I am not a military guy but I know that there are a few on here that are. What are your feelings on this company being kicked out of Iraq?
I have read that they protect alot of important stuff in Iraq so that our military is not spread so thin. Is this true? Are they really doing alot over there? With them being the largest private company out there are we looking at bigger problems with our military now (more deaths due to troops being spread too thin) or can other companies pick up the slack...or can the US military just pick up the slack without any issues?
Has anyone worked alongside these contractors that can attest to their usefulness?
we have a bunch of mercenaries down in Iraq, but they don't call them mercenaries anymore, they call them PSC's - private security companies. one of their main objectives is to protect VIP's. there is still a lot of money to be made in Iraq. i've been keeping up with PSC companies since the NY Times made a huge article about them a few years back.
this almost has nothing to do with the Iraq war. they aren't helping the US Army, all they are doing is trying to ensure that business continues in Iraq by protecting VIP's and economic targets. remember, the second largest supply of oil in the word is in Iraq. the first is Saudi Arabia.
Yea, I know that they are nothing but mercenaries. Doesn't having them protect VIP's and certain buildings help by keeping some sort of order in the country? Seeing as how we are also doing police work in the country doesn't that mean that there is less police work that we have to worry about so we can focus on the more important stuff...
okay, so if you're a GI and you're watching a PSC making a $150,000 a year doing what you do militarily speaking, by courting around VIP's and so forth while you barely make ends meet and have to serve your term for 3 years, while the PSC can go home for 6 weeks at a time and then work 6 weeks straight, that's going to do wonders for your moral.
then you got the local sunni and shiites who wonder why we're over there and what sort of business are we trying to employ. they know we're there for oil, so they aren't exactly happy.
do PSC's do good? sure, they protect their clients interest as best as they can. the non-Iraqi PSC's make a lot of money at doing their job well. do they preserver order? that's not their job. their job is to serve their clients, which can be the US Military or private VIP's.
Ok, I can speak about this issue as I've had the unfortunate experience to work with a lot of these guys. First, let me say I have some friends that have gone over to do this type of work. I personally believe that every PSC should be forcefully removed from any theater of war. Why? Because you don't fight a war for money! Now I already know what many of you are thinking. We're in Iraq because of oil and money. What I'm trying to say is that you, as a soldier/marine/sailor/airman, don't risk your life to fight in a country far away from home for money. Yes, your country could have alterior motives but you as a fighting man shouldn't. Why you ask? Well, you have to see what men who fight and kill for money look like. I've heard that changes have been implimented, but I doubt it can really be. They roam the land and are not bound by restrictions, rules of engagment, like those of the military. So you constantly see killings by these men. Of course, they say it was self defense, but is it really? They arrest and detain civilians on weird trumped up charges that civilians were threatening their convoy, but were they? On top of all that they go into carry out company policies, driven by profit of course, and when they get into a firefight and need help, guess who they call? So the military has to bail these men out and risk life and limb. You see how this works? They are more of a liability than any help. If anything the military needs and should take the role these men play, but that won't happen under this administration, because, first, they are profiting from it and, second, because they are imcompetent and have not delployed enough men to secure the nation enough to conduct relatively "safe" operations. That goes for military and gov't contracted employees to do their job of restoring the nation.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
This problem with PSC's have been around since mid to late 90's, when I started seeing way too often. I don't know why movies haven't been made about this subject. When I was deployed to certain regions of Africa they ride/fly in like something out of a Rambo movie and think they "run" sh1t. What's really frustrating is that they, due to the fact they don't abide by our rules of engagement, conduct operations where we're not allowed. They end up making the US look bad and don't make any friends for us. They pretty much operate without regard to laws/justice and at many times are not professional. Now please take this with a grain of salt. I have many friends and collegues who have gone over to this type of work and many are some of the most professional men I've ever had the honor of serving under, with and commanding, but in general they are deployed for the purpose of "profit".
I've personally, witnessed a situation where a group of them PCS's had filled a small VW bug with more than 2000+ rounds at a checkpoint. They told us that the bug failed to stop when ordered, but they didn't explain that they had no capable translator present at the checkpoint. This type of situation in the military or back home would cause a murder investigation. Or at least charges of negligence for the commander, but this didn't take place there? No! I protested to my commanders, but nothing could be done as they answer to some godforsaken office in the basement of the state dept. The state dept.!!! They answer to no one and countless incidents have occurred and is probably still happening.
It used to make me sick that the gov't I chose to serve and lay my life down for would allow this type of conduct and do nothing. When I could be court marshalled and thrown in jail, if one of my men hit a civilian.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
That's the only important thing i see as far as S. Africa & The Iraq & everything like such as...!!
Too funny.
__________________
I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am very jealous for the rights and liberties of my country; the least encroachment on those invaluable privileges makes my blood boil. Benjamin Franklin
pleeezzzzz that them tryingt o get out.... do you know how many mf they have killed??? how come is just know that they come up with this "concern"
hehehehe let me do that again....
man please.... this people are trying to get out of there (IRAQ)... do know how many motherfuckers they have killed so far???since they got there.... how come is just now that they come up with this "concern" and they are getting kicked out of there..... that shit sounds crazy to me
man please.... this people are trying to get out of there (IRAQ)... do know how many motherfuckers they have killed so far???since they got there.... how come is just now that they come up with this "concern" and they are getting kicked out of there..... that shit sounds crazy to me
I'd guess that it's because those in congress are "finally" beginning to listen to some of the generals. The military has been complaining about this issue for some time now. It's just that law makers are finally taking action about it.
Oh, and another point to this subject. It really sucks when you have to tell a solider (Pvt. E-1 through E-3) that they have to continue to risk their lives to conduct missions and get paid $556 a month (that was when I was in), while those working for PSC's are getting paid $100k+ for doing the same thing. With less restrictions and at many times better equipment.
I'll just say this and it is my personal opinion... I don't care what anyone says about the money and glory about doing this type or work. There is NO honor in killing for personal profit.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
Blackwater kicked out of Iraq?
