Hair Trigger

In time the Rockies may crumble,
Gibralter may tumble,
They're only made of clay,
But our love is here to stay
--Our Love is Here to Stay, George Gershwin
________

A "firefight" in which "at least 11" Iraqi civilian were killed by members of the U.S. contracting firm Blackwater has resulted in their being banned from working in the country. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Wednesday, "We will not tolerate the killing of our citizens in cold blood."

But by Friday, Blackwater was rolling again. "Secretary of State Rice declined to comment on Friday's resumption of Blackwater-protected convoys but paid tribute to the guards from the firm." What an unfortunate, yet apropos use of the term tribute, for mercenaries they are.

To Ranger, a firefight is a significant military disagreement. Opposing soldiers engage in firefights, but civilians are usually involved in exchanges of fire, shootouts or just good, old-fashioned gun fights. Sometimes, they're just caught in the crossfire. And Blackwater dudes, despite their military demeanors and love of camo as a complete fashion statement, are, in fact, civilian. As in "civilian contractors." Rent-a-cops.

"A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, said Monday that authorities had canceled the company’s license and that the government would prosecute the participants. But under the rules that govern private security contractors here, the Iraqis do not have the legal authority to do so."

"The deaths struck a nerve with Iraqis, who say that private security firms are often quick to shoot and are rarely held responsible for their actions. A law issued by the American authority in Iraq before the United States handed over sovereignty to Iraqis, Order No. 17, gives the companies immunity from Iraqi law (U. S. Contractor Banned by Iraq)."

So our thugs are a law unto themselves. But IF Iraq is a sovereign nation as the GWB administration always hypes, and IF it is a democracy, and IF killing its citizens is what terrorists do, then why not allow them to prosecute the terrorists?

Even if they work for Blackwater USA.

The Blackwater contract [What an appropriate name for a business involved in obfuscation and shady doings] is purportedly run through the auspices of the State Department, a group which should realize that hiring thugs is not a valid hearts and minds protocol.