Mercenaries in New Orleans?
Although it is being denied by both the federal and state governement in Louisiana, Democracy Now! reports that heavily armed Blackwater mercenaries are now apparently deployed in New Orleans. Blackwater is a private security consulting firm that have been on contract in Iraq since the war. Four Blackwater employees were attacked and killed, burned and dramatically hung on a bridge outside Fallujah spurring the US on to a major offensive in that region. Fallujah has since become a major seat of resistance in Iraq. Read more for links…Democracy Now! – watch the intro video
Overkill: Feared Blackwater Mercenaries Deploy in New Orleans
Can we say “Jack-booted hired thugs”? This has got to be one of the scariest developments so far in New Orleans, but it gives us a peek in at what our military looks like now. Many of these private security men are ex-military, but that’s the problem: they are EX-military, they are not working for ME anymore, they owe alliegance to themselves and their employer. Since they are paid off a contract, there is no direct accountability. If they haul off and ’shoot some looters’, they do not face a courts martial, in fact I would be surprised if all the legalities are even worked out such that they face ANY legal ramifications beyond being fired. The last time hired mercenaries stood in an American city – they were Hessians hired by the British in the revolutionary war and it was exactly this distance from legal responsibility (in part) that made them so feared.
Comment posted on 9-13-2005
Well, my first thought is that most Americans won’t care. I took a quick walk around the office and asked people what they thought of the DHS hiring mercs to provide security in New Orleans. Not surprisingly most people said – good, New Orleans needs to be secured. I pointed out that we already have Police from all over the country as well as guard troops deployed. The general response was – so what? Merc’s are professionals – maybe we need the best of the best down there.
Which leads me to thinking – most of these Merc’s are ex-military. Most recieved their training while in the service. These guys were the best of the best within our military. Now they take those skills to the private sector and make an a$$-load of money from DHS contacts. So we’re paying them far more to do the same job as mercenaries as we would if they were guard units or actual law enforcement agents (cops, ATF, FBI etc.) Hiring merc’s is so wrong on so many levels it’s sickening. But that’s just the rantings of a wild-eyed liberal.
Why does the DHS hate America?
Comment posted on 9-13-2005
There is a press release on the Blackwater USA home page which gives a little info on their contract (mission). In adition to logistical support, they’re securing some of our country’s most dangerous and vital petrochemical plants. Which still makes me wonder….why aren’t actual state troops doing that – don’t we have enough guard troops and law enforcement agents here at home to provide adequate security? Also if they’ve been hired to protect private industry – why is the Federal Gov’t bank-rolling them, shouldn’t exxon-mobile (for example) pay for additional private security if they need it?