Gulf War III: Why is Blackwater USA patrolling New Orleans with M-16s?

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002349.html

How do you know that we're finally taking the situation in New Orleans seriously? We're sending in the private mercenaries -- the very same folks we've called on to do the dirty work in Iraq. Reports are beginning to surface that New Orleans and environs are crawling with armed private commandos from Blackwater USA, the North Carolina-based security firm that has risen to prominence with its highly visible role in Iraq. The slide show at the top of this entry comes from their Web site.

A Georgia-based doctor and military veteran who blogs under the name Otter has been down in the disaster zone the last few days, and he has seen the private Blackwater security forces everywhere. He wrote yesterday from a police precinct house in New Orleans:

Blackwater Security is here--clean, well-equipped, and armed to the teeth.

The New York Times has seen them too:

No civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns or other firearms, said P. Edwin Compass III, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.

But that order apparently does not apply to hundreds of security guards hired by businesses and some wealthy individuals to protect property. The guards, employees of private security companies like Blackwater, openly carry M-16's and other assault rifles. Mr. Compass said that he was aware of the private guards, but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons.

[applegrove]

1. Cause they got the contract. But the army had to go in there and

get control of the city second. Now Blackwater can patrol. Talk about welfare Queens!

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Does anybody have any comforting words about Blackwater

or should I continue to see them as the core of Bushco's incipient SS?

[Drum]

7. continue...I feel that way too

and particularly concerned they're unleashed here in the US...too many dogs of war on the streets these days.

[mirandapriestly]

3. Today on MSNBC they showed Cheney touring with

a general, can't remember his name he was from Louisiana, and over them they had black helicopters, I assume it's the Blackhawk mercenary ones. Creepy. Tons of armed men around them. But they wouldn't send armed protection like that around relief people or doctors. Yuck

[rooboy]

4. That security detail is there to protect Mr Cheney from well-wishers. n/t

[preciousdove]

5. Sent in first to protect "assets"; lives expendable gold is not, SOBs. n/t

[Raydawg1234]

6. Hired by the rich

Many rich residents in New Orleans hired private security companies to watch their homes.... Also, many private companinies, hospitals,etc. undoubtedly did the same. Interesting that the private companies arived before FEMA. Maybe we should privatise FEMA, god knows Wal-Mart even arived before they did(shit I sound like a freeper)

[HR_Pufnstuf]

8. Because...

...they eat your tax dollars for lunch, and theyre hungry, very hungry.

[NYC]

9. We're screwed.

Mercenaries running around within the U.S.

No civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to carry pistols, shotguns or other firearms, said P. Edwin Compass III, the superintendent of police. "Only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons," he said.

...Mr. Compass said that he was aware of the private guards, but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons...

All animals are equal. Some are more equal than others.