We must stop exporting and valuing the profit of war imediately. It's Iraq all over again, again.


Is this supposed to be some kind of employment stimulus package for those of us who are out of work?

The reason these folks get the contract is because 1/ they've been vetted because they did the work before. Then they subcontract to all other folks. Is this some kind of economic stimulus package?

They should put these guys (and the politicos who sign their checks) into jail but then, of course, the fox is probably guarding the hen house as well.

Why is it that when we see images on TV / online / print media that the "good" guys are always wearing GI uniforms? You can easily see the style of helmet is the same (or last year's model) as those our troops wear.

OMG!!!!! NO!

This is riduclous. Can't we stop this from going through? We should protest this to the end to insure Blackwater does not get this contract. I am tired of corrupt corporations getting rich by raping(literally) the American people. Lets stop the madness and try to end this slap in the face to the American people. Give this contract to another company.

I'd like to see that $1 billion go to US military personnel to train the Afghan National Police - not mercenaries. Our government should never use mercenaries for anything, we have a military as prescribed by the US Constitution and I don't recall seeing the word mercenary in that document.

Blackwater/Xe is a left over from W's Christian crusaders, and does not deserve to be a US contractor at all. Read Jeremy Scahill's Blakcwater and protest one man's (Eric Prince) private mercenary force of 100's of thousands. Scarey. Shame on Secretary Gates for this one.

I just finished reading Blackwater by Tracy Kidder. Should be required reading. America's government is being run by religious fanatics. The lobbyist,think tanks and military corparation are the ones in charged not the people.

There is another book out there...Jeremy Scahill...amazing...yes, required reading. This cannot happen. If it does I probably will update my passport and get outta here while I still can.

I thought that Blackwater and Halliburton got contracts because George Bush and the Republicans were evil? What? The chosen one, the messiah giving contracts to the same sort. Surely it cannot be true. lol

I am totally agreeing with you.
you have said it, what i like to..

The fact that the company is submitting a bid is not the same as getting a contract is it? Further, the Bush Administration privatized much of what formerly would have been military or State Department operations - often at the cost of hiring the former military members at much higher pay in the contract positions. So, we lost experienced people, paid more money and lost direct control of the operations.

Cha-ching. There's money to be made.

If we must train the Afgans & spend the money - & I do not know why we should. Better to use Xe than our military.
Let them choose to go as mercenaries vs our young men and women being deployed there.

training? in what? Rape? Murder? Profiteering? Religious bigotry?

training? In rape? Murder? Profiteering? Religious bigotry?

Exactly!!Why do they need training in the first place.We at home are the ones who need training on how to preserve the freedom that was passed on to us by the founding fathers and (mothers) and patriots who gave their lives,blood and sacrifice.Americans are waking up and there will be hell to pay.Freedom is eternal.God bless the US and it,s Constitution.

The final insult!

What do they take the American public for,a bunch of morons?

I think they take advantage of our short term memory.