What did active-duty military guys actually think of the Blackwater operators in Iraq?

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Proust

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My uncle was a 1SGT in the Marine Corps, and spent several tours in Iraq, interacting with many of the private security outfits operating there.

He says that Blackwater guys were a bunch of arrogant, steroid-addled freaks, and that the men under his command actually cheered after one incident where a Blackwater helicopter got shot down and killed five Blackwater employees.

Why did Blackwater inspire such hatred among enlisted men? Is it because Blackwater guys really ARE steroid-addled maniacs who screw things up and then dump their screwups on the Marine Corps to fix? Is it because the Blackwater guys make so much money?

What is at the root of all this?
 
I doubt they cheered when Americans were killed, no matter who they worked. I've served with a few Blackwater guys in my day and found them to be professional and good guys. Yes, it sucks that they make so much money while we make little, but that is not my call. I try not to listen to television about what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan, either side of the coin, it is all about ratings, not the truth.
 
From what I've heard they usually like them around, not only because they were very professional (many being former military), but they could basically shoot an insurgent who was holding a weapon even if the terrorist was not provoking them... the US troops could only fire when fired upon.
 
I think people back here make more of a big deal about them than we did over there. All they were was a private security firm. I know a lot of guys that I served with got out and applied to work for them, new one that actually got a contract with them. The moneys good but not the 200k a year that people always think they got. He said it was boring, spending most time pulling tower guard or gate guard inside the green zone. Im possitive no one cheered blackwater deaths. And as much as blackwater messed things up, the marines and army have there fair share too.
 
It's because they're usually always in the center of the
problem and virtually never part of whatever kind of solution.

The cheering is a bit extreme but depending on what experience
that unit made with Xe probably based on some rather
solid clash.
 
IF that is true then your uncle is an embarrassment to the Marine Corps, they did a necessary job that would have pulled troops from special forces to do greatly reducing the tactical missions we could perform.

These are all ex special forces and teams operators. I would have to say you are full of BS
 
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