Assignment #5

Though troops have left Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, not alone, have started the largest diplomatic operation. 15,000 workers along with U.S. diplomats will be protected by a private army consisting of as many as 5,000 security contractors, armed with assault weapons and flying armed helicopters. State Department officials speak against these contractors acting as troops. "We run. We go. We do not stand and fight.""The order to fire is given by that U.S. government, State Department security professional. So the contractors just don't open fire." With an increase in pay for essentially the same field of performance, it should come as no surprise that most contract workers are in fact troops, largely those experienced. In 2007 a group called Blackwater was held responsible for the killing of 17 Iraqi soldiers, by these guards. The State Department is getting involved in action not only out of their culture, but out of their expertise.
Blackwater's, (now re-named Academi's) president says "what we'd like to do is follow through with all our changes so that we can do business in Iraq in the future".

Blog Stage #4

In a Huffington Post Blog, Night Politics Editor Leigh Owens reports some objective facts and quotes attracting both pro and anti gun restrictions in the U.S. The report is mainly focused around the said increase due to President Obama's "unintentional boost to the industry and to the NRA's membership rolls. The site even suggests that gun rights groups should perhaps rally in support of the president this November." Owens has been Chief of Staff of PA House of Representatives, and is a Drexel University graduate. The blog mentions and displays some of Ammo.net's statistical information and some visuals displaying more specific information. Although the report expresses both sides, the bulk of the information seems slightly towards and anti-gun audience because of the information presentation, however, there is plenty of substantiality provided for pro-gun advocates. I would have to disagree then, that Obama is indeed a predominant factor raising pro-gun percentages