N.C. Company Loses Seven in Iraq

[wtmusic]

RALEIGH, N.C. - A private security firm Friday identified seven guards who were killed on a single day this week in Iraq, including a former sergeant whose stepfather said he died "doing what he loved to do" and a former sheriff's deputy whose wife had begged him to come home.

Six Blackwater Security Consulting guards responsible for protecting U.S. diplomats were killed Thursday when their helicopter was shot down as it headed from Baghdad to Tikrit for a security detail, said company spokesman Chris Bertelli.

A seventh Blackwater guard was killed near Ramadi when a bomb exploded next to one of the company's armored personnel carriers.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050423/ap_on_re_us/iraq_blackwater_5

"Doing what he loved to do"--make money?

[LostinVA]

1. I feel very, very much for their families

However, I have a hard time feeling sympathy for their deaths. These were not truck drivers forced to take a good paying job to support their families, these ere mercenaries. Blackwater is scary, man. Even my ex-military intelligence BIL who does secret government stuff says (and I quote), "They are crazy f*ckers."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Sometimes even war profiteers need to know war is not all profit

no sympathy for hired killers

[mike_c]

3. I just can't whip up much sympathy for mercenaries...

...even those "doing what they loved to do." Maybe especially those. The junk-yard dogs of war.

[leftchick]

4. boo

hoo. No sympathy for the dogs of war here. I do feel bad for their families that they made such a dreadful decision. I wonder what their life insurance benefits are?

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. It's very nice that he died doing what he love to do.

[leftchick]

6. isn't that special?

in a sick way?

:(

[Name removed]

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[wtmusic]

8. An American puppy or an Iraqi puppy?

Y'know them Iraqi puppies are all terra-ists.

[manic expression]

9. What point are you trying to make?

They were not murdered, they were killed because they CHOSE to fight a war while making ill-gotten money. They hired themselves to oppress a people. I have little sympathy for these people who "love" to kill others in an unjustified occupation.

I have an infinite amount more concern for animals' lives than people who got killed because they wanted to fight a war that should never have been fought.

[Indykatie]

10. Sad For Families But

I don't understand with the numbers of US service persons why we have these private companies doing this type of work. It can't be good for troop morale since these private contractors are paid very lucrative salaries.

[Zorra]

11. Bush lied, Americans die. Every day. A lot more will die next week.

Over 1600 have died in Iraq already. Not to mention tens of thousands of completely innocent Iraqi citizens. And this senseless war has cost the American taxpayer, what, about $280 Billion now.

All because Bush is a psychopathic fascist corporate whore that is sacrificing American lives, limbs, and destroying America's economic future so his ultra-wealthy family and corporate buddies can make tons of money on oil and war profits.

Killing little animals is not going to save lives.

Bringing our troops home immediately and putting Bush and the neocons in prison for the rest of their lives will, however, save hundreds of thousand lives.

[chelsea0011]

13. And the scary part....we may be there for another decade

How many more thousands will die before this country wakes up?

[BeHereNow]

12. Welcome to DU

Good of you to value human life over fur babies,
but may I say to you all life is sacred and
you will never find a fur soul signing up to
forcibly occupy a country and guard corporate
facists masquerading as US officials protecting
"American interests."
Also, bear in mind that humans are the
only species on the earth that kill mindlessly.
Humans are the only species that willfully destroy
their environment and thus all those inhabiting it.
Just another perspective my friend.
BHN

[LostinVA]

14. I Love my fur babies, they are part of my family

And, if asked to choose between the two, I would pick their lives over the Blackwater mercenaries'. I don't think human life is necessarily more sacred than an animal's, and my fur babies ARE my babies... and, they weren't making $1K a day in Iraq while our soldiers make next to nothing, and don't even have hot chow.

[BeHereNow]

15. My point exactly.

All life is sacred and we are the ONLY form of life
engaged in active self destruction on this planet.
BHN

[leftchick]

16. $2000.00 and up. They kill for the sport

and the money. Like I said before , I shed no tears for these dogs of war but I feel terrible for their families that they were so fucking stupid and greedy.

I have five fur babies as well and find them much more valuable (and intelligent) than these hired killers.

[LostinVA]

17. And, all of MY fur babies are Democratic Socialists

Except for one kitty who I sometimes think may be a closet facist...

[leftchick]

18. lol!

my dog is too dumb to be a fascist. Now my cats are for sure Socialists. Aren't they all?!? ;)_

[Name removed]

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[LostinVA]

20. If you truly believe that, then I am truly sorry for you

Animals are not "dumb," and are not here for us to "use and eat." If you're a Christian, then you know God told Adam and Eve to be stewards of the Earth, including caring for the animals. If you aren't a Christian, then you should still feel this way. I find this attitude very disturbing, but hey -- you have to live with it, not me. But don't presume to tell us that we are uncompassionate. I'll bet we are MORE compassionate toward fellow humans, because we embrace and love ALL creatures. And, also do not presume to insult loving members of my family who I love and cherish, and who show love and affection for me.

There IS comparison: no life is more important than another. NONE. I hope you don't own any pets, I really don't. I'm sure you'll flame away with this, and I don't really care. I know I'm morally right on this one.

[Name removed]

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[leftchick]

27. so it does not matter what kind of people?

as long as they are people and not 'animals'? Even people who love to kill other people like say, mercenaries? And what about the Innocent Iraqi people slaughtered by the US daily? Do they count?

[LostinVA]

28. They aren't people... so what?

They are life, and they have souls as much as people do, and I love and cherish my animals, I don't own and use them.

And, of course I'd choose my cat's life over a person I've ever met, or a bad person. Why wouldn't I ? Why wouldn't I choose a creature who gives me affection, and cuddles with me when I'm sick, and plays with me, and teases me?

Again, I'm not mad at you in the least about this. This attitude just puzzles me and makes me sad.

[leftchick]

22. wow! You sound like

Jeffrey Dahmer before he developed his taste for humans.

:scared:

[LostinVA]

29. I honestly can't understand this attitude

Okay, I can understand choosing your wife's or children's life over a fur baby... but over ANY human? No way. Human life is NOT more important than an animals', and no one can ever give me a good reason why. And forget the soul thing -- it's not Biblical. That's NEVER said. I think, if you believe in souls, then fur babies have them too. My belief is in "animus."

[Zorra]

24. That's what Bush and the neocons think about our troops. They're

just dumb creatures, cannonfodder for the republican party to use and kill and....well, the jury is still out on if if they eat human flesh or not, but they use our troops and this war for making themselves rich.

If it were not for Bush and the neocons, no Americans would have died in Iraq.

Not a single one.

How can they be so uncompassionate?

[LostinVA]

30. And humans are technically nothing but creatures to eaten, too

We just lucked out that there was an Ice Age, and that with most of the real predators gone, we were able to build fire, shelter, and weapons. That doesn't make us better or more important, just luckier.

[LostinVA]

21. All cats are Socialists AND Fascists

It's a condumdrum...

[tabasco]

25. Wow, you're a real killer, aren't ya' ?

Military recruiting is down, killer-dude.

You don't have anal cysts do you?

[Blue_Tires]

26. no sympathy for mercs---ever n/t

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[llmart]

33. They valued money over life......

Karma's a bitch, isn't it?

I'll shed no tears for these people.

[daleo]

34. The families have my pity, but not my sympathy.

I think there is a distinction that can be made.

[Mist]

35. I can never get too worked up over mercenaries' deaths -

it's the business they chose to be in. And I envy anyone with socialist cats - mine are royalists, apparently, and I'm their servant!