Blackwater contractors in Iraq have emerged in immense numbers in Iraq as they are now making up a force of 100,000 (census by Department of Defense). 100,000 contractors to our 160,000 soldiers in Iraq! Blackwater is making up a great number of our forces and the government is using them to protect army bases, US representatives, the US embassy, ect...
These are key forces that no one seems to really see in the news. They are Americans that are ex-military and ex-special forces, that should be taken care of and taken into account. They are aiding in the war and Blackwater has been paid more than $320 million out of a $1 billion, five year State Department budget for the Worldwide personal Protective Service, as they take care of American assets.
Katy Helvenston, The mother of a Blackwater contractor who was an ex-navey seal, has fought to bring up the issue of the poor equipment and support given to these contractors, as her son was ambushed and killed in 2004 at Fallugah, Iraq on a 4 man convoy mission. This was covered on the news as their bodies were mutilated and hung in the streets and was the beginning of a call to fascilitate the proper equipment for these contractors.. The flaws of this mission have been spoken out by the mothers of the 4 contractors, as they need to be taken into account for the safety of all the others in Blackwater.
The Flaws:
1. The mission was quickly taken and not much support was given by the agency as they wanted to be the first to take kitchen supply convoys to Us military bases in Iraq.
2. Blackwaters project manager disregarded British aide as they offered to take the contractors around to show the dangers and routes to avoid when traveling thorugh Fallugah.
3. They traveled with only two two man teams instead of the normal two three man teams, as the third guy could watch for any attacks from the rear.
4. The transports they rode only had one armor plate, which was located behind the backseat.
After looking at the missions flaws, you could tell that much could have been done to avoid the outcome. This is why their mothers now fight in Congress to help the Blackwater employees and avoid unneccessary deaths.
Influenced by the mothers of these contractors, Democratic Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois has introduced a bill that would require the creation of databases to monitor the deployment and cost of contractors. I would be happy for my tax dollars to go to this bill as these contractors make up a great amount of our "total" fighting force in Iraq and they should not be forgotten.
My question is why have we not protected these contractors and taken them into account when talking about the war? They are fighting in Iraq and protecting American assets. Instead of taking away from the force of our soldiers the US government hires these contractors to take care of jobs. Yes, alot of them do it for the money, but they are still an asset to our country and they are former elites of our military. Maybe they just want the privacy of not falling under someones command in the military. I feel that Blackwater needs to be responsible for their actions and that our Congress needs to monitor and enforce the protection of their employees.
Please feel free to respond and I will appreciate it if you rate my article as I am curious to your opinions.
Thankyou
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I think the supplies should be going to our military first and foremost. I understand that they're people too, but the fact is these are mercenaries, hired guns farmed out to the highest bidder. Perhaps we should be giving them more so that they aren't (as easily) bought off, but one has to question the wisdom of depending so heavily on people that are so potentially less loyal to the mission.
And why are so many of these EX-U.S. soldiers? I remember hearing the military trying to reel a bunch of discharged/retired soldiers back in for the war, so why not these guys? Something tells me there's a reason they're not still in the Army/Navy/Marines/etc., and if it isn't violating Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I'm tempted to say they shouldn't be over there right now.
"CONSERVATIVE, n.
A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others."
- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"
Yes, I can understand your take on them being mercenarys, but aren't they also protecting American interests. Maybe, the ones protecting American interests should be the only ones recieving supply. When I speak about the lack of equipment, I mean that Blackwater should provide them this equipment through their profits, but the US government should monitor to see if in fact they are providing their contractors with the neccessary equipment.
I agree with your take on the unwisely heavy reliance of these contractors as they are mainly their for the money, but this can be based on the fact that our military is stretched around the world protecting interests and bases and fighting another war in Afghanistan.
And yes, the military is trying to reel the ex-soldiers back into the fight, but their is ALOT more MONEY when contracting with Blackwater and this seems to be a better choice for their personal intrests. They also have alot more freedom, which may be the key to their enlistment in Blackwater instead of the US military.
The perks of working for Blackwater are understandable, but the mercenary issue still bugs me. And we wouldn't be nearly stretched so thin if we had at the very least WAITED to go into Iraq until we were done in Afghanistan. But that's a whole other post...
The government probably could, at very low cost, monitor the company to see if their people are getting all the necessary equipment, but as far as making sure they get it, that's the company's responsibility. Again, I don't think we should be subsidizing private groups; they're already taking manpower from the Army, we don't need to be siphoning gear to them too.
"CONSERVATIVE, n.
A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others."
- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"