New name, same rubbish.

OMG what a tool.

And before you get all “how do you know I’m a republican”

I don’t, I don’t care….you’re speaking conservative talking points…

I see the point now hits. You, like many other conservatives are really just little panty-waste cowards. First, having served in the military and having been a civilian and military prosecutor, I understand that people over react. Doesn’t matter whether its is a military soldier, policeman or mercenary. Second, I understand the role of discipline, training and leadership in preventing fear from causing the use of violence when inappropriate.

The published reports on this incident do not bode well for the Black Water force. They reacted to a bomb going off, not in the immediate area. There was no evidence of violence directed against the convoy. US military troops who arrived immediately on the scene also noted the lack of evidence of an attack. Additionally, State Department rules of engagement were inconsistent with the rules utilized by the military. Finally, mercenaries are more likely to place their life and health ahead of all else. A properly trained military or police force will indeed temper their fear. Yes, indeed, they will die at times because of it. However, the willingness to sacrifice one’s self for the mission or to avoid wounding and killing the ones you have sworn to protect is the mark of a military or law enforcement professional. It is not and should not be the sacrifice required of a civilian contractor.

The first U.S. soldiers to arrive on the scene after Blackwater USA guards shot and killed 17 Iraqi civilians at a Baghdad intersection on Sept. 16, found no evidence that the Iraqis fired any weapons at the guards, the Washington Post reported Friday.

A report compiled by the soldiers concluded that there was “no enemy activity involved” and called the incident a “criminal event,” the Post reports.

“It appeared to me they were fleeing the scene when they were engaged,” said Lt. Col. Mike Tarsa, whose soldiers arrived at the scene 20 to 25 minutes after the shootings ended. “It had every indication of an excessive shooting.”

The soldiers’ conclusions – based upon their own observations, eyewitness interviews and discussions with Iraq police – are similar to those reached by the Iraqi government and contradict Blackwater’s contention that its guards acted in self-defense after being shot at by the Iraqis.

“I did not see anything that indicated they were fired upon,” said Tarsa, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

He also said several Iraqi drivers had apparently made U-turns and were heading away from the intersection when their cars were hit by gunfire from the Blackwater guards.

So this thread is showing additional support to what a Lt. Col of the US Army concluded when he first arrived at the scene.

Hits follows a fool

So, it’s “hypothetical” for US Soldiers to point weapons at people in Iraq???

Wow, I didn’t realize that you lived in a bubble from which real live situations only are “hypothetical”.

I think I can now understand your point of view: anything in which you believe is based in “fact”, anything that doesn’t conform to your predetermined views is “hypothetical”.

How. . . . .. convenient.

Comment by hits — October 25, 2007 @ 10:17 am

This kind of dishonesty always bothers me. Hits, you should modify your example to make it more accurate…

In this case the person with the gun is an old friend of yours. He lives thousands of miles away, you used to sell him guns on a regular basis, he says he no longer has any guns. You didn’t believe him so you sent inspectors out to look, they also found none. You tell him to give up the guns or you’ll attack him. You lose patience and attack his home, causing 1/2 of his family to leave the country, 1/4 are dead or imprisoned, you found no weapons (but you’re convinced he hid them at the neighbors) and now you’re staying at his place fighting with his brother until it cools down (you’ve since killed your friend). You don’t understand why the dude’s family hates you & fights back. Deep down you know you won’t leave until you find whatever cash there is to find. His neighbors are starting to help him fight so you’re considering attacking them too.

Comment by hellinabucket — October 25, 2007 @ 11:50 am
#

No problem.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/iraq/main3360379.shtml?source=RSSattr=World_3360379

From The Washington Post:

Blackwater Guards Fired at Fleeing Cars, Soldiers Say
First U.S. Troops on Scene Found No Evidence of Shooting by Iraqis; Incident Called ‘Criminal

By Sudarsan Raghavan and Josh White

BAGHDAD, Oct. 11 — Blackwater USA guards shot at Iraqi civilians as they tried to drive away from a Baghdad square on Sept. 16, according to a report compiled by the first U.S. soldiers to arrive at the scene, where they found no evidence that Iraqis had fired weapons.

“It appeared to me they were fleeing the scene when they were engaged. It had every indication of an excessive shooting,” said Lt. Col. Mike Tarsa, whose soldiers reached Nisoor Square 20 to 25 minutes after the gunfire subsided.

His soldiers’ report — based upon their observations at the scene, eyewitness interviews and discussions with Iraqi police — concluded that there was “no enemy activity involved” and described the shootings as a “criminal event.” Their conclusions mirrored those reached by the Iraqi government, which has said the Blackwater guards killed 17 people. …”

What are armed guys from another country doing in Iraq? Huh?

That sums it up. Anything from there are details.

1. The US government consists of the people of the United States. Three quarters of the people believe that we should be removing our troops from Iraq.
‘
2 Hits believes that the death of the 17 people was self defense. This is the same Hits who said that there should be a trial before we made any decision as to the culpability of these individuals. Nice going fool. We already know the bias of your mind.

3. Hits will not even recognize that Black Water and other such armed troops are mercenaries. Hits – you are really a quivering little idiot. Like most Orwellian fascists, he wants to define away even the most simple concepts to misrepresent the truth.

You little simpleton, armed men who have not taken the oath of military service to the country and who operate under corporate as opposed to military control and perform those duties that have traditionally been performed by military organizations are mercenaries. History has shown that mercenary forces rarely have the training, management or accountability as do military troops. You are what is wrong with this country. We have no room for freedom hating, little unthinking fascist toadies such as you. GO DIE.

Or maybe they are feeding information to the terrorists in order to be attacked so they can look good and keep themselves hired.

Is it plausible? Hell no, but it’s possible, and therefore there’s no alternative but to send them to GITMO to be Waterboarded, just to be sure. After all, if they have nothing to hide, they should have nothing to fear, right?

/Snark

You believe that the first soldiers on the scene, who say that the shooting was unjustified, have some vast left-wing agenda? Dude, I’ve been to Iraq. Just like any occupation in the world, there are some bad eggs in with the good. Most soldiers are honestly good people with strong discipline and an incredible sense of morals and work ethic. But there are some truly evil ones out there too. Especially with mercenaries, and especially since they started allowing ex-felons to join. After multiple tours to a war zone, human life does not mean what it used to, and Blackwater has had a bad reputation with the military for a long time. This was murder.