Talk:Blackwater mercenaries used in New Orleans
I'm hoping someone can take this story and run with it. I think it is interesting enough to merit an article but I don't have time to get this written up.
- I think the term mercenaries is extremely POV. I note that all the sources that use this term are heavily biased left-wing websites. Neither of the reputable sources (Washington Times or Washington Post) uses the term mercenary which generally has a negative connotation. They use the more neutral term is private security firm or contractors. --70.26.133.125 21:22, 13 September 2005 (UTC)
- There are some more reputable sources added to the article now that use the term mercenary (which is an accurate term for paid bodyguards and soldiers). --mik3cap 16:04, 13 September 2005 (UTC)
- Agreed, mercenaries is not porjoritive, its accurate and should stay. Anyone who find mercenaries distasteful will find "private security forces" equally distastful. We are not taking a position in the command stucture style debat by using the shorter word. - Nyarlathotep 10:29, 14 September 2005 (UTC)
To a certain degree the term mercenary is accurate, it describes a person who is hired for their military expertise and motivated by money. While Blackwater may not be completely illegal, they are a firm that contracts out military expertise after being paid a great deal of money. "Private Security Company" connotates a civilian security guard company. That image can't compare to the vastly powerful military equipment available to Blackwater.
As for the comment about left wing sources, it seems the mainstream media is not putting a priority on reporting these issues and the implications. How do you report on the news if you rely on news the mainstream media does not report or pursue? Just a philosophical question for Wikinews.
Took out "Ariana Eunjung Cha "Wealthy on guard against the poor". The Sydney Morning Herald, September 13, 2005", because the site requires registration to read and is therefore not open for people to read or verify. Lets keep Wikinews open. - 70.197.103.7 12:39, 15 September 2005 (UTC)
Before I start to do any editing on this "News" report - I wish that those that have READ and UNDERSTAND NPOV [1]. The staff of Blackwater may act as mercenaries in particular contexts, but their main roll in New Orleans has been as contractors or rescue workers. That has been their roll in New Orleans during the Katrina aftermath. Therefore, that would be how a NPOV would depicted them in the story (additional information as to their "mercenary" roll could be done on a sidebar to the story). If you love or hate particular individuals, groups or ideas and their roll in world events; please state your POV here in Talk. This documentation of your POV will allow readers that "look behind the story", learn the POV of the source and the reader may make their own judgement. I will state my POV that "Blackwater staff have performed the rolls of mercenary, contractor and rescue worker. Different rolls during different situations." - Bobwinmill 15:02, 15 September 2005 (UTC)