When in doubt call on a anonymous source to help you sell a story. This time its on Blackwater and the "controversy" the liberals are drumming up. What caught my eye on this story was the use of a Anonymous source and what he said:
Critics of Blackwater say the security firm’s mistakes in Iraq while protecting U.S. nationals are evidence that the company cannot continue to operate in a shadowy world of lax regulations and little official oversight. But despite the public criticism of Blackwater, its main mission has been an overwhelming success. Not a single American official under Blackwater’s protection has been killed, U.S. authorities maintain.
Before a Congressional panel Tuesday, Blackwater Chairman Erik Prince defended his employees’ tactics and insisted his company was providing a vital role in Iraq. He said contractors risked their lives everyday to keep U.S. diplomatic personel safe.
"I believe we acted appropriately at all times," said Prince, a former Navy SEAL."We’re the targets of the same ruthless enemies that have killed more than 3,800 American military personnel and thousands of innocent Iraqis."
In light of the high-profile incidents, possible explanations for the company’s actions are emerging, including psychological harm such as post-traumatic stress that led to erratic behavior by some contractors.
"I have never heard of a company offering psychological counseling," a military contractor who works for another company said on the condition of anonymity because of his firm’s involvement with the Blackwater investigation.
"Blackwater might have a house shrink, but I’d be surprised if they do. Anyone who has spent more than a few months in Iraq is bound to have mental health issues," he said. "You put a bunch of jittery guys into a situation where everyone wants to bomb or kill Americans and that’s a recipe for a really bad situation."
Oh really? To prove their point they then talk to two former workers and one psychologist who spin tales of suicide and mental breakdowns. Of threats to go on a killing rampage to denials of treatments by the insurance companies.
It reads like a liberals wet dream. Vietnam all over again.
The problem is that many of our soldiers who have spent more then a few months over there come home just fine. Many go back for another tour and turn out ok. Can war have an effect on someone, most definitely, and I’m sure some come back with mental health issues, but the way this piece is written you come away with the thought that every single human being that has set foot in Iraq is now about to go postal.
And thats baloney.
All in a days work for ABC.
The truth of the matter is that Blackwater has a tremendous success rate with not one fatality of a VIP they were protecting. An outstanding success rate in a war zone. Some Haditha type stories get thrown around and next thing you know they are getting vilified, just like the Haditha Marines did. That story unraveled and 5 of the 8 are now exonerated. But you barely hear about that on the news.
I have a feeling this will work out much the same.
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Not every mental illness in Iraq should be blamed on the hostilities. It’s already documented that people outside their comfort zone may freak out and freak out sometimes in a matter of hours.
People living in the arctic circle have been known to suffer from “arctic madness.” Riots have been started because of extremely hot (for the area) days. People have gone insane after less than a week in solitary confinement. A well documented mental health study was stopped after three days when university students playing “the police” beat university students playing “prisoners” (the “prisoners” started showing signs of deep depression). Then there is plain old home sickness. Just recently a woman freaked out because she missed her flight and was arrested at an airport (she later died, which is why it made the news).
There are far more crazies in the U.S. that have never set foot outside the country who freak out and go on a killing spree than there are that have served in a combat zone. The Whacko doctors are trying to build a future group they can suck billions of dollars from. I don’t know why they worry, the BDS crowd will provide them more than they can handle starting in 09 when President Bush returns to Texas. The mental illness displayed by the democrats as a whole will not go away with a change of POTUS, but will fester until they explode. It’s going to be an even more fun ride than the past 9 months of watching the inept democrats try to lead the inept blue sheeple in congress.