OT: Privatized War

[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 ]

[Yef]

Originally posted by solops:
And in every other war in history. Today, we hear about it and, occasionally, try to correct it.

You can't correct anything after it happens. You can try to prevent this kind of incidents, but honest mistakes are happening all the time.
You can modify and strictly enforce the ROE, punish infractors, Psy evaluate your servicemen periodically, but in the end sh@t happens, and there is nothing you can do about it. When the bullets start flying all the thinking stops, the training kicks in, and soldiers will shoot by reflexes anything that is threatening.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Originally posted by sachmo:
Narf,

My point is that the military has a lot to lose by backing these guys up. If these contractors were under strict military control, then I would have no problem with them getting military support, but without it, I don't see how it's possible.

The mercenaries where sent in there by the US. If the merceneries are under attack, the US should back them up. I'm talking about a combat situation, not allegations of torture. In such a case, the US should have the power to enforce the ROE.