Higgly Posted October 7, 2007 Report Posted October 7, 2007 (edited) Our society has a place for everybody, including sociopaths. Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater, testified before the US Senate last week and said basically, if you want to make an omelette, you gotta break a few eggs. Is this guy a sociopath who needs to be drugged and put away, or is he a good businessman? Edited October 7, 2007 by Higgly Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
marcinmoka Posted October 8, 2007 Report Posted October 8, 2007 Noun 1. omelette - beaten eggs or an egg mixture cooked until just set; may be folded around e.g. ham or cheese or jelly I hope this is not a metaphor. Ex navy seal and bilionaire yes, but poet.....urgh.....not quite. As per the question, both. I'm personally amazed at the price he is charging (in the neighborhood of $450,000 per soldier per annum) for the services his firm offers. That money could be used to outfit many a Humvee. Does anyone have any figures pertaining to public/private ratio's of Blackwater contracts? (N.B - Public = Military) Quote " Influence is far more powerful than control"
bush_cheney2004 Posted October 8, 2007 Report Posted October 8, 2007 Is this guy a sociopath who needs to be drugged and put away, or is he a good businessman? He is the latter for certain....providing a service niche in the growing security services market. It is neither new or remarkable, from Hessians fighting for King George to Pinkerton men. The pay is excellent, and there is far less government red tape. Even Somalian warlords had well armed "technicals" riding shotgun in rusty Toyota trucks. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Guest coot Posted October 8, 2007 Report Posted October 8, 2007 Even Somalian warlords had well armed "technicals" riding shotgun in rusty Toyota trucks. If it's good enough for Somalian warlords, it's good enough for the U.S. of A. Quote
Peter F Posted October 8, 2007 Report Posted October 8, 2007 If there is money to be made somebody will be there to make it. Be they sociopaths or bleeding hearts. Quote A bayonet is a tool with a worker at both ends
geoffrey Posted October 8, 2007 Report Posted October 8, 2007 As per the question, both. I'm personally amazed at the price he is charging (in the neighborhood of $450,000 per soldier per annum) for the services his firm offers. That's a reasonable price when you factor in training, the soldier's salary and related insurance and benefits. I'm sure these super soliders aren't paid peanuts. Quote RealRisk.ca - (Latest Post: Prosecutors have no "Skin in the Game") --
kuzadd Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 Our society has a place for everybody, including sociopaths. Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater, testified before the US Senate last week and said basically, if you want to make an omelette, you gotta break a few eggs.Is this guy a sociopath who needs to be drugged and put away, or is he a good businessman? Maybe many good businessmen are just sociopaths anyway? Ken Lay, comes to mind Conrad Black Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
Higgly Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Posted October 9, 2007 Maybe many good businessmen are just sociopaths anyway?Ken Lay, comes to mind Conrad Black There's a documentary somebody put out postulating that a corporation has all the personality traits of a psycopath. Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
ScottSA Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 There's a documentary somebody put out postulating that a corporation has all the personality traits of a psycopath. Anyone who claims a corporation has a distinct personality, but that all corporations have the same personality is a psychopath. Quote
Higgly Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Posted October 9, 2007 Anyone who claims a corporation has a distinct personality, but that all corporations have the same personality is a psychopath. Funny how well reviewed that documentary was. Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
ScottSA Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 Funny how well reviewed that documentary was. 'Funny' is the operant. Quote
kuzadd Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 Higgly! check this out http://desertpeace.blogspot.com/2007/10/ki...e-of-jesus.html it's an interview between Amy Goodman and an author who wrote a book on blackwater, I have watched the first 10 minute segment. Interesting! BTW: this is an excellent blog on it's own. Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
kuzadd Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 There's a documentary somebody put out postulating that a corporation has all the personality traits of a psycopath. It's called "The Corporation" and it was very good. Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
Higgly Posted October 9, 2007 Author Report Posted October 9, 2007 'Funny' is the operant. Isn't operant an adjective? Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
ScottSA Posted October 9, 2007 Report Posted October 9, 2007 Isn't operant an adjective? When it's not used as a noun, yes. Quote
kuzadd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 When it's not used as a noun, yes. operant adj : having influence or producing an effect; "many emotional determinants at work"; "an operant conscience" It appears to be an adjective Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
kuzadd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 Curious Higgly? did you watch those mini vids? when the author makes his speech, he says Erik prince's uncle told him , more or less, to back off , cause Erik Prince is doing "God's work" See, the Christian God really is dictating war, slaughter , torture, and more, from GWB, to Erik Prince. scary. Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
Higgly Posted October 10, 2007 Author Report Posted October 10, 2007 Curious Higgly?did you watch those mini vids? when the author makes his speech, he says Erik prince's uncle told him , more or less, to back off , cause Erik Prince is doing "God's work" See, the Christian God really is dictating war, slaughter , torture, and more, from GWB, to Erik Prince. scary. I'll have to watch that. The Christian fundamentalists at work in US culture is the flip side of Moslem fundamentalists. The difference of course is that the Moslem fundamentalists do not have the ear of the President of the US. Quote "We have seen the enemy and he is us!". Pogo (Walt Kelly).
