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How the Democrats blew it
The Iraq debacle handed Democrats a golden opportunity to deal the GOP a mortal blow and change America's flawed Mideast policies. They played it safe.
By Gary Kamiya [2007-10-02]

  • Hessians

    GK seems to have the very common idea that military contractors play the same role in the war Iraq that the Hessian mercenaries did in the war of the Revolution. In fact, the contractors are worse. The Hessians acted as part of the British army; their colonel was part of the British chain of command. They were subject to military discipline.

    The Blackwater contractors don't seem to be subject to any discipline at all, except that Blackwater can dismiss them from their employment. (I am reluctant to use the word fire under the circumstances.) Their position is similar to that of mercenaries before the military reforms of the early 1600s. See, for example Paul Krugman's recent column available at:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/opinion/28krugman.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists

    -- jon
    [Read jon's other letters]
    Monday, October 1, 2007 07:18 PM
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