No place for militia such as Blackwater

It is time for Congress to enact a law banning private militia firms such as Blackwater from forming mercenary armies such as the one that this week has been banned by the Iraqi government after Blackwater mercenaries slaughtered a large number of Iraqi civilians.

The Bush administration has pushed the development of these mercenary armies, which have the potential to operate without the normal controls our own military operates with. They are paid exorbitant fees for providing the same type of work that was formerly done by our military. Strangely enough, I am sure that the millions of dollars being spent on these private armies are a source of much gouging of taxpayers and the beneficiaries are certainly the fat cat friends of George Bush and Dick Cheney. Someday will they be used against American citizens.

Congress needs to outlaw companies that take on the functions more effectively done by a military that is under governmental control and subject to international law.

Len Lempa

Elgin