The Red and Black

Alex,

Your friend, Pfc. Ryen King, would be pleased that his efforts, his life, his service is being acknowledged. It is so good you keep this alive for him.

As a much older contractor also in Iraq, I feel strongly that our soldiers only need honored. I was a former soldier, years ago--now too old to "re-up" (though sought to). I was in Iraq as a civilian for over a year.

When I would look out over the DFAC (dining facility--looks like a very large buffet restaurant on the camps in Iraq), I saw "a sea of children". So many, many in their late teens and early 20's. They exuded dedication. These young are fighting the battles to keep our nation free. These young Americans are protecting American interests--with their very lives. These young soldiers, life literally on the line every day, command our honor, our respect, our appreciation.

Winning "the hearts and minds" was all-important in Anbar Province. Progress was made sheik by sheik. Their alliance was crucial.

To maximize profits, a great many and an increasing number of "TCNs" i.e. "third world country nationals" were hired. They were hired to work the DFACs, laundry services, various maintenance positions and driving camp buses. This initially concerned some of us, particularly after a rather large bomb was discovered near a DFAC, fortunately before detonation. However, these TCNs were each very courteous, very professional in their work, and surprisingly so since they worked 12 hour days 7 days a week, most for $400 a month, and had no breaks-no visit with family back home- for two years. Some of the bus drivers worked closer to 16 hours. A few would question us what we earned, and deplorably some of our civilians would brag about their salaries, salaries that were 9 times and more than what the TCNs earned. The majority of the TCN's had no access to our DFAC's, or to the PX, totally dependent on the company that hired them would provide for food, and from what they said, much of it very meager, which their body weight attested to. They lived in their own compounds, and we learned that many would be crammed into one small room. On one occasion, I witnessed a contractor loudly berating and physically threatening a cowering TCN, totally unecessarily. He was only trying to use one of many free dryers in that location, earning extra income doing laundry for a contractor, as was common there. I informed my supervisor and was told that "we do not get involved when TCNs are being mistreated". When I mentioned that "It is wrong", I was told that we are subcontractors and don't want to do anything that might get anyone upset, that we don't know who the person "is" who was berating the TCN and that we are to pretend we see and hear nothing, "just do your job". Each U.S. civilian contractor is an ambassador of the U.S.A, I believe, since we have a multitude of TCNs on each of the camps.

All the more reason, at minimum, for cultural sensitivity training, ethics classes, human interaction courses prior to deployment. "We" are the foreign nationals in downtown Baghdad, any place in Iraq "outside the wire". Soldiers and civilians alike are "ambassadors", since these U.S. camps have such a high number of workers from Pakistan, Uganda, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bosnia Herzegovina, etc.

The benefit of the soldiers, in this regard, is a "uniform" image. Many less variables in a complex situation. Definitely less "financial profit", but much greater regulation of our national image.

Alex, I heartedly commend your bringing to light the valiant representation of our nation's friend, Pfc. Ryen King. This is so important as is your concern for the future of our nation's reputation and representation in the world.

Elizabeth

First, my condolences to you and your friend Ryen's family and other friends. Second, NOTHING can taint his and our other troops' service in Iraq and Afghanistan, not Blackwater, not troops who commit crimes while there, NOTHING. Our troops have committed themselves, risking and giving their lives so that we might be able to sit here and freely debate our perceived rights and wrongs of our country. I understand your article's intent but we must NOT let Ryen's and others' lives be lost in vain. They are in no way equivalent to wrongdoing of hired mercenaries. On the other hand however, if you read true accounts written by soldiers who have served our country during foreign wars you will learn that sometimes the things, the very moral fiber that we hold so dear is tossed aside in critical battle situations. I've recently read a first person account from World War II called "Foot Soldier" and by today's hyperattention by some of our own congressional representatives, some of those soldiers would be brought up on criminal charges as some have been today. Our military men and women are today's heroes, hands down. Just the very idea that they would voluntarily join and serve is so commendable that nothing can tarnish that. So Alex, your point is well taken but never, never, and I repeat NEVER let anything tarnish your memories of your friend Ryen or any other soldier, sailor, or marine who serves in our military in ANY capacity. Blackwater, all those other hired companies, are not even to be mentioned in the same sentence as our heroes. But thank you for the article Alex. You've increased this alumnus' faith in the fact that there really ARE young smart people who are paying attention to what is going on in the world. God bless you and keep on keeping on with your attention to world affairs. Before we know it, you will be in charge somewhere and we can rest easy knowing that you've studied the situation before arriving at that destination.

Blackwater is a company...but the personnel that Blackwater hires as security guards are for the most part former military and law enforcement personnel who found a way to continue to serve their country after their military service is done. Mistakes happen in war (ask the Marines about that) and sometimes "innocent' people get killed, but that does not make these men evil...or the company. Besides, the alternative is dead diplomats.

Blackwater didn't kill those people, an individual or a few individuals did. Why everyone insists on holding the entire organization responsible for a few individuals suspected wrong-doing, is as distorted and misguided as the abuse incident at Abu Ghraib in which the entire military was blamed for a few individuals wrong-doing. Seriously, the investigation is still on-going yet here we are, among people who judge without knowing the facts. I too,have friends and relatives over there in the military and I have talked to them about Blackwater. What they told me was that Blackwater Contractors have watched their backs and taken some of the immense pressure off of our soldiers. Blackwater is an organization that employs former soldiers, police etc. as Private Contractors. They are not mercenaries. There is always that evil or warped individual in every crowd, who messes everything up for everyone else. Have you ever been under fire? What do you think you would have done in their situation. Hidden behind something? Run away? Panic...or would you start shooting to make it all stop or would you throw your weapon down and surrender. How could you know what you would do, if you have never been there. How could you know what they did when you were never there?. Horrible things happens in war that we can't control. This was one of those things that Blackwater couldn't control. Like the random school shootings. What organization shall we hold accountable for that?. The schools, the parents...because certainly someone or something is to blame. Do we have the right to condemn someone based on here say. Why does the freedom that we have to speak our minds, make it right to blame and crush others, no matter who is actually guilty or what really happened. It's as if we need the instant gratification that persecution, judgment and vengeance brings, as soon as we hear something bad put out there by the media? That is a vigilante mentality and unfortunately the American people have become vigilantes since this war started and they decided they needed someone to blame for that, even though thats exactly what they wanted after 9/11. Let the people who are directly involved in this and the ones who actually know what happened and the suspects be judged by the people who will hold them accountable... The Justice Department for instance. For God sakes, let the truth come out before you hang someone. After all...what ever happened to innocent until PROVEN guilty?

Blackwater employees have the guts to go to iraq and serve there country. a lot of you guys sitting back here analizing there actions haven't been in the hotseat that those guys are in when they are forced to make a decision of shoot or don't shoot. Don't forget that this is war and all of this colateral damage should have been taken into account before war was declared. Now that we are in it, we have to do what ever is nessasary to win this mess for the sake of those who have already parrished in the name of our nation. You can sign up at your local recruiting station in the morning.