Reply #5: mercenaries

[Hawkowl]

I would point out that for many of us on the left, it is politically, monumentally asinine, idiotic if not suicidal to talk about our troops raping and killing.

At least the troops have to abide by the Uniform code of military justice. Unfortunately the outsourcing (hiring mercenaries as private "security" by this fascist administration to Haliburton, Blackwater, et. al. is leading to atrocities that are not being addressed.

Just think how hard it is to hold our leaders in this country, supposedly ruled by law, accountable? Can you imagine how impossible it is to hold criminals given contracts, licenses to kill, loot, and torture, by OUR government in a lawless country?

Do not fall into the trap of tarring with the same brush, our soldiers, our national guardsmen, who are our friends and neighbors, who are forced to ignore, these atrocities. They are not allowed to stop the lawlessness of the war profiteers. It is only occasionally that you hear of troops taking matters into their own hands, such as a group of marines did a few months ago, when they "captured" some of these mercenaries and roughed them up.

Blame the leaders, blame the generals, blame the war profiteers. The troops may end up in Leavenworth, for either refusing to go to Iraq or they may end up in Leavenworth for following orders (Lyndie England) once they get there. This is intolerable.