The Administration has heralded the withdrawal of the last combat troops from Iraq as evidence that it is partially keeping campaign promises to pull out of Iraq. What has been largely ignored in coverage is not only that 50,000 military personnel remain but the Administration is going to double the number of security contractors to take up the slack. That is the change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn.
The Obama administration is planning to more than double the number of private security guards it has in Iraq — up to 7,000 — according to the New York Times. They could find a few extras in Afghanistan where the Administration was surprised with an order to get its civilian security forces — most of the 45,000 contractors — out of the country.
Source: New York Times
“it was destroyed”
Sorry, first cup of coffee barely started. 😀
Blouise,
This is exactly why I’m a socialist when it comes to economics. Unfettered greed, no matter the political system it flourishes under, leads to social instability and eventually collapse. Most people think the Roman Empire was destroyed by barbarians when in fact if was destroyed by the greed and sociopathic behavior of the rulers and “the elite” (how I hate that anti-democratic term). One only need look to Nero (a narcissistic sociopath) and Caligula (a psychopath) for prime examples.
Buddha,
“I also think it is directly linked to the venal Cult of Money that American-style capitalism encourages.”
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Is the above then applicable as one part of the explanation for the bank and wall street mess, especially the “planned to fail” bundles that were sold to so many suckers? And if it was, in part, a conscious sociopathic behavior, then by bailing them out, the politicians are approving said behavior and enabling it with our tax dollars?
If this be the case, and I suspect you are correct, then the sickness within our society runs deep and spreads far. Perhaps we are on the downhill slide. If the history of other societies can be believed … this seems to be the “normal” path mankind follows.
Too bad Ron Paul is a republican who is anti-choice.
Ron Paul for President
http://www.voteronpaul2012.com/
I believe the proper term for what’s going on is a shell game. The kool aid drinking true believers are the marks.
Blouise,
There are nurture and nature components without doubt. While eliminating the nurture deficiencies would undoubtedly help, there are some certain percentage of people that are just “born bad”. Look at the raw number of sociopaths in the Bush family line for an example, starting with Prescott down to George Sr. and on to George the Dim. There’s also a lot of nurture in that picture too. From everything I’ve read about their family, sociopathic behavior is actively encouraged. Practically a Bush family mantra. However, that does not change that some good, nurturing families have produced some singularly rotten bastards though.
There is also a choice component to the behavior. I was in G&T with a guy who is smart, charming and monetarily successful . . . and no one in the group of friends who have known him since high school trusts him a bit. When he (or his wife) call, they to a one think “what does he want” and/or “how much is this going to cost me”. And I know for a fact his sociopathic behavior is a choice. Because I cornered him about it 15 years ago and he told me so in no uncertain terms. Although I keep track of him through the gang, I decided to simply cut him off. Even the one who do stay in touch maintain it as a passive relationship (i.e. they’ll go to a holiday party he’s throwing, but they never call up and just go out anymore).
In cases like his, I think there is a cultural component. I also think it is directly linked to the venal Cult of Money that American-style capitalism encourages. It takes what would ordinarily be a borderline personality (although maybe not Borderline Personality Disorder proper – borderline in the “marginal” sense of usage) and distorts it that one final step to create someone who is “me, me, me and screw the rest of humanity”.
And I apologize for my even later reply. I got tied up on the phone.
Unless and until the American embassy in Iraq is torn down or sold, and until NO AMERICAN military or contractors are in Iraq, we are an occupying force and there WILL be voilence. IOW, it’s still a war.
Anyway…. On to Afgahnistan where the REAL action is!
On September 12, 2001, when no planes were allowed into US airspace, British officials flew into Washington, DC, to encourage an invasion of Afghanistan.
http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a091201britishvisit#a091201britishvisit
… forgive my tardiness in responding … I am supervising many cooks in my kitchen … and they are all very much into the wine!
Buddha Is Laughing
1, August 19, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Blouise,
I tend to think the largest problem we as a species have isn’t technological or religious. It’s psychological. The greatest danger to humans are humans. Specifically in the form of sociopaths (like small “p” politicians from the above post) and psychopaths (their full on violent cousins). Malformed human egos are the most toxic substance on Earth.
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I have never thought of those matters in quite the way you state them but there is something so fundamental to what you write that my intuition tells me … “pay attention, this is worth thinking about”.
In your opinion, is this malformation or mutation of the ego a natural occurring virus or is it a manner of upbringing … ie … nature or nurture … or a combination of both? If, for instance, we were to totally eliminate bad nurturing, would malformation still occur as a birth defect?
Blouise,
I tend to think the largest problem we as a species have isn’t technological or religious. It’s psychological. The greatest danger to humans are humans. Specifically in the form of sociopaths (like small “p” politicians from the above post) and psychopaths (their full on violent cousins). Malformed human egos are the most toxic substance on Earth.
Susan Burke is going to the United Arab Emirates to depose Erik Prince as part of one of her lawsuits against him. Read more at the following link:
http://koehlerlaw.net/2010/08/erik-prince-meet-susan-burke/
Buckeye,
There see … you snuck in while I was writing … I am now fully informed!
Buddha,
… and I would probably be better off if I adopted a tad more of your viewpoint … a dollop, perhaps, might instill a bit more realism to my reasoning …
Byron
1, August 19, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Buckeye:
“Blouise
Yes. And this is so much easier to do with mercenaries than with conscripts.”
I thought we had a volunteer service.
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I don’t want to speak for Buckeye but I took him as referring to the “Contractors/private security personnel” … I put his emphasis on “mercenaries” and his use of “conscripts” as poetic licence.
He’ll straighten me out if I’ve misinterpreted him.
Buckeye,
I submit that if we’d had a draft, we wouldn’t have gone to Iraq in the first place. But Saudi Arabia would have been simply screwed. And rightfully so.
Byron,
Xe still has a huge contract with the government. Although I did notice Eric Prince has moved to Abu Dhabi in anticipation of needing to flee from possible prosecution (ala Halliburton).
Byron
You are correct. Some of the volunteers may be considered hirelings (working for pay, only) but they are not the hirelings of a foreign army which is the common description of a mercenary. Some volunteer for other than the pay, of course.
My point was that conscripts are a more diverse group than those who join either for the pay, or for whatever reason they join, and thus less easy to manipulate into doing things that shouldn’t be done. If a draft was reinstated, we’d be out of both Iraq and Afghanistan PDQ.
Blouise,
I see Obama as I see most politicians. And I mean that in the lower case sense of the use of the word politicians. I’ve known guys (and gals) just like him in business too. The kind of person who thinks being in management is all about “looking out for #1” instead of making the organization more effective and/or making those you manage have as easy a job as possible (by providing the right tools and efficient processes) while still getting the job done. Some may call this a jaundiced view of human nature but it’s based on observation.
In other words, I tend to operate under a maxim that can be stated “While absolute power may corrupt absolutely, the absolutely corrupt will always seek power.”
Buckeye:
“Blouise
Yes. And this is so much easier to do with mercenaries than with conscripts.”
I thought we had a volunteer service.