[lit-ideas] Re: Military mercenaries
- From: "Julie Krueger" <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:12:18 -0500
Oh, to be a victim of my own success.....
You go, girl.
Julie Krueger
On 9/19/07, eternitytime1@xxxxxxx <eternitytime1@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I had not looked at the Soldier of Fortune magazine in years. (I used to
> read it regularly in college <g>. I'm saying--former vigilante in a past
> life, that's me. Actually, when I was in college (since i knew I wanted to
> be a librarian), I worked in the serials department. It was one of the most
> interesting magazines we subscribed to and I used to have great
> conversations with the library's security guard about it (I worked 2-11 pm
> and there usually was no one in after 10...)
>
> And, yes--they come and go as they please. LOTS of business out there for
> that world.
>
> But--truly. If you read even some of the articles on the hospital project
> that Bechtel got, alot of those sorts (ie the subcontractors/mercenaries)
> didn't stay after they decided it was not worth it.
>
> 2. And, so, too, I'm saying-- For example, as I passed on, we better
> hope that Jordan stays our friend and does not head into Israel. Blackwater
> is training them...
>
> 3. I like this question. I would like to know Lawrence's thoughts on it,
> too.
>
> 4. Hm... My ex-brother-in-law is doing some lawyering in New Orleans and
> will be visiting in October. He got bored being an international
> attorney-type in England and got intrigued by something there. I might ask
> him what he knows about this when he visits. Esp might be interesting if
> they mess up and hit a tourist and not a poor person from there...
>
> 5. Or if the Islamic extremists get creative and decide to do
> this...after all, they could just as easily 'train' at the Blackwater
> training center (there was a cool weapons thing there not long ago--we
> should have had our retreat there. Lawrence and Andreas would have
> entertained us with explaining to us how the weapons all worked. )
>
> sidenote: No, please let Lawrence respond to #3, #4 and #5.
>
>
> Great questions, Andreas, and will keep me occupied for those midnight
> can't sleep hours (though I'm not having many--am a victim of my own success
> in too many arenas of my life right now...)
>
> I hope others will thoughtfully respond, too.
>
>
> Best,
> Marlena
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andreas Ramos <andreas@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 6:32 pm
> Subject: [lit-ideas] Military mercenaries
>
> There are several problems with mercenaries:
>
> 1) They're not obligated to stay. It's a job, not a duty. If a battle goes
> bad, the mercenaries can simply leave. What happens then?
>
> 2) They work for the highest bidder. Blackwater and others work for the US
> government, but what happens when Iran hires them? Or Saudi Arabia or
> Pakistan?
>
> 3) What about mercenaries in other countries? If a South African mercenary
> is captured by US military, is he a prisoner of war?
>
> 4) It's all very nice to talk about US mercenaries outside the USA, but
> what happens when they are hired inside the USA? Will we really accept
> mercenaries inside the USA? Blackwater was hired in New Orleans. What will
> happen when US civilians are killed by mercenaries? What if the mercenaries
> are foreigners?
>
> 5) Will the US be so understanding about "private security forces" if
> those forces are attacking the USA? What if the jihadi hire South African or
> Israeli mercenaries to attack the USA? Will this be okay, just as the US
> finds it okay to hire Central American mercenaries and send them out to kill
> in Iraq?
>
> And Lawrence, please stay out of this discussion. You only say
> irresponsible things.
>
> yrs,
> andreas
> www.andreas.com
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