The planets have aligned and now Iraq won't allow Blackwater to operate in country. The planets: The Bush goon squad pressure tactics are gone, the consciousness is high due in great part to Jeremy Scahill's book [1], Blackwater's hubris reached a peak in the unprovoked Nassor Square killing 17 people, Iraqi is finding it's sovereign voice.
All good news. But the reality is that the inertia of Bush's post-911 unleashing of the security industrial complex is force that will take generations to reverse. People trained to fire fully automatic weapons from speeding vehicles don't forget their skills, and yearn to use them. Hoards of wealth are still controlled in many private hands willing to pay for private armies. Mutual fears among rivals with private security forces feeds private army and arms races (Look at Mexico for example).
We need to build on this little victory to slowly roll back the growth of the private security state of the world.
Psssst... Do Something
- Contact the Broadcast Media
- Contact the Newspapers
- Contact the US Senate
- Contact the House of Representatives
Sources:
1. Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.
2 comments:
You are right that the general issue of mercenary corporations is important. One aspect that needs to be addressed is the threat posed to our national security by these private armies.
Absolutely. The operative word their is our.
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