclear facilities once they have worked through the coal phase of energy supply. So hunker down folks and thank God for the troops and the American contractors of Blackwater.

Nikki, Cottonwood Heights, Utah/USA

Monday Morning Quarterbacks. That is all I am reading here. The only people misinformed are those who choose not to look past what the liberal media reports. The same people who sit at home in their EZ chairs drinking tea and dont give a second thought about what is happening over there. How many of these "experts" and "Americans" had the guts to sign up and go get shot at? How many of you are willing to put yourselves in the same situation as those Blackwater contractors? How many of you would know how to react to that kind of situation? My guess is none, unless you've been there.

Doc, FTL, USA

So much violence. Why do the bullets fly and the blood flow? Man is a creature of violence. Once, a long time ago, God saw that the earth was full of violence and determined to call in an air strike: rain that fell for forty days and nights. Just as in the days of Noah, God will soon, very soon, unleash a heavenly army that will crush forever the lovers of violence and makers of war. The meek will inherit the earth because those that are not meek will no longer be found on the earth! Bibles, fists and guns...I have them all. If I must defend the innocent lives of my family and friends, I will do so without hesitation! I do hate violence upon the innocent. I will do anything to avoid violence. Corner me with intent to harm and I become a cold, calculating killing machine that strikes with blinding speed and ferocity. Life is precious and a gift from God. Love God..love your neighbor..and the world of violence will no longer thrive. God is coming, it will be a violent end of the violent!

ET, Willcox,

If Nancy Pelosi and/or Murtha could not conduct a war more efficiently than the present and past gang of know nothings, then we are indeed in trouble. We are into the fifth year of conbat in one small country and we have stumbled and stammered (esp. Bush) and gotten thousands of our military killed not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis...and that on top of the fact we were misled into this war in the first place. Our deficit is sky high, the fraud of private contracts that account for almost half the money alloted for the war, the neglect of the real enemy we had who attacked the US---(Bush says he doesn't even worry about him anymore.)
No, I think even Sen. Byrd with the help of a cane could conduct a more competent military action.

Eham, Tulsa, , OK USA

i think that even if the reasons for the US going to war in the first place were "misinformed", the genocide of the kurds in northern iraq and countless other injustices that were incited by Saddam Hussein's domination of that country are enough to warrant intervention by the other countries of the world....unfortunately it is a much longer process than we could have imagined however,we can't afford just pull out of that country. Otherwise it will just collapse back into chaos, and be taken over by another totalitarian regime, and thousands of US and Coalition forces lives will have been wasted. If companies like Blackwater want to go to Iraq to run high risk missions, by all means let them. A Blackwater employee, is obviously well aware of what he's getting himself into when he joins up with them. And a soldier in Iraq would be just as trigger happy if it weren't for rules of engagement, and an oath to render obedience to orders,and defend those who can't defend themselves

Bill, santa monica, CA,USA

The views of the Foreign National’s from pacifist countries who do not contribute to fighting for other people’s welfare, but yet are more than willing to relish in the fruits of the labor, will express a childlike understanding of world democracy. In their defense of being naïve, I must say its not their fault that they were raised without the beliefs in “Global” Democracy. If the Netherlands (or any other Euro Nation) were somehow threatened or London keeps allowing every known terrorist to set up camp at their doorstep, they will ask for the support and help of the Western World. The United States response would be without question, our ultimate goal whether accomplished via a third party or U.S. Forces is to eliminate those who tread upon the “Freedom” and “Democracy” of all citizens who do not have the means capable of helping themselves. War is not murder, war is not pleasant, war is not encouraged, but when it does rear its beastly head, we must pursue the means to an end of the murderous reasons of why the war started.

Chris, Palo Alto, CA, USA

There are no rules in WAR. If you start playing with tactical/strategical handicaps you are dooming your efforts. Rules of Engagement is a fancy word for politicians trying to fight a war.

Warchild, San Jose, USA, CA

Ok, as a soldier in iraq, i despise it when innocents are killed, war is horrible in that regard, however, in a country when popshots and snipers shoot at you from the houses and streets they live in, what would anyone do who wants to live to see their wife again? I feel sorrow for the innocents that died, their lives snuffed out, but it is because their neihbors decided that is was worth the risk to shoot at a group of people not looking for a fight, just trying to get their client their vip from one place to another.

derek, baghdad, iraq

I would like to ask the folks here from the Netherlands a question:

Some day in the future, when your country needs rescuing from the Muslim extremists that you welcome to your country with open arms, who are you going to call, Blackwater or US troops who have rules of engagement formulated by Nancy Pelosi and Murtha? Do you want results or do you want talk?

Mike, San Jose, CA

Deborah, if there was no provocation, how can it be a "shootout"? Are US mercenaries inherently more trustworthy than Iraqi authorities?

Ikke Angivet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Yes, Gary, a highly effective way of winning hearts and minds in this new American Imperium: shoot first and ask questions later. Yeehaw!

Kizilbash, Schnecksville, PA, USA

gary you say there are effective against what : unarmed civilians - women and children ,great warriors or thugs. Been doing this for 4 yrs but no victory - it figures.

D .Gibson, brookings, sd

Yes, Gary, it is very effective if you have a flock of bloodthirtsty triggerhappy morons on the loose in Iraq, shooting anybody that looks Middle-Eastern to them on sight. Effective to what end is not a question that bothers too much people.
Certainly not they. Hey it's no use cashing in the big bucks when you're dead or limbless right? After all what the hell is Iraq to them but a giant cash-register to plunder? And why should they think any different, they're not exactly hired for their big bleeding hearts right?

Oebi Wan, Veendam, Netherlands

I find some of the above opinions completely absurd. My reasons are thus. First of all, the basis for invading Iraq was promoted by political deceipt emanating from within the British and American governments. Evidence was deliberately fabricated. Secondly, war is simply another word for murder. Those who attempt to justify any kind of brutality are nothing more than murderers themselves. What is taking place at the moment is nothing more than Corporate funded genocide. There is no excuse for what is taking place and attempting to justify the current brutality unfolding in Iraq and everywhere else simply exposes the stupidity of those attempting to do so. War is murder on a mass scale pure and simple.

Ian deMontfort, London, UK

What goes around comes around, usually in spades. America is headed for a major fall, and it looks to be that it will be well deserved.

Robert Van den Broeck, Kouchibouguac, Canada/New Brunswick

There are just so many ways to solve a problem. If universal conscription and some form of a draft is eliminated AND paying big incentives to regular military AND use of foreign nationals (like the French Foreign Legion) THEN mercenaries become a remaining option. There is no option to STOP the war (as in Vietnam). Withdrawal as in Vietnam endangers the entire world. Whether the current administration OR successor administrations, there are just so many ways to accomplish an objective. Iraq's government refuses and maybe it can't do the job. That leaves it upon the U.S. to come up with enough people to perform the tasks of war. There is no option to do it differently (with more money; more troops; more time). Pelosi et al have done NOTHING. (Because they have nothing to offer ) AND they [Peloso - Murtha] intentionally limited resources: money, time, HR, equipment for political motives making this is a 50 to 100 years war. It will frustrate many adminisrations.

Paul, San Diego , USA

The U S government hired these mercenaries for just these reasons: They have no accountability, they have very lax rules of engagement and at the end of the day, the government can disavow their actions. Why is anyone surprised when they are trigger-happy and aggressive?
But, this is war and war ain't pretty or fair. The insurgents think twice about attacking the mercs. The mercs shoot first ask questions later. That makes them very effective, much more effective than regular U S forces.

Gary, Southern, IL, USA