Matters Blackwater (Merged thread)

[marct]

See also http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/0...elicopter.html

Marc

[carl]

Does anyone know if and where the following info is available:

1. Is there an entity other than the Dept. of Labor that tracks the number of civ. contractors killed and wounded in Iraq?
2. How accurate are the Dept. of Labor stats?
3. Some of the wounds are probably serious, does anyone track the quality of treatment these people receive?

I agree with the Tom about it being unwise to rely so heavily on civilian contractors; but, for whatever reason, they are putting themselves on the line and they should be looked after.

[Stan]

Tom, a good pen, if I may say so.

You brought with you (10 years ago) a relatively simple and safe self-imposed ROE policy. We had no need to prove ourselves, we were more concerned with survival, and rightfully so.

You said to me early on, "go in with a spirit of acceptance, not judgement, things will more than likely work better". Well, you did have few at our favorite restaurant before that statement, but I recall it to this day !

You would later tell me to be careful - but you did that a lot !

When the Sozias Director (former Israeli LTC) came to snatch his blue flag, we would laugh, but we could see his experience in his words and jestures. He was indeed more than sufficiently trained and experienced to later make such absurd statements, and prepared to back them.

We would later see what inexperience does. A dumb attack was what I thought with perceptive folks all around us. They were however dealing with the FAZ (Zairian Armed Forces), not Iraq.

Indeed, an unfortunate incident with more US losses.

Regards, Stan