Blackwater booted from Iraq
The Iraqi government refuses to grant Blackwater a license to operate in the country. Right now, they're expected to pull out by spring.
You gotta figure that other contractors will step up to take that business, so there will be no substantial change in Iraq, but what does Blackwater do?
In Pentagon theory, you expect a Blackwater to simply fill surge needs and disappear, but in the reality of Washington, that's not how things work.
Their business model would seem to suggest that they need to find "other missions." With all those billions sloshing around, I gotta wonder how they're going to lobby for new business to make up the loss.
Does the creation of these contractors end up affecting US policy?
You gotta figure that other contractors will step up to take that business, so there will be no substantial change in Iraq, but what does Blackwater do?
In Pentagon theory, you expect a Blackwater to simply fill surge needs and disappear, but in the reality of Washington, that's not how things work.
Their business model would seem to suggest that they need to find "other missions." With all those billions sloshing around, I gotta wonder how they're going to lobby for new business to make up the loss.
Does the creation of these contractors end up affecting US policy?
posted by mikevotes at
7:45 AM
10 Comments:
There is a school of thought that considers the whole war business a giant job creation scheme.
By
Anonymous, at 8:34 AM
The difference from the traditional is that in the past, influence involved weapons and systems so they could be sated by an arms buildup.
But when your product is bodies, they can't be siloed. They have to be put in action somewhere.
By
mikevotes, at 8:39 AM
In that sense I guess Blackwater is part of the security business. A growth industry I'm told. Call me paranoid but I think these are the people who will be kicking doors down in the US if things get really bad.
By
Anonymous, at 8:52 AM
They're mercs, they'll only fight as long as they're paid. They swear no allegiance to any country or flag. Just the all mighty dollar.
Who's going to pay them to kick in my door?
By
matt, at 10:52 AM
You're right matt. Everybody relax. The Bush years have left me hypersensitive.
By
Anonymous, at 12:46 PM
Anon, I think they would take that role, at least in a supplementary way.
Look at New Orleans, Blackwater found all sorts of little niches to work.
And, Matt, my point would be that, yes, the guys on the line quit if they don't get paid, but the corporate structure has every interest in finding niches where their guys can work.
I'm not saying the mercs are going to go independent, I'm talking about force that becomes paramilitary, like some of the British merc outfits who end up "advising" dictators and coups.
We're looking at getting sucked into the results of their business.
By
mikevotes, at 1:26 PM
I had thought I heard of Blackwater being sent to suppress the Somali pirates.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 1:35 PM
Check out Gen. Smedley Butler's book on the plot to seize the Whitehouse in a paramilitary coup during the 30's.
General panic and fear, check.
By
matt, at 1:54 PM
I just came across this....
http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE50R4ZD20090128?rpc=401&=undefined&sp=true
Seems the security business in Afghanistan isn't exactly booming.
By
Anonymous, at 4:10 PM
Again, their business model has two main facets. Training armed men and supplying armed men.
For the second, the mission is pretty much secondary. But they do need mission. They do need conflict.
By
mikevotes, at 5:42 PM
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