A lot of readers didn’t take too kindly to my observations about Blackwater USA, the private security firm that’s come under scrutiny after a string of civilian shooting deaths. Perhaps I didn’t stress enough that these were only my personal recollections, limited to the Blackwater personnel I encountered. If you have your own stories involving Blackwater, please send them in.

Sure, an American diplomat who depends on Blackwater every time he or she leaves the safety of the Green Zone might have a different take. However, one place you’ll find similar criticisms of Blackwater’s conduct is the U.S. military. I can’t tell you how many service members and officers have complained that Blackwater and other private security firms “make all Americans look bad to Iraqis” or “undercut the military’s efforts.” Of course, soldiers also resent the fact that they perform many of the same tasks as private contractors yet get paid only a fraction of what the guns for hire make.

A perfect example of the military’s disdain for contractors’ cowboy behavior can be found in John F. Burns’ recent piece in The New York Times, where he describes a senior American officer flying in a Black Hawk and watching the daredevil gunners hang out of Blackwater’s tiny support helicopters:

As the Blackwater machines cleared the landing zone’s fence that day, the American officer leaned toward a companion and, over the thwump-thwump of the Black Hawk’s rotors, voiced his contempt. “If I’ve got one ambition left here,” he said, “it’s to see one of those showboats fall out.”

Blackwater has plenty of defenders out there as well, as I’ve learned from my inbox this week. After the Sacramento Bee published my blog post in the paper, I was inundated with letters from angry readers who said I was biased, lying, liberal, unpatriotic, etc. One even said Blackwater missed its chance to kill me. I guess a death wish counts as a cogent counterpoint in today’s marketplace of ideas.

In the name of said marketplace, here’s a sampling of some reactions from California-based readers. The letters are edited only for space.

Eric Chevreuil: First let me salute the courage of Hannah Allan for being there. But that is about all she will get from me. Her article should have been called something like ”The Blacwater guys that shared my hotel”. She could have also done a more balanced piece after riding along with them and sharing their daily risky life, before telling us about their nightlife. One would have explained the other…or at least, readers would have had a bigger picture. Anyways, the piece was just about her views and what her own British “mercenary” thought about those young testosterone-full night time party goers…but what about their daily job? What about the rides in “roadside bomb alley”, ambushes, knowledge that even your dead body will be desecrated, sliced, burnt, mutilated, hung….knowledge that death is better than being captured alive, knowledge that the enemy does not wear the uniform and arms in the open as requested by the Geneva convention in order to be treated as a combatant and later as a prisoner of war. Asymmetric warfare….one side held to higher standards than the other!

Mkando: Blackwater security gives our side some strength and support while our soldiers fight with 2 hands tied behind their back in Iraq, and die for the Iraqi people. Blackwater uses force, which is the only thing that many Iraqis understand after years of rule under Saddam. As is typical for a liberal reporter, you make the Blackwater forces appear like they are pillaging and plundering in Iraq. You dont like strong Americans that will eventually bring peace to Iraq. Im sure you enjoy seeing our American soldiers die there for the freedom of the Iraqi people, and one day soon we will leave Iraq and let you fight with each other until the end of time.

Chuck Cross: Read your article on Blackwater - Either you don't understand or don't care or maybe both. If Blackwater was in Charge of the war, it would have been over long time ago. It is nescessary kill lot of people who don't like americans. This was how we ending World Two. When you write - get it right.

Micki Bishop-Stultz: As far as Blackwater, and all the other private security forces, in Iraq are concerned, I probably believe that they are a little too "gung ho".  BUT remember this, many of these men are "hired" immediately after their listings are up with the promise of lots of money (before they ever think about returning home).  I don't mean a little more than they were making, but double/triple digit numbers for a month's worth of work.  The "things" the enlisted men are taught are still in their"systems".  Protect and kill.  This is why they get hired.  From what I hear many stay because they "know" what goes on regarding road bombs, real human bombs (for which some are paid, or pay is given to the families of those of strap on the bombs).  They have seen, and probably trusted (at least once) a foreign face ( be it a man/woman/child) and then had to protect themself…To go on with this story.....have you ever talked to any of these "men" after they have returned home.  Are you aware of the many serious injuries the enlisted men have had?  The rage that must be in they heads for being injured etc.  We still have Viet Nam vets with many mental disabilities.  We are just seeing damage to our me/women that were in Desert Storm.  How much "deprogramming" to these men get before companies like Blackwater hire them?  I bet not much. I have a dog that to this day still barks at a high honored vet from the Iraq war.  I believe that this man still has the "watch my back/kill" "syndrome, and the dog can sense it. I believe in everybody's right to believe what they want, but I believe there were some "holes" missing in your article today.Peace to all.

Tony Rohl: As one who lived through WW2, the Brits should be glad they had American "Rambo's" to save their butts back then. As for your condemnation of Blackwater personnel, did you also feel an 'indescribable outrage when they sent their members into crowded marketplaces wearing suicide belts that they ignited, killing innocent women and children. Oh wait, that wasn't Blackwater. They were too busy buzzing hotel swimming pools, that is, the one ones that weren't dangling dead from bridges. And they "almost killed you"? Given the tone of this article, they missed a golden opportunity

Steven Smith: Yes, you panicked and chickened out. The two truths in your hit piece. While it is not safe to mock or disrespect American military folks, you don't have to hold back with Blackwater. My guess is you fabricated or stretched the truth. The press no longer has any public respect. I think you are at about 21%, the same as congress. Leering? Wow a left wing looker.