Madam, - Michael Jansen's report on the Blackwater scandal in Iraq sheds further light on the use of so-called "contractors" ( The Irish Times, October 9th).
The firms employing these people give themselves grandiose names such as "risk management companies" when in reality they are undertaking military activities for profit as a back-up to the depleted US forces in Iraq. Their employees are called "contractors" when in fact they are mercenaries who often earn astronomical sums of money for their shadowy activities.
At present their numbers are about equal to the present strength of the US military in Iraq and they should be seen as part of the US military occupation forces.
Prime minister Nari Al Maliki is trying to make these mercenaries subject to Iraqi law but, as with the International Criminal court, the Bush Administration refuses to recognise the jurisdiction of non-US courts for any of its citizens accused of criminal offences outside the US. Perhaps, after the demise of the Bush administration, a new US government will recognise the demands of international law. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, NGO Peace Alliance, Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7.