I wanted to respond to Lee Sharon’s October 2008 article “Private Security Contractors.” I’m a little surprised that someone with Mr. Sharon’s background would make statements that seem to have little factual basis and seem to be poorly researched. Mr. Sharon states that “non-former military need not apply” as PMCs. He further states that he’s never seen one “pure” police officer or SWAT team member work out in Iraq. I find this extremely difficult to believe.

The article written on private security contractors in the October issue of SOF is quite amusing. I hope that Mr. Sharon is an adjunct writer for your magazine and not on staff full time. The tone of the entire article was that of ‘I’ve been there, done that’ or as what Mr. Sharon calls ‘T-shirt mongers.’ I find it somewhat comical.

THE BIG SAILOR: “WE’LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH FIRST!”

PAKISTAN LOOSE LIPS FEINSTEIN reveals positioning of CIA Predators that carry out strikes against al Qaeda leadership.

The crew of the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) apprehended sixteen suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden 11–12 February after responding to distress calls from nearby merchant vessels.

PIRACY—A CLEAR AND PRESENT THREAT

STEINER

HE GOT THE BIGGEST ONE!!!!!!! A HUNTER’S DREAM

To be honest, I did not have high hopes going into this year’s Shot Show in Orlando.