Iraqmire, South Africa and America
The United States isn't the only country having the life sucked out of it by Iraqmire. The same thing is happening in South Africa.
Thousands of white soldiers and police officers — most of them are veterans of the disgraced apartheid regime — have left their jobs and families to work as contractors in Iraq. This is causing a lot of tension and controversy in South Africa; much more so than in the United States.
South Africa is still recovering from the infamy of being one of the world’s worst police states not too long ago. They're trying to live down that image. Compare that to the U.S., which seems to get off on being the global tough guy. While the American Powers That Be are doting and swooning over Blackwater, South Africa has a different reaction.
Their current government has drafted a law that would criminalize all South African citizens who are working as contractors in Iraq. Maybe we could learn something from them.
(Yes I know Condoleezza Rice has issued an order cracking down on Blackwater. Those orders can be rescinded just as quickly as they were issued. We'll see how long this "order" lasts when the cameras have gone.)
The internal tension and embarrassment aren't South Africa's only problems. South Africa’s security is in jeopardy. Local police departments have been drained by the mass exodus of officers fleeing to Iraq for more money (up to ten times what they were making in South Africa). And most of the country’s special forces trainers are now on the U.S. payroll in Iraq.
The country is being bled dry by the War in Iraq. Sound familiar?
Labels: Apartheid, Blackwater, Iraq, Iraqmire, South Africa
posted by Tom Harper @ 7:40 PM
9 Comments:
Very true. Any order Condi gives is only for show and tell, and as everything else this war bleeds a country in more ways than blood.
Larry: Yeah, I sure hope Congress doesn't back off just because Rice issued that order. It's meaningless.
Remember, Rice tried to block the hearings - now she's issued an order to "crack down." What a bunch of B.S.
I didn't know about the S. Africa situation. I hope they get that law passed.
South African contractors were mentioned this last weekend in Potrero (Blackwater West)during the workshops. Evidently they cannot get employment in their field of choice in S.A.
We need to take direct legislative action here in the states to prohibit any soldiers - special forces from ever taking jobs as mercenaries and ban all private military corporations form American soil. These are scary irresponsible people.
I think you've forgotten that South Africa did terrible things to non-whites there, whereas America's history towards anyone not Caucasian is spotless. Hence, no ridiculous laws denying the right to profit off the blood of others.
Candace: That's true. Rice couldn't beat them, so now she's pretending to join them. And if that law gets passed by Congress, Bush will no doubt have a signing statement at the ready.
Kitchen Window Woman: Yes, we need legislation to prevent soldiers, or anyone else, from working as contractors in Iraq. Blackwater and similar contractors siphon off our tax dollars anyway; we might as well just pay soldiers, police, special forces personnel, etc. what they're worth so they won't have an incentive to work for Blackwater. It would be pretty ironic if South Africa passes a law like this and we don't.
Randal: Ah yes, America's spotless record on human rights and race relations. I'd forgotten.
Interesting post. America is truly the land of opportunity!
J. Marquis: Yup, if you want to be a soldier of fortune, the sky is the limit.
I find it fascinating what polor opposites I find in society and the internet on the whole. I would say invading Iraq was a mistake, and I agree hypocricy is rampant in the administration's handling of the war effort. However, I have noticed people on both sides of the greater issue of conflict vs. peace-at-all-costs leave little room for compromise. I was unaware of the SA issue in Blackwater, however my feeling is that contractors are needed greatly, with more oversight I grant you, so as not to cause a drain to another nation. I'd love to discuss this kind of thing, just follow my url if it's up.
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