again our goverment has no sense of history. the romans concoured half the world because the ywhere the frist nation with a profeshional army as opposed to Mercs. mercinaries just don't work
The Iraqi government just pulled Blackwater's license over the shooting of 8 civilians.
Things are bad when Maliki's government is ahead of the US.
Of course, Bush will probably pull the Maliki government's license and replace it with Blackwater.
Here's the link on the Blackwater story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/
20070...aq_070916185966
It is not a war on terror, it is a war on the treasury of the United States.
good piece and supportable!
One needn't go back as far as the late Roman Empire to find how mercenaries are bad for you. During the Renaissance, Italian states used mercenary armies, who were paid top prices. However, there's always someone out there to make a higher bid, and since the soldiers only signed for the loot anyway, it was not uncommon to see armies switch sides during a battle.
So, who's out there who can make a higher bid for Blackwater? Hmm.
honestly I am happy as long as blackwater is fighting over there..they make me nervouis when they are over here
During the Renaissance, Italian states used mercenary armies, who were paid top prices. However, there's always someone out there to make a higher bid, and since the soldiers only signed for the loot anyway, it was not uncommon to see armies switch sides during a battle.
And this did not go unnoticed at the time:
I say, therefore, that the arms with which a prince defends his state are either his own, or they are mercenaries, auxiliaries, or mixed. Mercenaries and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous; and if one holds his state based on these arms, he will stand neither firm nor safe; for they are disunited, ambitious and without discipline, unfaithful, valiant before friends, cowardly before enemies; they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to men, and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is; for in peace one is robbed by them, and in war by the enemy...
for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries, and although they formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves, yet when the foreigners came they showed what they were...
The mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way.
-Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Chapter 12
Ktesibios,
Quite right. I should have referenced Master Niccolo in my earlier comment.
I would have referenced John Cale.
Well, at least they leave with the thanks of a grateful (new) nation.
Blackwater ain't leavin'. No way. They're too important -- they were providing security for the State Department when this incident occurred, no? Nope, not gonna happen. Blackwater stays -- but the Iraqi Interior Minister?
If I were him, I wouldn't be buying green bananas.
What's more important is what Moqtada al-Sadr has to say about Blackwater.
Thanks for the great post. I printed it with your sig at the bottom to give to Brian Baird at a town hall meeting on
saturday.
2 Visitors Online
Commenting by HaloScan
