tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19563652.post4414185448828014351..comments2024-03-28T05:37:46.635-05:00Comments on GDAEman: Privatizing the War in IraqGDAEmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08348919163462907583noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19563652.post-27526162790852678362007-02-20T14:48:00.000-05:002007-02-20T14:48:00.000-05:00L. Vincent Sebastian nailed this one, folks. We ta...L. Vincent Sebastian nailed this one, folks. We taxpayers foot the bill to train and field these mercs two-, often three-times over. And Bush's and Cheney's buddies are the ones pocketing the profits. How many shares of Blackwater do you own? How about Carlyle Group? <BR/><BR/>As "The Fighting Quaker" General <B>Smedley D. Butler</B> once said: "War is just a racket." How right he was.<BR/><BR/>--Col. Gordon McTeer (ret.)<BR/><BR/>P.S. Far as I know, no private military contractor has ever had to take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, unlike the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19563652.post-81988250680595499242007-02-17T16:57:00.000-05:002007-02-17T16:57:00.000-05:00It's a StartDear xxxxxxxxxThank you for contacting...<B>It's a Start</B><BR/><BR/>Dear xxxxxxxxx<BR/><BR/>Thank you for contacting the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Citizen Complaint Center has reviewed your complaint, and though we understand your concerns, we have determined that the information provided does not warrant further review by the Division at this time. We have your information on file and should the legal staff need further information, they may contact you in the future. <BR/><BR/>We appreciate your interest in the enforcement of the federal antitrust laws and we wish you the best in resolving your concerns.<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/>Citizen Complaint Center<BR/>Antitrust Division<BR/>Department of JusticeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19563652.post-32964760811448621852007-02-13T22:38:00.000-05:002007-02-13T22:38:00.000-05:00Here's what I like about right-wing publications. ...Here's what I like about right-wing publications. They can have really honest gems, like this one from the Weekly Standard referenced in this essay.<BR/><BR/>Chris Taylor of Blackwater says, "One of the single greatest factors that makes us who we are today is ... this facility--this is the greatest barrier to entry in the market of doing training and security operations; nobody else has this." Taylor continues: "To build this facility today--$40 or $50 million, and nobody's got that kind of coin. Nobody wants to invest that, especially if you are going into a market where there already is a big dog."<BR/><BR/>In other words, for the free market fundamentalists out there, Taylor is describing a market failure, i.e., a barrier to market entry. Sounds like a potential monopoly to me. <BR/><BR/>The US Department of Justice Antitrust Division should investigate them. We should contact them:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm" REL="nofollow">Contact the US DOJ Antitrust Division</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19563652.post-21876972499723845282007-02-13T04:46:00.000-05:002007-02-13T04:46:00.000-05:00Excellent post. May I link to or quote you? I do r...Excellent post. May I link to or quote you? I do repeat subjects at times as I feel like some cannot be emphasized enough. These mercenaries worry me. Foreigners usually cannot distinguish contractor civilians from military, and consequently blame all ill behavior on "Americans". Our own troops, usually young and rather foolish, do enough to alienate the foreigners, plus their rage and hatred at civilian casualties and destruction of property.<BR/><BR/>It also concerns me that Bush has used these mercenaries in the U.S., notably in New Orleans, instead of more units of National Guards. I believe this sets a bad precedent if Bush or another president feels it necessary to declare martial law in the U.S. or other real or invented "emergency". <BR/><BR/>Thank you for visiting my blog. Sitemeter reveals that I do have visitors but it is rare for anyone to comment. All too often visitors merely do a search for IEDs and violence. I hope that some also read some of the posts.nocturnal scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08485060043545764021noreply@blogger.com