When members of a private security force shot 11 Iraqis, many wondered about the role these private contract security companies play in the overall security of the country. Hired primarily to protect visiting dignitaries and other government officials visiting the war-torn countries, their role as convoy escorts is seen, by some, as additional forces within the battle, not included in the count on U.S. troop strength.
While Democratic candidates are vowing to reduce the number of troops in Iraq, no one appears to have a lot of information on how private security forces are being deployed, even Mitt Romney, Republican candidate for president, despite one of his advisers being a vice chairman of the company, Blackwater, which is embroiled in the current controversy.
While most people in Washington are calling for more control of the actions of companies working in Iraq with many presidential candidates speaking up, Romney is being unusually quiet. Members of Congress, the state department and the Iraqi government all have questions about the use of security forces and the one many with an inside track to the company’s executives is choosing to remain silent on the situation.
Despite the fact that Romney has been vocal about some of the antics of his Republican challengers as well as his Democratic opponents, many see his refusal to discuss the situation as taking the side of the company, of which one of his advisers plays a major role. They believe his silence on this issue may be echoed by voters in the upcoming Republican primary. Mitt Romney stands at a 9% rating in the USA Today/Gallup Poll that can be reviewed along with other polls on www.usaelectionpolls.com.
