Afghan vigilantes...

[EricTheRed 0]

Wonder how this will play out.

The claim is that they were in contact with Rumsfeld. I thought these "secret mission" guys were supposed to deny everything.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1090447813122&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724

illegible usually

[PhillyKev 0]

It's obviously a liberal conspiracy and they were really working for Kerry.

Or, after it's proven they were working for Rumsfeld....they were just doing what is necessary to protect our freedoms and torture is ok when it's someone else.

Or....it's a bunch of lies from the liberal media.

[storm1977 0]

Is it posible these guys were "freelancers operating outside the law and without the U.S. government's knowledge"

Or do we just sweep that under the rug?

Could it be another case like the Berge follow who was beheaded. Maybe these guys were doing a little business of their own and they got busted?

Now that they are in trouble they are saying.... Oh the Govmnt made us do it.

Real secret agents wouldn't be copping out and blaming the Government if they were on some covert mission.

Just a thought.

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Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty

[PhillyKev 0]

It's possible, but how likely do you think it is that some guys took it upon themselves to go to Afghanistan to fight terrorists?

It will be another wait and see situation, unless it is completely swept under the rug as you suggested.

[markd_nscr986 0]

Or.....it's just a bunch of wannabe merc nut jobs playing soldier and looking to place blame up the alleged chain of command....so as not to be held accountable for their own actions.If rumsfeld wanted something like that done he could do a lot better than those jokers

Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004

[PhillyKev 0]

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Or.....it's just a bunch of wannabe merc nut jobs playing soldier and looking to place blame up the alleged chain of command....so as not to be held accountable for their own actions.

True, that's possible. But considering the amount of mercs we're hiring now why would they do it without getting paid?

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If rumsfeld wanted something like that done he could do a lot better than those jokers

This is the guy who ignored all of the pentagon advisors about what was needed for Iraq.

[Tonto 1]

This was reported in TIME Magazine a few weeks back. I can't believe they were working for the US.

Just a bunch of Walter Mitty wannabees doing their own thing. I have no doubt though, that they thought that the US/Rummy would think that their own thing was the right thing to do.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

From the article...
"We were in contact directly by fax and e-mail and phone with Donald Rumsfeld's office."

That should be fairly easy to confirm or otherwise.....

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He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[LouDiamond 1]

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It's possible, but how likely do you think it is that some guys took it upon themselves to go to Afghanistan to fight terrorists?

Well, in this case I will say that is exactly what he(they) did. Idema used to own and run a tactical gear shop in Fayetteville several years ago. He was convicted of wire fraud in connection with his business. Having personally met the guy and talked with him I can tell you he is a polished con man with a smooth line and believes his own hype. He's just one of the many wack jobs thats out there running around telling war stories.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[pajarito 0]

Is it posible these guys were "freelancers operating outside the law and without the U.S. government's knowledge"

It's more than possible, it's a fact. I won't give names but I've personally met with a person there who was doing just that. He wanted to work with my team and mutually share intel but we just took his and never gave him any of ours. We all thought he was a bit off his rocker but "they're out there."

[mr2mk1g 10]

how stoopid does he thing people are? Direct contact with Rumsfeld... right!

If he [I]was[/I] working for the govt. (a possible scenario) I have a little difficulty in believing he was getting operational orders direct from the secretary for defence.

Now if he claimed he was being given orders by some CIA spook or a guy at the Pentagon… he’d have some credence… but not like this.

[storm1977 0]

Is it possible they want to get OBL themselves to get the reward that goes with his capture????

-----------------------------------------------------
Sometimes it is more important to protect LIFE than Liberty

[PhillyKev 0]

Yeah....I read a couple more articles on him. Seems the guy is a freakin' whacko.

EDIT to add....but the US military has admitted to accepting prisoners from him and his group. So we weren't exactly trying to dissuade him from his actions. Kind of see no evil thing.

[EricTheRed 0]

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Is it posible these guys were "freelancers operating outside the law and without the U.S. government's knowledge"

It's more than possible, it's a fact. I won't give names but I've personally met with a person there who was doing just that. He wanted to work with my team and mutually share intel but we just took his and never gave him any of ours. We all thought he was a bit off his rocker but "they're out there."

I agree this this is probably the case. Just a couple of guys with delusions. I do believe that (as in you example) there are people that know "they are out there" and make no attemp to bring them in, despite the fact that they are committing illegal acts.
I don't think that these guys were getting orders from teh pentagon but the pentagon has now admitted that they did recieve at least one "prisoner" from this 'group'.
Not that I think this is all bad, it's just an example of looking the other way when it's convenient.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ahoJUz1RD67o&refer=top_world_news

illegible usually

[Trent 0]

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Idema, a bearded former American soldier and convicted fraudster, reportedly aged 48, appeared in court in a khaki uniform with a reversed American flag on the shoulder.

Yeah, I think you all might have said it... loser/wackjob/glory whore.

Oh, hello again!

[pajarito 0]

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Not that I think this is all bad, it's just an example of looking the other way when it's convenient.

Maybe. Hey...if there's an idiot running around out there but he's doing stuff that helps me out, I'm tempted to just let him keep doing what he wants. If he's a hinderance or a liability, however, that's another story and actions might need to be taken otherwise. That's just part of the nature of unconventional warfare. That's a different kind of war requiring a less than conventional mindset.

[kallend 2,151]

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Having personally met the guy and talked with him I can tell you he is a polished con man with a smooth line and believes his own hype. He's just one of the many wack jobs thats out there running around telling war stories.

So was G. Gordon Liddy but he managed to end up working for the Nixon White House.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,120]

> Is it posible these guys were "freelancers operating outside the law
>and without the U.S. government's knowledge"

As I recall, that was almost exactly the same claim that was made when abuses were first uncovered in Abu Ghirab - that they were isolated cases of soldiers operating outside the code of conduct and without the US government's knowledge. Turned out to be systematic and widespread. Hopefully it's true this time.

>Real secret agents wouldn't be copping out and blaming the Government
> if they were on some covert mission.

Unless they were plain ol contractors, as some of the Abu Ghraib torturers were.