McCaskill back from Afghanistan - I was protected by Xe but I still hate them!
Fresh from a trip overseas that took her to Afghanistan and Kuwait, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill blasted the Blackwater security firm -- a private contractor providing protection in U.S. war zones.
McCaskill acknowledged that, during her trip, she was escorted by Blackwater personnel -- but that didn't stop her from blasting the company, which has come under increased scrutiny for the actions of its hired soldiers.
No picture of Claire in the dictionary definition of 'gratitude' ...
During a Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, McCaskill complained of a double standard -- Blackwater, while on the government payroll, was engaging in conduct that never would be tolerated by members of the military, the Missouri Democrat said.
Congress also "engages in conduct" that would never be tolerated by the military.
There are "two sets of rules," McCaskill said.
Pentagon 'rule' - The ROE will cost us lives, but we accept the battle losses for the greater good of the mission. Xe 'rule' - If we lose a principal we have mission and contract failure, we're done.
"Until the contractors are held to the same standard as the men and women that are there in the uniform, we are going to continue to be back at this," McCaskill said. "I don't care how many names they make up for Blackwater."
Blackwater, under the weight of negative publicity, changes its name last year to Xe Services LLC.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Problem is, most of them vote Republican!
Posted by: Besoeker 2010-03-01 |