When were the Blackwater contracts negotiated? Did Rumsfeld refuse to listen to Shinseki because he

[OregonBlue]

already had plans to hire the mercenaries? I suspect they knew all along how many troops and support troops it would take but had already made arrangements to hire "private contractors" so they had to shut Shinseki up before he disrupted with their plans.

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1226-28.htm

Before the war, Shinseki's Army planners were not once consulted by Rumsfeld's office. The State Department's planning proposal for postwar Iraq was similarly ignored by the administration.

Published on Sunday, December 26, 2004 by the Los Angeles Times
The General Who Got It Right on Iraq
by Frank Gibney

[nightrider767]

1. I think it's worth examining More closely

I thought the purpose of having mercenaries was to help hide the actual cost of the war, since they are payed, as far as I know, from a different fund. Of course turning war into a profit center for private corporations who are politically connected may also have something to do with it.

I wish the Dems would start an investigation into the war so that we all could learn what's behind a lot of all of this.

The fleecing of America.

[OregonBlue]

3. I haven't heard anyone in Congress bring this up. Were these contracts planned in advance between

Rumsfeld and the State Department? Did they want to create a private "mercenary" army and this was the way to get the funding?

[nightrider767]

5. I would presume so

It was under Paul Bremmer that they arrived. So their must have been some plan. ANother thing to consider is that they are not under military control. That's something that the local military can't be happy about.

Why?

[OregonBlue]

6. Yes, it had to have been preplanned. So they planned to hire mercenaries all along. How frightening

is that? They created their own private army and got the U.S. taxpayer to pay for it? What are the implications of that? Who is looking at it?

[nightrider767]

7. Unfortunately not the Democratic Congress

I only pray to god every day, that if we can get a Democrat into the White House and wrap this war up, that a full accounting will be made.

But if we had duplicity or corruption from our Democratic brothers and sister in Washington in regards to the war, that investigation may never happen.

Sad but true...

[Lint Head]

2. Naomi Klein says we are headed toward and be already be

living in a fascist state because the definition of fascism is when the corporations run the state. Also known as corporatism.
It is not capitalism. The corporations basically tell the leaders what to do. :dem:

[OregonBlue]

4. It's a terrifying thought that this might have been planned all along. If they wanted to create

their own private army, what better way than to send in too few troops and then get the American taxpayer to pay for "contractors". What are those mercenaries gonna do after Iraq?

[nightrider767]

9. When the war's over, they'll be coming home.

I'd guess that they'd be used domestically as well as to carry out our secret operations all over the world....

I'm not being an alarmist, but I certainly suggest that we monitor this situation very closely.

[catmandu57]

10. Our own republican guard

that's what they are, soon they'll enforce the wishes of the corptacracy unless we get off our asses and do something.

[seemslikeadream]

8. You go with the mercenaries you planned for

not the dogs of war you wish you had

[peacetalksforall]

11. They don't want to be responsible to the people - the peoples'

representatives in Congress, the peoples' courts, the peoples' air waves, the peoples' Bill of Rights. They are forging ahead. They are playing magician. They have hidden it for a long time.

It's perfect to create the force they need for a continutation of the move to create martial/corporate law in this country. That closing of bases in this country? - to build them in the ME and to make prisons of the former facilities. Getting out of Germany? Can't count on them hosting the evidence.

All this makes Rice a General; Powell before her. Does she collect two salaries - a military one as well as the State Dept one?

Hitler had a design. These people have a design and it is full speed ahead.

Any 'sway' (as if to persuade) out of the State Dept about changes is to make us think they are doing something about Blackwater or rethinking it. I don't think so.

They have not given us one peek at any pulling back on their plan in any way. 'Mr head guy' didn't want to fire Rumsfeld? That may be the only issue he has lost on.

We must rely on true patriot lawyers, judges, civic government employees and citizens. And we must rely on people in other countries who will not give in - who will not become coalition partners. Take a close look - the leaders of the top European nations are in with the PNACer neo-con barons.

They are so close to closing down protests.

Subservience, silence, acceptance = serfdom. And all those lemmings are helping them.

[OregonBlue]

12. And what is Rummy doing now? Can't believe he'd just walk away, these were his plans. These mercs

are his and Cheney's guys!! Onward Christian Soldiers Marching As To War, with the cross of Jesus going on before.

[peacetalksforall]

13. Onward Christian Soldier - wow - isn't it something how we are relearning

our pas?. I never questioned that song before. Not to my taste. Didn't pay attention to it. Now, it makes me squirm. I had no idea that Christians could be so phoney starting with the obsession about the survival of fetuses and the willingness to give the full grown child to war and war profiteers. Thanks for posting that.