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Although "the CPA was principally controlled and funded by the U.S., this degree of control did not rise to the level of exclusive control required to qualify as an instrumentality of the U.S. government," the 23-page ruling said. "In fact, the evidence clearly establishes that it was created through and governed by international consent."

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On top of that one really has to wonder why one would choose to purchase the services of a military contractor called "Custer Battles."

[ 19 August 2006: Message edited by: Cueball ]

Fourth generation warfare exemplified by non-state armed groups with strategic goals and the introduction of non-state defense "contractors" incrementally challenge international law.

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Can anyone explain why Syria and Iran's proxy militias are terrorists but America's proxy militias in the form of contractors are not?

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Because the nations of Syria and Iran have huge oil reserves that are beyond the control of either u.s. or saudi forces.

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Originally posted by jester:
Can anyone explain why Syria and Iran's proxy militias are terrorists but America's proxy militias in the form of contractors are not?

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jester, i was just wondering about this the last few days too, but in a slightly different context....

why is is that all over Africa, national govts (democratic or not) are fighting "rebel armies", like the LRA, "maoist rebels" in Nepal, but when it comes to south asia or the middle east, what would normally be referred to as local militias (michigan's being the most infamous that comes to mind) or resistance ( in the french example in ww2) are exclusively referred to as "terrorists", even though, in the case of Lebannon, Hezbollah are lebanese citizens and have 30 elected seats in parliment, and Hamas were elected in an internationally observed election set up by the US?

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There is growing suspicion that the real reason that Israel is attacking Lebanon and Hezbollah is to draw either Syria and/or Iran into a conflict that then u.s. can then step into and end up finally controlling all the contentious oil fields in the east.

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I don't know.The US is not in control of anything in Iraq.

One scenario explains the US's apparent interest in appeasing Turkey in regard to an independent Kurdistan.

Iran controls the various Shiite militias in the south of Iraq.They tolerate the US in Iraq due to the US's prosecution of the Sunnis.This helps achieve Shiite goals.

Should Iran decide to enter the Iraq conflict,the American supply lines can easily be severed by militias.The only escape route for the American field army will be north through Turkey.

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Because the nations of Syria and Iran have huge oil reserves that are beyond the control of either u.s. or saudi forces.

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Let us hope that, unlike von Paulus, our commanders know when to get out, regardless of orders from a leader who will not recognize reality.

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In the US military,disagreeing with Donald Rumsfeld's refusal to recognise reality is considered career suicide.

Attrition rates in the US professional officer corps are increasing as professional soldiers increasingly find the orders from the top do not reflect the realities on the ground.

This Federal Court decision is minor in terms of lost funds but indicates that the US leadership is still attempting to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Leaving out the legality of or necessity for this war,GWB has consistently disregarded military advice.

At the beginning of this adventure,both Centcom commander Army General Franks and his predecessor,Marine General Zinni advised that an occupation force of 350,000 troops were required.