OT: Privatized War

[Yef]

Originally posted by Puke:

and it wouldnt be for all security related jobs, just for professional mercinary work. perhaps the distinction would be that they can work domestically, but they cant work abroad for a "security company"

I think you should keep in mind that on the long run is either the private armies of the security companies or the reinstaiment of the draft, and I don't think the draft will do any good. The current profesional army its a gazillion times better than the drafted army the US had in the recent past.
Drafted armies are only good for fighting massive industrial wars like WW2, or for small countries that fight only defensive wars, but for a superpower that needs to proyect his power way beyond his borders, a dedicated profesional army its a must.

Originally posted by Puke:

of course, this might cause a problem with soldiers changing their citizenship after their term of service, so the our guys go work for british mercinary companies and their guys come to ours.

British and South Afrikaan security companies hired ex-military men from any nationality. And so does the French. The security business is here to stay.
You should look at it from the bright side. No long ago mercs where hired on a paid-per-job basis, And I don't have to tell you how messy that was, while nowadays at least they work for legally stablished companies that pay taxes. Today there is someone to whom you can say "look what your employees are doing!".

[ May 05, 2004, 12:10: Message edited by: Yef ]

[solops]

If the people of a republic or democracy are not willing to pay for a war in their own blood then it is either not worth doing or that people no longer has the will to be free.

[AMF]

Many people (not neccesarily myself) would say both those conditions apply to the US today.

Originally posted by solops:
If the people of a republic or democracy are not willing to pay for a war in their own blood then it is either not worth doing or that people no longer has the will to be free.

[Unknown_Enemy]

Accusations of torture. Accusations of prisonners assassination. Stress due to guerilla tactic.

First I thought Irak could become a new Liban. But now, I am thinking "algeria war". And that's no good.

[dogscoff]

I don't know, but I think eventually, one of these forces is going to attack the wrong building, or shoot up the wrong car, or some other horrible situation will arise.

Well... the military have been blowing up the wrong vehicles/ buildings and shooting the wrong people all the way through this war. I don't see why it would be any more scandalous when private contractors do it.

[sachmo]

Originally posted by dogscoff:

quote:

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I don't know, but I think eventually, one of these forces is going to attack the wrong building, or shoot up the wrong car, or some other horrible situation will arise.

Well... the military have been blowing up the wrong vehicles/ buildings and shooting the wrong people all the way through this war. I don't see why it would be any more scandalous when private contractors do it.

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Because there is accountibility in the military, or at least the illusion of it.

[solops]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Well... the military have been blowing up the wrong vehicles/ buildings and shooting the wrong people all the way through this war.

And in every other war in history. Today, we hear about it and, occasionally, try to correct it.

[ May 05, 2004, 17:50: Message edited by: solops ]