Blogroll Me! How This Old Brit Sees It ...: Iraq "Contractors" Karma ...

10 June 2005

Iraq "Contractors" Karma ...

Posted by Hello


Restlessness and resentment in the ranks? Rough justice? Mercenaries made to pay? Contractors' come-uppance? Fed up in Falluja? Settling some old scores? Contempt for 'Corporate Warriors'?

I choose to call it Karma.

Ah, well ..... whatever. "A rose by any other name ..... " Eh?

Jamie Wilson in Washington, writes this in today's Guardian:

** A group of American security guards in Iraq have alleged they were beaten, stripped and threatened with a snarling dog by US marines when they were detained after an alleged shooting incident outside Falluja last month. **

The Old Brit's seen similar 'signs,' several times before. Elsewhere, admittedly. However, 'signals' as strong as this invariable point to problems yet to come. Problems with a capital 'P'. Fresh trouble is brewing. One can read it between these lines.

Here's some more of the same.

** "How does it feel to be a big, rich contractor now?" one of the marines is alleged to have shouted at the men, in an apparent reference to the large sums of money private contractors can make in Iraq. **

Oh, dear. Sounds like a distinct demonstration of dissatisfaction -- somewhere. And no bloody wonder, either. Why should regular serving US soldiers get 'the shitty-end of the stick'? Or even be made to feel as though they are?

Just look at this.

** According to Peter Singer, a Brookings Institute scholar and author of the book Corporate Warriors, private military contractors in Iraq are operating in a black hole as they do not fall within the military chain of command. "What appears to have happened here is tension between forces bubbling to the surface .... " **

Hit this link for more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1502474,00.html

12 Comments:

Blogger Richard said...

* Fragging is next *

I think you're right. Over the next couple of summer months it's going to get hotter and hotter over there. Literaly AND figuratively. I see troops' tempers rising in line with temperatures.

5:52 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your blog, I visit every day, but the formatting drives me crazy. Am I the only one that things this?

And sorry to be posting as a comment, but I couldn't find any way to email you on the site.

6:29 am  
Blogger Richard said...

Thanks for the compliment and for your comment, Anon. Don't worry about using the 'comment' facility - the more the merrier, I say.

Regarding the formatting - no one's ever mentioned it before. However, if you can explain the problem in a bit more detail, I'll see if I can help make your viewing/reading more enjoyable. :^)

10:16 am  
Blogger Richard said...

Anon, again.

It just occured to me - are you visiting The Old Brit via another site - or directly?

In case it's the 'route' you have to follow; below, is the direct link, which you may want to make a 'favourite' or 'bookmark' on your browser.

http://rickwrites.blogspot.com/

As I said though, please let me know a bit more about the problem.

10:32 am  
Blogger Richard said...

Okey dokey, Elaine. Let me know ho.

2:56 pm  
Blogger Administrator said...

A few months ago the son of a New Mexico (?) Texas (?) elected official (Hispanic, I believe) was beaten severely by his co-workers in Iraq. And the name of the contractor?

Halliburton.

The goon squad was allegedly a crew from somewhere in Louisiana and they possibly were employed specifically because of their known violent ways.

Evidently the victim had suggested safety improvements in the green-now-red zone, and his response was to be beaten up.

The violence that BushCo has unleashed upon the world will reverberate for decades. After 9/11 they could have used the event to bring nations together. Instead they chose to tear them apart - including their own country.

Traitors! All of them!

5:40 pm  
Blogger Richard said...

* The violence that BushCo has unleashed upon the world will reverberate for decades. After 9/11 they could have used the event to bring nations together. Instead they chose to tear them apart - including their own country.

Cosmic, I couldn't agree with you more. Everything they touch, turns to sh*t. I just hope that some day soon, they all drown in it.

7:38 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Richard, sorry not to see your reply. I'd agree with Elaine, and add that things like the asterisks don't help, especially when they're in addition to italics and red type. While I don't think you need to eliminate all the font changes a la Wolcott, something more like Kos would be good, make it easier to follow. But if it's too much work to change it, it's not going to stop me from reading it. Just keep on putting great info out there...

1:50 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That last line didn't quite say it right.

Just keep helping us see what's really going on.

1:52 am  
Blogger Richard said...

Thanks anon,

Your point's well taken. I'll have 'clean up' the place. While continuing to dish out their dirt, of course.] ;^)

10:29 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for interesting article.

5:42 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!

9:55 pm  

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