rjd_jr comments

Don't be confused by the name calling and diverting of attention my friends, the fact that these PMC's were utilized in such great numbers, and with little regards to oversight and accountability, can be traced to the bush administration. Authorization of force and conduct has little bearing on ACTUAL conduct. Don't let people confuse the two. For example civilian police are authorized to use deadly force in certain situations. That does NOT give them carte blanche to go around acting like cowboys and shooting everything in sight.

Moderator: All readers stay on topic please. Posts that do not refer to the Blackwater case will be removed.

The FBI of all organizations had determined that 14 of the 17 killings were NOT justified in this incident.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16288417

And Bush and others responsible for this Iraq debacle do share responsibility for this and other incidents. The fact is arrogants like rumsfeld thought that the iraq war would be a quick and dirty affair, go in, "liberate and be greeted with open arms," move out, and live happily ever after. Ignoring the advice of experts like General Shinseki (bless him he is going to be named V.A. secretary tomorrow, take that rummy), the bush administration realized that they bit off waaaay more than they could chew, and thought that using private contractors was the answer to increasing troops. As the U.S. is not signatory to Geneva and Mercenary conventions where mercenary type activity is specifically forbidden, the use of PMC's like blackwater was thought to be the answer. Estimates of their numbers ranged as high as 100,000 in Iraq at one time. With the lack of oversight and accountability, these PMC's were basically free to act as they please, shoot first.

Really, people need to be more sympathetic towards the Iraqi civilians. How would people feel if Iraqi private contractors went around shooting American civilians and killing them.

It's a shame Blackwater has brought so much misery to the people of Iraq and really made things hard for the U.S. military with their methods.

Oh my gosh, she seemed to have completely disappeared off the map. She was and still is one of the finest Jp women I have seen, so it's nice to see her back again. And the usual blurb about her love life. Nice to see Hinano san back.

Good, let these terrorists and thugs know that there are limits to activism. People here and elsewhere would never condone groups like the ALF bombing meat plants and attacking meat plant workers, or bombing animal testing facilities. I don't care if it's the U.S. or Japan, there's a right way to do things and a wrong way. And so on and so forth, people there is a reason why some activist groups have rethought their methods in terms of the whale issue and resorted to public awaresness campaign, not acts of terorism. I don't care if it's the U.S. or Japan, there's a right way to do things and a wrong way, no double standards.

Truly this 'president' has no shame. Notice how he is finally, after all these years in office painting a glowing, rosy picture of everything in the world, starting to admit the painful truths. The economy is in a recession. The auto companies may tank. Pre war intelligence in iraq was regrettable. And so on and so forth.

He reminds me of someone on their deathbed making a final set of confessions to purge his soul of guilt and atonement for past wrongs. Truly pathetic.

This is what torques me. In any other industry, CEO's and execs should and are ultimately held responsible for their company performance. If company takes a dive, then they take a hike. They can't go around crying to the government for help because of their own screw ups.

What an idiot teacher, who in their right mind in this day and age would do something so stupid. What, vivid verbal descriptions and photographs are not enough? Idiot. Very indicative of a racist mindset in the country (sarcasm).

Oh well, it's what the court decided. I'm willing to bet most will side with the American father in this case, just a wild hunch. Though he didn't say anything about taking him to the U.S. and keeping him there.

Another 'virus/infected/zombie' type movie. Well, guess they don't have too much of those in Japan.

I'm not completely heartless, I have said previously that I would not mind my tax dollars if it actually went to help the workers themselves, by offering help for schools, retraining, job search, etc. etc. (though it would still bother me somewhat that these people are being helped and not others in other industries, and all workers are covered by the same basic unemployment assistance/benefits, so yes in fact they are being treated extra special).

Not to worry he's gonna have a "fun" time in prison.

PETA, bloody hypocrites, killing thousands and thousands of animals a year. I guess rules don't apply to themselves, only others.

I like it, though could use better resemblance.

Yes SezWho, but again what about the tens of thousands of Americans who have lost their jobs in other industries, and many more in the future that will? I just don't understand bailing out a certain industry for the sins of the execs and UAW. When my tax dollars are helping people from one industry, and not helping people from other industries, it is giving these auto workers extra consideration. When and where does it end? Who is to say this bailout will keep the industry afloat? What guarantee is there that come this time next year or the year after, the execs won't be crying for yet another bailout? If it's going to fail, it's going to fail, how is it better prolonging it for an extra year or two?

All terrorists are muslim? Funny, I don't ever recall timothy mcveigh reciting the Q'uran.

Granted many thousands of people will lose their jobs, but why should this give auto workers any special considerations, when many thousands of people in other industries have lost their jobs, and many more thousands will continue to do so? Bank of America will be laying off tens of thousands. WaMu also. And other industries are suffering, these workers don't get any sympathy or bailouts, why should the auto workers get special help from the stupidity of their execs?

Time and time again these arrogant execs have brought the auto industry to their knees. At the rate it's going the big 3 will face bankruptcy as it is, in many best case scenarios. Make no mistake I have sympathy for the auto workers, but why do they deserve special considerations when others don't?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLSABfGvfzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP7j_fgAHtI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA1hyo97NuE

Still coming up with the qualifier, "b-b-but attacks are still down 99 percent compared to last March!!!" How nice, considering that attacks and deaths are still astronomically high, period.

No end in sight.

Dumb adult, keep child in view at ALL times!

Wow that's amazing, a 60 plus year old dishing out fries at McDonald's, and even older workers elsewhere. I agree, as long as one is physically and mentally able to work whatever job, let them. I praise companies that allow much older workers that are able to work, work.

It's a way to stroke the egos of celebrities. Really not a unique concept, not too long ago in the U.S. there was an insane amount of awards shows every year. I swear, one year they had something like 30 different awards shows, everything from the usual emmy and oscars all the way to blockbuster award shows and hollywood video awards shows. While it does seem rather dumb that they are giving out awards in Japan for the dumbest concepts such as hair style, best clothing, etc. etc. the psychology behind it, sucking up to famous people, is hardly unique to japan.

Absolutely spectacular and gorgeous. Solar powered, even the greenest of people can love this.

I wonder if their Tokyo show is any different from their Vegas show. I saw their show last year, and before that I saw their show in 2001, and they were practically the same thing. I mean, they were cool at first but it's time to try something different. I can't justify spending 70, 80 dollars plus for a show that is the same year in, year out.

Do the math, he probably abused this kid, burn marks? Do unto him what he did to his kid (and to think people here think Islamic/Sharia type laws are all bad).

Typical career move for those on the 'comeback' trail or needing extra cash or to boost their ego: go to Japan! Think about it, where else in the world will you have thousands of screaming fans adoring you at the airport when you arrive? Ask Michael Jackson! The Jp fans will eat her up, buy her records, etc. etc.

Good career move/boost.

Ominous as always. Not only are attacks rising (over 300 average the past several months, on what universe would any sane person consider Iraq stable and safe post surge with such attack numbers), but troop deaths are also rising.

And so the chorus will rise, "it's still not stable, the job is not done, we need to stay the course."

And troop deaths will increase. Violence will skyrocket.

No end in sight.

Funny, I thought Obama was going to president for the last 50 days.

PAD protestors shoot at the media and threaten bloodshed. Another 80 million people around the world just lost any ounce of respect or sympathy they MAY have had for them (and counting).

Nice uniform. And no it's not a joke, why would it be a joke for a high profile person to highlight traffic safety. It's a worthwhile cause, not 'best hairstyle' or 'best nose hair' award.