Congress should investigate then BAN the use of mercenaries (BONUS: more evidence against Bush)

[yurbud]

One more thing for Congress to have hearings on. I doubt we are saving any money by using them--it is more likely just another way to give kickbacks to cronies.

Because of the accountability problem (which is probably why they are attractive in the first place) using private contractors for security, combat operations, or interrogation of foreigners should be banned. They passed a law like that during the Clinton years, but they made the mistake of saying the Dept. of Defense couldn't hire them, so they were run through Ag. It should also be illegal to establish, run, or recruit for such a business here, especially since they lure skilled people away from the military that we desperatey need.

Because they cannot be prosecuted under the UCMJ and are committing war crimes that generate unneeded additional ill-will against our troops, we should allow Iraqi cops to arrest them and not lift a finger to help them, and if our forces catch them in the act of war crimes, they should not be punished for anything they do to mercenaries in that situation.

There are probably memos and the like going back and forth between their HQ and the field, and if congress subpoenas those kinds of documents, they would not only probably have evidence to prosecute the corporate officers here in the US, but they might also get torture evidence against Bush that will be difficult to pry directly out of the White House. Maybe Dems could make a deal with Blackwater and the rest: you go out of business and turn state's evidence against Bush admin, and you won't have to go to prison here or be rendered to IRAQ to let them decide what to do with you.

[bananas]

1. k&r nt

[yurbud]

2. Is that picture sarcastic? I can't tell.

[Disturbed]

3. Why are Mercs used to gaurd US Officials that visit Iraq?

Aren't there any personnel in the US Military good enough to do so?

[yurbud]

4. maybe that's who the mercs are gaurding them FROM

I remembered seeing a pic of Wolfowitz flying around Iraq in a military with the door open (as they often do) and thinking how easy it would have been for the pilot to say he saw a ground to air missile coming up at him and so he just had to do that steep bank that made Wolfie fall out onto Fallujah.

Likewise, when Rummy was over there and the troops asked him about armored humvees, it wouldn't have been a good idea for Rummy to have a couple of those guys as his bodygaurds (at least not for him, it might have been good for the troops).