Quote:
Originally Posted by ORD_Buckeye
The US government has no direct control over these men other than relying on their best intentions and hoping for the best.[/i]
|
The Brigadier General I reported to directly during my last trip in the sand box would be surprised to learn that did not have direct control over myself and my team.
Quote:
|
Handy note of the day #2: Being a grunt on the ground doesn't give one any insight or knowledge into any issues beyond those related to being a grunt on the ground. It is not an automatic passport to an understanding of any of the larger political, military or diplomatic issues at play. If it were, every grunt would end up a damned general.
|
At least a grunt on the ground is also smart enough to admit when he lacks the information to speak knowledgeably on a topic rather than talking out of his ass.
Quote:
|
Give it up already. Even the administration, which has yet to admit a single fault or error these past seven years, is racing to distance itself from Blackwater.
|
You'd think a political lackey would have a better understanding of how the game is played...but then the guys from State always have been better at looking busy than being useful (other than as a distraction anyways).
Quote:
|
As someone who served in our embassies in apartheid era South Africa as well as Eastern Europe, I'm damned glad that it was during an era when the protection of those embassies was not outsourced to politically connected, no-bid contract mercenary firms.
|
Bully for you.
Of course those embassies were built/fit out by contractors. Their SCIFs designed, installed & serviced by contractors and some supplemental external security was at times*gasp* provided by contractors from those same companies.
Personally if I were seriously worried about the evils of contractors I'd be more concerned about the damage a tech could due to national security via his access to compartmentalized material.
But then again I don't have an axe to grind.
PS - The WPPSI contract (like the vast majority of the contracts awarded) was bid on by at least 3 companies that I am aware of.