Article

2004-04-06 Iraq-Jordan

Private guards repel Mahdi Army attack on US HQ in Najaf

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Posted by Dan Darling 2004-04-06 12:48:16 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 8????

hundreds v. 8????

That's what happens when we're pissed off.

Posted by Anonymous2U 2004-04-06 1:20:14 AM|| 2004-04-06 1:20:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Someday somebody is going to write the book.

Posted by Lucky 2004-04-06 1:20:54 AM|| 2004-04-06 1:20:54 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Damn! I was just going to post this. Still, I recommend people hitting the link for the picture of the guys on the parapet...it is almost like John Wayne at Fort Apache, or at the Alamo. Or Gary Cooper in the Hidu Kush.

I suppose I an still a little torn on the "Contractor," question...though probably not for the reasons most people give. The pay differential between the Contractors and regular soldiers is I think a real concern...but beyond this, I suppose that I don't want them guarding food convoys, I want them doing what they are doing in this story...major combat. I'd actually like to see Contractors working much more closely with the military and with some coordination of efforts.

The thought being, It the talent is there, and youâre paying for it, use them as effectively as possible.

Posted by Traveller 2004-04-06 1:37:07 AM|| 2004-04-06 1:37:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 I speak without actual knowledge or experience but it seems that Blackwater is operating as a traditional privateer, showing what motivated firms can do in the war on terrorism.

Posted by badanov 2004-04-06 1:37:35 AM|| [http://www.rkka.org] 2004-04-06 1:37:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 A Small Oops...the link to this story is WP, while the image I refered to is over at msnbc, but it is the same story:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4672324/

Posted by Traveller 2004-04-06 1:43:24 AM|| 2004-04-06 1:43:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Not at all sure what you mean badanov. A privateer is someone who goes out and seizes or kills, wages war as a private entity for the state. Offensive operations seem to be clearly needed to satisfy that requirement.

Offering defensive capabilities does not make one a privateer in any sense I can see. Being effective at self defense also is no reason to class these guys as either privateers, or mercenaries.

Posted by Ben 2004-04-06 6:05:50 AM|| 2004-04-06 6:05:50 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 Blackwater Guards

Not a bad name for a quasi official shooter unit.

Posted by Shipman 2004-04-06 8:47:24 AM|| 2004-04-06 8:47:24 AM|| Front Page Top

#8 Beware R-Burgers, the website for Blackwater is http://www.blackwaterusa.com , not just blackwater-dot-whatever. A pop-up from one of those sites gave my work computer a nasty Trojan horse, had to ghost my whole system.

Posted by Bodyguard 2004-04-06 9:49:06 AM|| 2004-04-06 9:49:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#9 So the U.S. contracts a private company to provide security in a dangerous area. Sounds like a win/win for the U.S. and the company. And in my economics class that what we called supply and demand. The people hired by Blackwater are not dumb kids off the streets or economic misfits they are professionals. That is why eight guards can defend against 100 zealots. FYI companies like Blackwater also keep pressure on Narco-terrorists in South America. Again itâs a win/win for the U.S. and a company.

Posted by Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-04-06 10:22:30 AM|| 2004-04-06 10:22:30 AM|| Front Page Top

#10 Sounds a little like one of my favorite movies:

"It's a miracle."

"If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point four five caliber miracle."

"And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind."

Posted by Mike 2004-04-06 10:31:06 AM|| 2004-04-06 10:31:06 AM|| Front Page Top

#11 I would like too have that book they are going to write lucky

Posted by smokeysinse 2004-04-06 10:43:32 AM|| 2004-04-06 10:43:32 AM|| Front Page Top

#12 I always thought contractors drove bulldozers. It's nice to see them branching out into pest removal.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2004-04-06 10:48:42 AM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2004-04-06 10:48:42 AM|| Front Page Top

#13 Any of these 8 guys have the last name "Rourke"?

I get your drift...

Posted by mojo 2004-04-06 10:52:09 AM|| 2004-04-06 10:52:09 AM|| Front Page Top

#14 A privateer is a state sanctioned pirate,who siezes/disrupts the enemy line of supply.Part of the profit incentive is the contractor keeeps all or part of the sieziure of enemy supplies and goods.
When you think privateer think of Sir Francis Drake.
Using the above deffinition Blackwater employees are not privateers.

Posted by Raptor 2004-04-06 11:07:47 AM|| 2004-04-06 11:07:47 AM|| Front Page Top

#15 I believe it should be "Roarke."

Posted by Infidel Bob 2004-04-06 12:53:52 PM|| 2004-04-06 12:53:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#16 Hmmmm... perhaps the NGO's out to be stocking up on dual purpose mealie bags.

Posted by Shipman 2004-04-06 4:19:13 PM|| 2004-04-06 4:19:13 PM|| Front Page Top

#17 here's a pic of these guys... just another day at the office.......

Posted by mercutio 2004-04-06 5:04:38 PM|| 2004-04-06 5:04:38 PM|| Front Page Top

#18 here's a pic of these guys... just another day at the office.......

Posted by mercutio 2004-04-06 5:05:04 PM|| 2004-04-06 5:05:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#19 mea culpa (duh).

try http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4672324/

Posted by mercutio 2004-04-06 5:07:26 PM|| 2004-04-06 5:07:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#20 My whole point in trying out the term privateer was that as long as a company is conducting security tasks in a war zone, they cannot by definition be considered to be mercenaries, and while security consulting and providing security is their business, I would think the gentleman at the CPA HQs gunfight don't consider whether they are in offensive or defensive operations. They are providing security in lieu of available military forces, and that makes them privateers. Once the shooting starts, the word security takes on an entirely different connotation.

And in the event of letters of marque being granted by Congress or DOD, having the prospect of capturing and using enemy beans and bullets to me would be a definitive disincentive to conduct active offensive military operations.

You gotta admit, this considerable feat of arms is unlike what I would consider a security team's task even if it is in a war zone.

Not trying to start an argument, but do you understand what I mean?

Posted by badanov 2004-04-06 6:14:12 PM|| [http://www.rkka.org] 2004-04-06 6:14:12 PM|| Front Page Top

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