Just going back to the events of last year and the year before how Blackwater got a lot of bad press for the way they conducted their operations in Iraq.
But looking at the way large banks and other institutions create the mess of the current financial crisis and the way they (especially AIG) have been abusing the stimulus package paid for by the American people, it convinces me that Blackwater isn't any different from other companies... the exception being only the trade that they ply.
So if people agree that Blackwater needed to be kept under control, I think it's a no brainer that all private companies should also be kept under control.
Thoughts?

Well said. I was anti-Blackwater from the start, and I'm all for regulation of the financial companies. If there's isn't at least some sort of regulation the companies run amok and gorge themselves until they explode.

Blackwater is now trying to get into anti-piracy stuff off the horn of Africa. My government teacher was actually going to spend time on one of their ships and then on a Mersk ship, but the day he was supposed to leave, he got a call from Blackwater saying that they didnt have any customers that wanted them on their ships, so his trip was cancelled. I think that even after changing their name to Xe and having the president retire, Blackwater is still going to have alot of trouble staying afloat.

I think the future of the PMC will be as security departments of major corporations, not as standalone companies. Their exposure is too great and often they don't seem to have the expertise in keeping the civilian world from encroaching in and closing shop. Other major corporations and their army of lawyers are a different story.

But what is the same is their behavior when left unchecked.
The similiarities between Blackwater's conduct and the conduct of various companies during the crisis is simply shocking.

You do make a good case for regulation. I'm not a big fan of the way PMC's have been used someone does need to make them accountable.

Originally Posted by The Other Guy

Well said. I was anti-Blackwater from the start, and I'm all for regulation of the financial companies. If there's isn't at least some sort of regulation the companies run amok and gorge themselves until they explode.

Strange or not, I find that I am in agreement with you on this.

I've always wondered why private military contractors were never considered mercenaries? After all they aren't part of the Armed Forces and they take money without swearing an oath to that country.

I agree, Blackwater should be regulated, but I have to question why they were employed, without the US govt stipulating ROE, stds etc, must've been a tough business lunch getting that contract signed.

I can't say much about Black Water, but I know I am far from impressed by Wackenhutt. I don't even know what has been going on with Wackenhutt any more.

Two instances-
I had family in Ely NV, back when Wackenhutt used to do security at Nellis. I watched a handful of Wackenhutt employees (aka Wackenhutters), still in uniform with Wackenhutt patch on their left shoulder (from what I saw), bully employees at a small casino. I have no idea what it was over, no idea who was right or who was wrong. But my wife's cousin was a county sheriff's deputy and he commented how Wackenhutt can do anything and they can't stop them. Not when they're in uniform, at least. He said it wasn't uncommon for Wackenhutters to bully people.

Years later I was in Rawlins WY and sub-contracted on a wildlife refuge just north of the refinery there. Wackenhutters came to the site (which was 2-3 miles from the plant), in uniform and with M4s, and tried bullying us. We were "lucky"- The federal agency we were working with had a couple guys there. Even they commented that not only were they scared by them, but didn't know if we would have wlaked out of there alive if they weren't there.

I made sure everyone on my crew and myself was well armed after that and made sure Wackenhutt knew as well as the sheriff.


If Black Water is anything like Wackenhutt, I hope thy go down in flames. I do not see those businesses as "security", but paid terrorists.

Looks like you're not the only guy pissed off at Wackenhutt.

http://www.redmonkee.com/wackhutt.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wackenhut

Makes you really think... the fine line between security and terrorist.

An odd fine line, not like walking a tightrope really. Instead it's a line drawn, roughly, on the ground, whereas the line between security and terrorism is straight and narrow, the line followed by corporates is an uneven wavering line, not really defining either side, though constantly deviating between the two.