The employment of mercenaries in the US is an existential danger. It is demonstrable that Blackwater and private military corporations committed atrocities without accountability in Iraq and elsewhere, and that's why they were there: to do things the USG was hesitant to do.

There's no reason people should want private mercenaries to be active in their communities. It's the same power drug cartels have, and can only be opposed by armed civilians because there are no democratic or civic controls. Nothing but the sword.

It's sad that their presence in E. Palestine reveals armed civilians may need to act to prevent being oppressed in comparable ways to Iraq, Somalia, and Afghanistan under American occupation. It's good that Americans have some potential to do that, at least.

Thanks!