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Post by dragonlady on Aug 17, 2018 21:55:55 GMT -5
"President Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the Pentagon’s Afghanistan strategy and has shown interest in a proposal by Blackwater founder Erik Prince to privatize the war, NBC News reported Friday." "sister is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos."
That's just what we need - a private army for trump. We will potentially have to go to war to get him out of the WH. If there's a way to abuse the situation, trump will ultimately use it.
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Post by butterfly on Aug 18, 2018 3:50:51 GMT -5
I doubt that that's even legal -- not that that small detail would bother Trump.
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Post by 2old on Aug 18, 2018 7:26:50 GMT -5
I doubt that that's even legal -- not that that small detail would bother Trump. I'm certain the U.S. has utilized some mercenaries to carry out clandestine missions across the globe. If captured or killed, those mercenaries would have no identification, etc. where they could be tied back to the United States. However.... To contract, as the U.S. Government, with a private army and have that army of mercenaries running rampant carrying out the wishes of an administration would have to, at the least, be approved by Congress. I do not believe even the Trumpeteers in Congress would go along with it. First, what a slap in the face to our military. "Well, if you can't 'win' I'll hire someone who can!" What a message to send to Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in military conflicts. Second, who would be responsible when a mercenary force commits murders and rapes and tortures innocents... in the name of the United States? Wow! That would certainly enhance our reputation across the globe!!! Third, the reason Trump gives is that the Pentagon isn't as smart as he is when determining strategies. He knows more than all the Generals, Admirals, etc. in our military. He has already decimated our intelligence community. Now, he will further propagandize his redneck base that the military is corrupt and should be replaced by a private security force.... With him running the show. Lastly... and most important... Does anyone really feel that a mercenary force, commanded and controlled by a rogue tyrant should be given priority over the U.S. Military? When does that private security force gain access to our planes and weapons and ships and complete arsenal? How long will it take to shrink the military and grow the private force where they become the tyrant's "hit squad"? |
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Post by 2old on Aug 18, 2018 7:37:02 GMT -5
I DO believe that Trump will rain revenge upon us if "his" wall is not funded and construction begun. Part of that revenge will be to direct ICE begin utilizing Blackwater mercenaries to replace the Border Patrol. He could make this happen without Congressional authority. Blackwater, as a contractor to ICE, could then rain terror on communities and sanctuary cities. Police who refuse to give up locations of immigrants would be found dead in the alleys. Those killings would be blamed on immigrants, while the message to local police departments would be made clear. Pretty soon, from "Border Patrol" the Blackwater mercenaries would be found in cities across the Nation "enforcing" against immigrants. Eventually, if the Trump reign runs to... and past... 2024, Blackwater could become our local police forces.
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Post by helen on Aug 18, 2018 10:26:13 GMT -5
My first impulse is to say "This is the U.S. That could never happen here" but in the past two years, I've learned to never say never. A Congress lead by Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan could probably be persuaded to do just that.
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Post by suds00 on Aug 18, 2018 12:01:56 GMT -5
trump threatens to do a lot of things.very few get done.
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Post by birdgal on Aug 18, 2018 12:07:01 GMT -5
Never say Never! He's a dictator not a president. This Congress are his hit men.
He sits in the Oval office because of hate and a lot of help from his friend putin.
Voters turned their back on a seasoned and intelligent woman and chose an unqualified ego maniac because she wasnt perfect.
Now the lunatics are running and ruining the country along with the rest of the world. We showed her
didn't we?
I can almost see countries around the world pointing and laughing at US. We deserve it!
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Post by tnthomas on Aug 18, 2018 12:22:47 GMT -5
??? Is there some kind of 'strategy'? Aside from chasing Al-Qaeda down after 9-11, what is the mission? I liked it better when the Soviets were mired in this region. From a strictly colonial perspective, what does Afghanistan have that the U.S. needs to spend billions of dollars a year on??
None of it makes any sense, evidently the lessons from Vietnam are long forgotten.
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Post by suds00 on Aug 18, 2018 15:55:01 GMT -5
perhaps trump will be stopped in his tracks more efficiently come november!
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Post by 2old on Aug 18, 2018 17:17:28 GMT -5
??? Is there some kind of 'strategy'? Aside from chasing Al-Qaeda down after 9-11, what is the mission? I liked it better when the Soviets were mired in this region. From a strictly colonial perspective, what does Afghanistan have that the U.S. needs to spend billions of dollars a year on??
None of it makes any sense, evidently the lessons from Vietnam are long forgotten.
Eric Prince kept suggesting, in his interview with Andrea Mitchell, that his "strategy" was far better than the Pentagon's. I, too, would like to know if there is any "strategy" other than an attempt to prop up the current Afghan government. I assume they want to keep the Taliban from overrunning the current government and becoming another Iran or North Korea. The Taliban has a strong foothold in northern Pakistan. The Pakistan government tolerates them but is far too strong for the Taliban to overthrow. Our force reduction has been good, but we still are losing a few good soldiers every couple of months. Is it worth it? I honestly cannot answer that. It is easy to say we should just wipe out the Taliban and move on. To do so would undoubtedly incur the wrath of... and possibly war with... Pakistan. Now, as Afghan forces... supported by U.S. forces... try to attack the Taliban they just scurry back into Pakistan. It is nothing but "Whack-A-Mole". So, what is Blackwater's "strategy"? If, as contractors waving the U.S. flag, they do not recognize the border with Pakistan and begin infringing there... we get blamed. There is an extremely fragile relationship between India and Pakistan. How will incursions in to Pakistan by mercenaries paid by the U.S. affect that relationship with India... one of our allies. Trump has zero concept of the global big picture. He feels he can perform like General Sherman and "burn the place down". His arrogance is more likened to General Custer!!!! Eric Prince only wants the money. Prince doesn't care about his hired guns. He only cares what he can bill them out for. Prince does not care about U.S. relationships with allies or enemies. He only cares what each invoice would be for as he send them to the Pentagon for payment. So what a few Pakistanis are raped and murdered. So what if complete villages of Afghans are wiped out in the resulting backwash? If he is collecting his estimated $10 billion/year... so what? I still haven't heard the plan as to arming and supporting Blackwater. Will he use U.S. military planes and weapons? Will we be supplying him with smart bombs, missiles, and maybe even some "dirty bombs"? Where will be the separation between the mercenary force and having blood on the hands of our military? Nothing this imbecile in the White House does has any "strategy" other than growing/protecting his own ego and making dollars for his family. Why should Afghanistan be any different? |
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Post by 2old on Aug 18, 2018 20:16:05 GMT -5
Okay, guys... This is eerie!! I read quite a few library books. I'll read two or three a week for a couple weeks. Then, I'll take a week or two break. Picked up three earlier this week. Read the first two and began the third this afternoon. The book is about a private contractor... Blackthorn... using terrorism tactics to convince the government the CIA needs privatized to their firm. The name "Blackthorn" is much too close to "Blackwater". And, the idea of privatization of the CIA vs. privatization of the military is uncanny after this past few days. I may have nightmares.....
If interested, the book is "True Fiction" by Lee Goldberg. It's a 2018 release and is reading quite quickly.
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Post by The Inspector on Aug 18, 2018 23:14:36 GMT -5
Maybe someone that can read told tramp about the idea?
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