Actually, before you answer my question, some other credentials besides just "I worked for Blackwater" would be appreciated, because right now you and my buddy jedi who made the hotdog disappear into a telephone line using a microwave are neck and neck, with his story leading by a nose.

Peace

I'm having a hard time understand why this is a big deal and why we should be putting paper bags over our heads. For all we know, this could be a distraction from something else, I dunno. All I know is that I'm not going to be paying much attention to this story.

I know a group called "Executive Outcomes" were a private military contractor based out of South Africa that was banned because of their "frightening" effectiveness in Africa. Can somebody shed some light on why they were outlawed and we currently have companies like Blackwater in a major conflict such as Iraq? Was this not applicable to the United States?

Think about it. You're at a website that discusses speculative theories. You can't just come in and say "oh I did this and you have to believe me". I give you the benefit of the doubt, but you need to understand that many people here will not believe a word you say if you don't provide some kind of information/credentials.

Just a heads up.

-Droops

Originally posted by DrOOpieS
Think about it. You're at a website that discusses speculative theories. You can't just come in and say "oh I did this and you have to believe me". I give you the benefit of the doubt, but you need to understand that many people here will not believe a word you say if you don't provide some kind of information/credentials.

Just a heads up.

-Droops

Once again - im telling you how it really is, im offering to answer questions you may have. I asked YOU what you would consider proof. I didn't say you have to buy into or listen to it, im offering to make it more legitimate however. SO what do you consider proof? a paystub? (with my SS# blacked out of course?) So until you bother to tell me how to prove it be as skeptical as you want.

[edit on 17-9-2007 by patriot13]

OK patriot, I'm going to ask you a real, honest to goodness serious question (which is rare for me BTW), in your opinion are Blackwater operatives subverting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan in any way?

Peace

Wait, somebody who worked at Blackwater is here posting in this topic...by page 2?

I smell something fishy here. I mean come on, what are the odds of this? Somebody that just happened to work at Blackwater is here in an ATS topic about it (early in the topic, too)? I'm not saying that I don't believe him; I just find it, strange, that's all.

[edit on 9/17/2007 by SonicInfinity]

Originally posted by Dr Love
OK patriot, I'm going to ask you a real, honest to goodness serious question (which is rare for me BTW), in your opinion are Blackwater operatives subverting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan in any way?

Peace

I do understand why its so hard to buy into this type of thing, i have the same problem myself.

I can swear to the fact that my team never did anything at all like that while i was there. Understand that i can only vouch for myself and my experiences. I took people to places (heard some conversatons) 95% of the time i took an American rep. to have a meeting with thier Iraqi counterpart. 5% i stood guard.

By subverting you mean do something to hinder, correct? No, I went on many "runs" (the mission your assigned) with the US Army, rode in their vehicles and BS'ed. Yes, they are jealous of the money we make, I understand that too, I'm jealous of the people that own football teams, everybody wants money, of course they area a little resntful of us at times.

I dont see why we would do things that would endanger our jobs, ya know? I got paid good, i like getting paid, i want to keep getting paid. you would be shocked at the degree of micro-managment, so far as people being fired for wearing their ball cap backwards. getting a written reprimand for smoking in the wrong place, etc etc..

If I were a diplomat I would want Black Water protecting me. Not some soldier asking his superior if its ok to shoot. It looks to me from the reports that the crap hit the fan and they did what they had to do and cleared the area. No disrespect but it is a slightly different job than our troops are trained for. If I'm not mistaken the founder is an X Navy Seal and the men are highly trained and most are former military.

I don't hate on these people for getting paid more. I hate on our government for paying our troops so little. It just shows that some random private company is willing to pay a larger price for their services than our own government. If some soldier wants to make more money for their family doing the same thing for a private contractor thats his choice and im sure all of you would do the same.

War is not fair and mistakes happen. I don't know why people believe that when it goes down soldiers have time to identify every threat beyond a shadow of a doubt when they are all wearing civilian clothes . And when an enemy provokes a fight in a crowded place and you have to do what you have to in order to survive if a civilian gets killed its scrutinized like it could be avoided or we were the transgressors.. There is too many rules and expectations off the battle field nowadays its making it hard to do the job that they are trained for.

[edit on 17-9-2007 by Digital_Reality]