Editor:



As the saying goes … Not only the people of Iraq but also many Americans are “hot under the collar” because of the actions of the mercenary army called Blackwater. And the CEO Erik Prince didn’t help to cool the situation last week when he testified before Congress.

I can imagine how the soldiers and their families must feel, knowing they face the same dangers in Iraq as the members of Blackwater, yet are paid far less for doing the same job. Added to that is the fact that soldiers are held accountable for their actions, while members of Blackwater literally get away with murder.

Some time ago, a drunken agent of Blackwater killed the bodyguard of the vice president of Iraq (imagine what would happen if a drunken Iraqi killed a bodyguard of Dick Cheney) and, instead of being brought to justice he was spirited out of Iraq back to the U.S. “free as a bird.” Now 17 more civilians have been killed by Blackwater personal and apparently they, too, will go “scott free.”

As a taxpayer and knowing that his salary and that of his employees come right out of taxpayers pockets, I didn’t feel too kindly toward Prince and his mercenaries (war profiteers) as I watched him squirm before Congress and refuse to divulge his salary or the profits of his private army. There was a lot of criticism that the hearing didn’t go far enough in questioning Prince. But for the White House and Congress to cut the ties with Blackwater as Iraq is demanding, would be “killing the goose that lays the golden egg.”

All of these private contractors in Iraq (and there is a bunch) are making huge profits off the war (at taxpayers’ expense) and of course they are funneling a good portion of this windfall into the campaign coffers of politicians who keep this war going while manufacturing other wars. People like Prince and his mercenaries, as well as many others, grow fat off the blood, suffering, grief and death of war!



C.E Swain

World War II vet

and retired United Methodist Church minister