kuzadd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 I'll have to watch that. The Christian fundamentalists at work in US culture is the flip side of Moslem fundamentalists. The difference of course is that the Moslem fundamentalists do not have the ear of the President of the US. after you watch it, you may want to buy the book. The Christian fundamentalists at work in US culture is the flip side of Moslem fundamentalists. I agree 100 percent ! Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
moderateamericain Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 after you watch it, you may want to buy the book.I agree 100 percent ! Im sorry but this tom foolery has gone along far enough IMO. There is an obvious agenda against Blackwater going on and as far as I am conserned it utter horse shit. Blackwater has an impecible record. Everything I have read. Everything I saw on the Senate hearing where Prince was questioned leads me to believe he is an intelligent and decisive man. The problem I see is that Blackwater gets blamed for every malf up made by a private contractor. Theres hundreds of them operating between Iraq and Afghanistan. They provide an Invalubale service to the military and they do it better than anyone else. Quote
kuzadd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 Im sorry but this tom foolery has gone along far enough IMO. There is an obvious agenda against Blackwater going on and as far as I am conserned it utter horse shit. Blackwater has an impecible record. Everything I have read. Everything I saw on the Senate hearing where Prince was questioned leads me to believe he is an intelligent and decisive man. The problem I see is that Blackwater gets blamed for every malf up made by a private contractor. Theres hundreds of them operating between Iraq and Afghanistan. They provide an Invalubale service to the military and they do it better than anyone else. well hey, that's your opinion, but, the speech was quite interesting, and the book defintely caught my attention. give it a listen. Did you know that the blackwater mercenaries killed in Fallujah, are now having their estates sued, by Blackwater.? Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
buffycat Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 Hi Kuzadd, Those were great little videos. Thank you for posting them. IMO this is a big problem which doesn't get near the attemtion it should. It is hardly surprising however - as our world changes from groups of nations to groups of corporations. I think the book will be a very interesting read, I'll certainly be looking out for it on my next trip the the bookstore. wrt Blackwater sueing the families of the four killed in Fallujah, as sad as it is - I am again NOT surprised. Quote "An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind" ~ Ghandi
kuzadd Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 Hi Kuzadd,Those were great little videos. Thank you for posting them. IMO this is a big problem which doesn't get near the attemtion it should. It is hardly surprising however - as our world changes from groups of nations to groups of corporations. I think the book will be a very interesting read, I'll certainly be looking out for it on my next trip the the bookstore. wrt Blackwater sueing the families of the four killed in Fallujah, as sad as it is - I am again NOT surprised. I thought they were quite interesting also. it is worrisome to have unaccountable military maniacs having such liberty. Was it not blackwater Mercs that were in New Orleans being "problematic" to the populace? Quote Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them. It is okay to criticize a policy, decision, action or comment. Such criticism is part of healthy debate. It is not okay to criticize a person's character or directly insult them, regardless of their position or actions. Derogatory terms such as "loser", "idiot", etc are not permitted unless the context clearly implies that it is not serious. Rule of thumb: Play the ball, not the person (i.e. tackle the argument, not the person making it).
buffycat Posted October 10, 2007 Report Posted October 10, 2007 I thought they were quite interesting also.it is worrisome to have unaccountable military maniacs having such liberty. Was it not blackwater Mercs that were in New Orleans being "problematic" to the populace? Yes I believe it was. LINK New Orleans - Heavily armed paramilitary mercenaries from the Blackwater private security firm, infamous for their work in Iraq, are openly patrolling the streets of New Orleans. Some of the mercenaries say they have been "deputized" by the Louisiana governor; indeed some are wearing gold Louisiana state law enforcement badges on their chests and Blackwater photo identification cards on their arms. They say they are on contract with the Department of Homeland Security and have been given the authority to use lethal force. Several mercenaries we spoke with said they had served in Iraq on the personal security details of the former head of the US occupation, L. Paul Bremer and the former US ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte. I believe they were guarding alot of the more 'affluent' homes in NO. Of course, if the US wasn't off killing folks in far away places their won National Guard could've deployed to assist in the rescue and clean up. But - hey killing foreigners is FAR more FUN!!! Quote "An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind" ~ Ghandi
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