Comments on: Guards Shoot Dog At New York Times’ Baghdad Bureau

By: Luke's handler

Luke's handler — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:01:10 +0000

I notice that everyone commenting is vilifying Blackwater and the K-9 handler. I really doubt that the K-9 handler enjoyed shooting Hentish, but it sounds like he really didn’t have a choice. An explosive detecting dog is a very valuable assett and having one injured or killed would be a setback. Also keep in mind that the K-9 team was sweeping the compound for explosives to protect an UN diplomat who was due to visit the compound later.

You do realize that a K-9 is a DOG. A person who has trained and worked with a K-9 is generally a dog lover. The bond between a handler and his dog has to be tight because the handler has to know his dog and its body language to be able to understand what it finds and where it is. (I know this because my house pet, Luke, is a search and rescue dog).

I wonder why no one from the Times didn’t come to assist and catch the dog. Obviously the dog was loose and aggressive.

By: hazel

hazel — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:56:19 +0000

As an ex-Army officer, I find the actions of Blackwater humiliating. They are nothing but armed goons.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:39:18 +0000

I won’t get into the Blackwater end of the discussion, but I do think the #21 comment associated with the article is worth reading.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.c.....bureau/?hp

By: Velvet's Dad

Velvet's Dad — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:53:18 +0000

Blackwater should be shut down permanently and their executives prosecuted for crimes against humanity (and all life forms). When you privatize security, this is what happens.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:28:14 +0000

Blackwater recruits from other countries also. I’m guessing it is in preparation for extended jobs here in the states. They have already gotten contracts for work in the U.S.:
http://www.npr.org/templates/s.....d=14707922

Throughout history dictators have used foreign mercenaries to slaughter their own citizens. You will think me unbalanced, but I look for martial law and the use of firms like Blackwater to impose it. When that happens, pets won’t be anything but a bother to them. Remember the stories of pets being shot in New Orleans?

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:44:21 +0000

Blackwater is an embarassment to this country.

By: Stefani

Stefani — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:15:06 +0000

I am ashamed.

Blackwater staff aren’t “soldiers” they are mercenaries. They are paid a LOT more than soldiers too. Even though they aren’t soldiers they are seen as representatives of the US and their behavior reflects on us. They behave like brutes because they can get away with it: None of these contractors have been held accountable for their actions.

Stefani

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:31:40 +0000

Amen to your comments. People who can rape and kill other humans without much of an afterthought (cause, those humans are ikcy bad muslims, don’t you know), look at dogs that aren’t thier own and say “look, fresh meat”.

I’m with you. if we are going to war, let’s pay our soldiers and treat them with respect, and care for them after the war instead of paying mercenaries 3, 4 and even up to 10 times as much as our YOUNG MEN & Women, get.

I hate this war. But i hate how our government is treating our soldiers, even worse.

By: catmom5

catmom5 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:45:54 +0000

I wasn’t the least bit surprised about this. Blackwater has shown themselves over and over to be without morals. I’m sure the K9 handler had no problem shooting “just a dog”. Poor dog, poor guards who raised him from a puppy. This is just wrong!!!

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:13:00 +0000

Gindy, it’s worse than that. Blackwater is setting up bases (I mean training camps) all over the U.S. Citizens in California have stymied an attempt out there:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/70388/

They already have bases along most of the eastern coastal states. By now most people know Blackwater was used in New Orleans after Katrina. Two years later, they were still there:
http://www.gregpalast.com/%e2%.....#more-1843

An excellent article about Blackwater can be found here:
http://scholarsandrogues.wordp.....n-rolling/

These people will have no problem at all in eliminating troublesome pets.

By: Gindy

Gindy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:05:28 +0000

When they rape American citizens and then imprison them so they don’t tell, shooting a dog is not a reach for these subhumans. Bad thing is, they will be back here and walking around free as birds once they are out of Iraq…

By: Don Earl

Don Earl — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:51:42 +0000

Yeah, so Blackwater is a total embarassment to every right thinking citizen in the US. What else is new? That’s what you get when you hire cowardly mercenaries instead of patriots.