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September 12, 2006
WB: O Brave New World
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Amazing, how a relatively small bunch of cave dwelling mountain men, training on monkey bars have changed things so much.
Posted by: pb | Sep 12 2006 16:36 utc | 1
Afghan cave dwelling mountain men? They are not a new development. They have been dwelling in caves since time immemorial. New on the other hand and spear-heading the retreat of the state are: The 33,000 private security companies now operating in the US. They are here today and presumably intend to prosper tomorrow. And then there is Iraq (via Global Guerillas ):
35,000 Private Military Shooters in Iraq?
PSCAI (Private Security Company Association of Iraq) estimates that there are 35,000 private military contractors (those who are using lethal force) in Iraq. Note that the vast bulk of these contractors are operating outside the realm of any counter-insurgency strategy (and by their actions, defined by their missions, typically undermine it).
Posted by: Guthman Bey | Sep 12 2006 19:25 utc | 2
GB,
It was mentioned in the comments (atGG) that 349 contractors have been KIA in Iraq (those reported). That makes their casualty rate second only to the U.S. and more than the Brits. All the fretting (by the administration) about state within a state and militas seems a little hollow when the contractors are considered in the same light.
Posted by: anna missed | Sep 12 2006 20:05 utc | 3
Norquist always wanted to drown the state in a bathtub. Now there are 33,000 security companies to do the washboarding for him.
Posted by: Guthman Bey | Sep 12 2006 22:41 utc | 4
“The 33,000 private security companies now operating in the US.”
The old ‘protection racket’ has come a long way. Hasn’t it?
Posted by: pb | Sep 12 2006 23:35 utc | 5
“The 33,000 private security companies now operating in the US.”
The old ‘protection racket’ has come a long way. Hasn’t it?
I feel a Monty Python moment coming on . . .
Luigi: You’ve got a nice army base ‘ere, Colonel. Be a shame if somethin’ were to ‘appen to it.
Colonel: What?
Dino: ‘ow many tanks you got, Colonel?
Colonel: About five hundred.
Dino: Well you oughter be careful, Colonel, ‘cos things break, don’t they?
Posted by: billmon | Sep 13 2006 0:37 utc | 6