Blackwater’s Secret War in Pakistan

And I bet we're in a lot of other places we swear we're not in, too.

I think most disturbing part of this is not that "we" are in Pakistan, but that American mercenaries are in Pakistan. Private militaries are very disconcerting.

So what?

So, you would be okay with other countries' military/paramilitary groups operating within the US borders without our permission much as we are doing worldwide?

It's only fair, right? I mean, if the US feels proper in kidnapping citizens of other countries off their streets, stripping/blindfolding/drugging/flying them half way across the world & stashing them in secret ("black") prisons, it's only right if we here in the US are subject to the same treatment. Soviet/Chinese/Israeli/... snatch teams, operating on the streets of Washington, Detroit, Dallas,... would be perfectly OK.

Right?

I guess my biggest feeling of disgust is that we're sending US soldiers to foreign lands to do the bidding of politicians, who frivolously waste the soldiers' lives on vague (ever changing) objectives. Then again, this is nothing new. "Vietnam II" - same as it ever was...spin that story...count them bodies for the press...same as it ever was...war on terrorism...war on drugs...war on poverty...this czar...that czar...everywhere a czar-czar...give up your freedom for "security"...you don't really need all that privacy after all...same as it ever was...

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC
...same as it ever was...2064 years later

Do you honestly believe that they aren't already here?? We do not have the corner on the market, so to speak, with covert operations in foreign countries. We are not always the big, bad guys.

It wouldn't shock me to find it out.

But are you okay with it? Because if you're okay with private US 'paramilitary' (for lack of a better term) groups operating covertly in other countries, then I hope you're okay with it happening here too.

Am I okay with it? No I am not. Just like I am not okay with other foreigners coming across our borders illegally and without permission, breaking laws, living here, receiving the benefits of being a citizen without becoming one. I have no control over illegal aliens, Al Qaeda terrorist sleeper cells, paramilitary groups entering our country. Hell, our security prior to 9/11 was a joke, I believe it tightened a bit afterward and has probably loosened since that time. So, I guess I'm not as bothered as you are that it happens in other countries and it happens in our country too. I don't think we are immune to it, do you??

I am sure it happens here.

But just because someone else does it doesn't make it okay for us to do it, especially not if we are supposed to be setting any sort of standard for right and wrong behavior in the world.

I find it hypocritical that we champion it (or at the very least turn a blind eye to it) happening when it's us going after them (whoever 'they' are that week) but when it's them doing it to us (again, whoever 'they' are) we start wars or retaliate in some other form. Either it's all okay or it's all wrong; the double standard is no way to set a good example for the rest of the world.