150 private mercenaries in New Orleans?

[medeak]

wtf? Blackwater admits they have that many on the ground:

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

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. WHO IS PAYING THE BILL? N/T

[SouthernDem2004]

8. They are private security according to the article.

[Angry Girl]

2. Here's another article for ya!

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091005A.shtml
and the same article's also here
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0910-07.htm

[medeak]

4. holy shit! can use "lethal force"

but part of hurricane rescue effort... makes no sense at all.

[ixion]

3. anyone remember the last time our gov't use our tax dollars to hire mercs

to hunt us down? hmmmmm?

Where is the precedent?

[SouthernDem2004]

9. According to the article they are private security, not paid by our gov.

[bribri16]

5. This means they can kill with impunity and are immune. Just like in Iraq!

These contract killers even have killed US military and still have immunity. See WP story on this in today's paper.

[bee]

6. hold on a second... someone please help me out here...

"Blackwater mercenaries are some of the most feared professional killers in the world and they are accustomed to operating without worry of legal consequences."

(from Angry Girl's link)

The government has hired a assassins to kill Americans? Am I getting this right?

[mzteris]

7. Not just Blackwater, either.

The merc group I know are "DoD' qualified. Armed and Dangerous is what I say.

It's a sad sad state of affairs.