randomWalks

While the US is promising an "overwhelming" response to the
"bestial" act, a Reuters article confirms that the civilians killed in Iraq were employees of a North Carolina-based mercenary company, Blackwater USA.

Blackwater Security Consulting, a part of Blackwater USA, issued a statement confirming the four were its personnel

...

The Moyock, North Carolina firm's Web site, which features a man in a black mask and reflective goggles and others in combat gear pointing weapons, says it staff are "renowned for dealing with high-risk situations and complex operations."

The site advertises courses in sharpshooting, has an aerial photograph of what it called "the most comprehensive private tactical training facility in the United States" and boasts of providing "training and tactical solutions" around the world.

The Guardian earlier this month did a lovely piece on Blackwater USA's tactics, which included recruiting Pinochet-era Chilean commandos.

"We scour the ends of the earth to find professionals - the Chilean commandos are very, very professional and they fit within the Blackwater system," he said.

Chile was the only Latin American country where his firm had hired commandos for Iraq. He estimated that "about 95%" of his work came from government contracts and said his business was booming.

"We have grown 300% over each of the past three years and we are small compared to the big ones.

...

In an interview with the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, a former
Chilean army officer, Carlos Wamgnet, 30, who was going to
Iraq, said: "We are calm. This mission is nothing new for us. "

Mercenaries are not civilians folks.

The act itself was ugly, but we're not talking about "contractors" here, we're talking about soldiers for hire.

This piece by Robert Fisk gives more background on the use of mercenaries throughout Iraq, which includes this little gem of a line:

Casualties among the mercenaries are not included in the regular body count put out by the occupation authorities, which may account for the persistent suspicion among Iraqis that the US is underestimating its figures of military dead and wounded.

Still think the occupation is about "stabilizing" Iraq?

originally posted by zagg