The New Praetorians

I’m living in a science-fiction movie. And it’s not a good one. Enter Blackwater USA - a commercial paramilitary our Government out-sources to various hot zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. These mercenaries are ex-Special Forces, and here the plot thickens. When employed in combat roles, Blackwater is not subject to civilian or military law. They’ve got their own high-tech weapons, armored vehicles, and airplanes. They’re an aggressive, kill-first-and-ask-questions-later outfit. Except that when the Congress that hired and pays them asks questions, Blackwater refuses to answer.

Many have likened Blackwater to the Praetorian Guard of Ancient Rome, which became famous as assassins of emperors. In this country, a coup d’etat is virtually impossible. Sure, the Aryan Nations might want to topple our Government. But really, there’s no way racists armed with shotguns and rifles could beat down our Army with its tanks and machine guns. Say what you will about our military’s current deployment, good-bad-or-ugly, not many of us living in the States fear it will rise against us. Why? Because we have civilian control over our Services. (photo: Blackwater employees in New Orleans after Katrina hit)


But in act two of this science-fiction, double-feature, Doctor X creates a creature similar to Blackwater, and this private militia arms itself with similar War accoutrements currently held only by our Armies. They get their own tanks and machine guns. All in the name of Democracy.

In the final scene of this really bad B movie, the hero remembers too late that the private sector is driven by profits. At its Initial Public Offering, the majority of our creatures’ stock is snatched up, and this private group of heavily armed, highly dangerous killers goes to work... for someone else.

What I’d like to know is this. Is anybody else watching this movie?