cottmann
October 15th, 2007, 15:32
There is a delicious irony in the report in the Los Angeles Times Online edition about the United States' use of some 180,000 mercenaries or contractors (180000 not counting subcontractors) - in Iraq, notably Blackwater, with "some officials are asking whether the contractors could be considered unlawful combatants under international agreements." Other quotes from the article:
"The issues surrounding the private security contractors are being examined by lawyers at the departments of State, Defense and Justice. Disagreements about the contractors' status exist between agencies and within the Pentagon itself."
And "The use of private contractors by the U.S. military and governments worldwide began long before the U.S invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but it has mushroomed in recent years. With relatively little controversy, contractors have assumed a greater share of support and logistics duties traditionally handled by uniformed military, such as protecting diplomats inside a war zone. "
And, "I think it is an unresolved issue that needs to be addressed," said a senior Defense Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the subject. "But if that is in fact the case, what the heck are we doing?"
Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander, maybe?
(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 3E%3Cbr%3E (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-blackwater15oct15,0,3330051.story?coll=la-home-center%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E))
"The issues surrounding the private security contractors are being examined by lawyers at the departments of State, Defense and Justice. Disagreements about the contractors' status exist between agencies and within the Pentagon itself."
And "The use of private contractors by the U.S. military and governments worldwide began long before the U.S invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but it has mushroomed in recent years. With relatively little controversy, contractors have assumed a greater share of support and logistics duties traditionally handled by uniformed military, such as protecting diplomats inside a war zone. "
And, "I think it is an unresolved issue that needs to be addressed," said a senior Defense Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the subject. "But if that is in fact the case, what the heck are we doing?"
Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander, maybe?
(http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 3E%3Cbr%3E (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-blackwater15oct15,0,3330051.story?coll=la-home-center%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E))