Blackwater Settlement: $100K Per Corpse
"Xe, the US security firm formerly known as Blackwater, has reached a settlement in a number of lawsuits over the killings of Iraqi civilians." And how much? "Two sources with inside knowledge of Blackwater's settlement with Iraqi victims of a string of shootings, including the Nisour Square massacre, have confirmed to me that Blackwater is paying $100,000 for each of the Iraqis killed by its forces and between $20-30,000 to each Iraqi wounded…. Based on the number of dead and injured named in the civil lawsuits, the total amount paid by Blackwater is likely in the range of $5 million."
… Got a ex-marine buddy who basically fantasized about getting to cap one of these mercs. He had a lot of reasons for this and I'm certain all of them were valid.
Which is ironic as most blackwater 'mercs' are ex-marines themselves.
True, as he recounted to me which was part of one of his reasons. He felt it was a betrayal of sorts and he would always mumble something about them being the weakest Marines anyway. He would Joke that as as Marine he was paid to kill for his country, not simply paid (well) to kill. Marine humor, which for some reason I think you might be familiar with Abe. Lots of other thing that were more emotional and personal for him that i won't recount as it's not my right but, some of the things you all know like they always have the best gear, make a ton of money ( at least compared to a G.I.) excellent accommodations etc. sure this could sound like sour grapes but, his point was that they were living this High life, Comparatively, and that for them to then resort to these acts was something unforgivable because they can't even fall back on all the depressing shit we know the troops are going through and most of the action perpetrated were done out of a mixture of Laziness, malice, stupidity and cowardice
I'm sure we'll talk about this tomorrow I'm sending him the story right now.
It seems that essentially it boils down to resentment over the money thing, right? Same job. Wildly different reimbursements. But at the same time, unemployment rates for returning service members is double the national average (at least in Minnesota). Can you blame them for taking jobs that pay well (or are a JOB AT ALL)? And while I don't know any Blackwater guys, I have know a few servicemen (ex- and otherwise) over my lifetime, and I bet behavior-wise, you'd find about the same thing: A bunch of professionals who do their job well sprinkled with asshole swinging dicks who watched too much Full Metal Jacket. Sadly, the latter group always gets the front page.
I gotta ask: How does one pronouce 'Xe'?
Xenon? Like the noble gas?
Zee?
Kee?
Chee?
The Murderous Thugs Formerly Known as Blackwater?
It's a bright, high-pitched "she" with the "eee" drawn out, accompanied by jazz hands.
…and a rainbow of sparkles?
In military circles it's referred to as "chaff," but yeah, more or less.
That's a lot of salt.
How about: liquidate their assets, divide them amongst the families of the killed and wounded, and bar the partners from ever incorporating again.