I notice Jeremy talks about the civilian augmentation, as I predicted the day after Bush's expansion-surge speech.
Kind of scary, for multiple reasons. Mercenaries cannot be trusted by anyone except the one who pays the bills - and they are fools to trust mercenaries. So we now have a 20k corps of professional killers running around paid by our own fascist wannabe administration. And this bothers me for two reasons - one, if push came to shove, would they support the Constitution and the citizens over the bill paying fascist overthrow attempt?
Would they kick in my door and kill me if we started actively protesting the BCF (Bush-Cheney Fascists) in the streets? As mercenaries, if they are paid to do it, will we have to fight paid killers to get our country back? I wouldn't think so much about opposing the National Guard or even regular military - they would see the conflict between supporting our democracy and killing our citizens - but I'm not so certain of the Blackwater boys. There's a big difference I think between somebody who kills for a paycheck and one who does it because he's been sold on the need to enlist and go to war for a specific reason. Of course, they would probably say "Don't oppose us and you won't get killed"....
My second concern is this - if we get our government back, and stop paying these guys, what will they do? Twenty thousand of them could probably take over the entire cocaine business in a few years, or the entire Afghan opium trade, and then our streets are full of drugs pushed by American guys who kill as a profession. And 20k of them can't all be hired back into the civilian market - what would you hire an ex-mercenary to do other than corporate security? And what will they do then except use their connections to steal American business blind or steal idenities of citizens?
They're basically criminals. The only difference is that a mafia contract guy is not paid for and protected by the government. Compared to these guys out of control I fear homeland security much less, and regular military not at all. And face it - they are beyond any control. Just because you pay them doesn't mean they won't kill you tomorrow. What if bin Laden offered to triple the money to get Bush and Cheney hit? I'm sure there are some who would take the offer.
Thank you for this hair-raising interview.
"The only difference is that a mafia contract guy is not paid for and protected by the government."
Unless of course they are anti-Castro Cubans.
As for them being beyond control, that is their appeal. They are not bound to the rules like the military is and as private entities, they cannot violate the Geneva Conventions. They can violate civilian law, but not the Conventions.
I can't find anything redeeming with the US military contracting out essential parts of its historical and essential military mission.
Recently,on a trip aboard an aircraft carrier I was amazed at the sheer number of civilians on board doing work once required by navy personnel.
People like Blackwater do not fall, and hence, do not have to follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and at the same time, still must be protected by US military forces in country, and at times are required and have full access to use US facilities and equipment. There is real tension between US military forces and contractors like Blackwater,
Most of Blackwater's people are ex-military types doing the same thing US military personnel are doing but they are paid the big bucks.
I cannot see any redeeming value in those people!
I understand that there are also lots of civilian contractors that carry out no combat role. They are laundry staff, cooks, etc. While good for the owners of the companies contracting out these workers, I don't think there are other merits.
You are right. Alot of nonessential personnel handling mundane tasks can be contracted. But even an army cook knows how to handle a weapon, and can be considered an infantryman in an emerency. The contracted people have to be protected while under fire and have no idea what they are getting into until they are their. A real cultural and lifestyle shock. The main attraction is the money.
By the way, as in the Blackwater case, when one of them is wounded it is the responsiblity of the US military to go get him and provide medical treatment. He will be treated as one of our own.
They receive their meals compliments of the US government. They even coordinate their daily activities with military operations staff. At time they even operate our equipment, but are not allowed to wear US military uniforms and absolutely no American military insignias.
But they have learned quickly in Iraq that Rambo was just a movie. There are no supermen here.
Commenting by HaloScan
