hrmmmm.

[lagilman]

well, what I seem to be gathering from the most recent poll is that a percentage of you don't know why you're here, and don't know why you stay. I shall endeavor to continue to confuse and confound you.

A more complete breakdown will have to wait until I have time to munch* the numbers.


Meanwhile, the line edit for FREE FALL has indeed arrived, with enough lead time that I am able to not panic. This is a first -- yay for handing in manuscripts early! I am not finished with the 3/4 read-through, but I see the light at the end of the chapter. Hopefully tonight. This weekend, barring any unexpected interventions by friend, I shall remain locked in the office, nailing various deadlines to various walls.

And a little political news to take you into the weekend...

"WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ordered new security procedures today for American diplomatic convoys in Iraq amid continuing repercussions over the shooting of Iraqi civilians by employees of the Blackwater USA security company.

She ordered that special agents from the department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security now ride with Blackwater security details; that the bureau more closely review incidents like the Sept. 16 shooting that Iraqi investigators said resulted in the death of 17 of their civilians, and that the convoys communicate with American military units operating in the same area.

Ms. Rice acted a day after the House of Representatives had voted to bring all United States government contractors in the Iraq war zone under the jurisdiction of American criminal law."

more here. My feelings about Blackwater and other cowboy outfits is mixed at best, but recent events really make me just want to hit them with the sole of my shoe...


*munch = what non-quant type do with numbers, as we do not find them crunchy or good with ketchup vinegar.

Comments

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

I for one selected don't know because you didn't give us the option of selecting more than one reason}:P

[rwglaub.livejournal.com]

Talking with my people who have been there, they have a mixed view of Blackwater and similar outfits. Blackwater is the most visible, but there are a number of other companies there. Blackwater is certainly the most aggressive. I have heard complaints from high-ranking military that the antics of Blackwater are undercutting all the progress that's been done in counterinsurgency tactics. One of the very main things in CI is that you don't piss off the populace. You have to retreat them with respect and follow the Conventions. A large minority of Blackwater operatives seem to be well trained, but ill disciplined. Cowboys. They know that the law as presently formulated doesn't apply to them (they are wrong about this), and they can do anything they want without serious legal repercussions. Their main problem is that far too many of them are trigger-happy, and shoot first without provocation. You have to make split-second decisions in combat, and you don't want to want to make them hesitate and possibly get themselves killed because they worry about some lawyer; but at the same time you need people who have the discipline and training to make the right decisions.

Just my ramble...