Afghanistan

[smoothoperator]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nati ... 6526.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

authorities announced that a lieutenant colonel at the base had been arrested on suspicion of threatening to blow up the state Capitol in Olympia.

Earlier this week, an Army staff sergeant from the base was taken into custody in Afghanistan on suspicion of killing 16 civilians.

Coincidence or something more?

[E.Marquez]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nati ... 6526.story

authorities announced that a lieutenant colonel at the base had been arrested on suspicion of threatening to blow up the state Capitol in Olympia.

Earlier this week, an Army staff sergeant from the base was taken into custody in Afghanistan on suspicion of killing 16 civilians.

Coincidence or something more?

What are you implying?
What linkage do you see you are asking a question about?

[stroo]

This guy had a traumatic brain injury in a prior deployment. Probably shouldn't have been deployed again.

[Lambda Force]

The local government can pay for their own mercenaries. Oops, I mean "military contractors" in newspeak.

Excuse me? Do you even know what you're talking about

Let's find out.

1. Are they members of the armed forces of a party to the conflict?
NO

2. Are they local residents who are members of a militia with a command structure and a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance?
NO

3. Are they members of regular armed forces who profess allegiance to a government, whether an officially recognized government or not?
NO

4. Are they local inhabitants who, on the approach of the enemy, spontaneously take up arms to resist the invading forces?
NO

5. Are they non-combatants?
It sure doesn't look like it.

6. Are they paid?
Yes, and often paid more than members of regular armed forces in similar roles.

Call them what you want but it doesn't change what Academi and others do.

[Crossfire]

OK, that's it. You guys are done. Topic is locked pending review by the mods.