Blackwater Firm Gets $120M U.S. Gov't Contract

[Solus]

One of my favorite movies (and others here have said the same) is Kelly's Heroes. 

One of the themes of the movie is the "fighting spirit" of those soldiers involved in the operation.  The motive is a share of the pile of gold which is the objective.

Everyone is motivated by self interest.  For some self interest is money, for others it is Honor, Duty, Country, etc., for almost all it is self preservation when the bullets fly.

Perhaps the best soldiers will be those who have all of these as motivation.

It hasn't been unusual for Mercenaries choose the cause for which they will fight, and a wise commander will seek those for his command,  and be aware of which lesser Mercenaries have been enlisted.

Fighting for Self Interest, in any combination, is the Free Market (Libertarian) way 

[tombogan03884]

One of my favorite movies (and others here have said the same) is Kelly's Heroes.  

One of the themes of the movie is the "fighting spirit" of those soldiers involved in the operation.  The motive is a share of the pile of gold which is the objective.

Everyone is motivated by self interest.  For some self interest is money, for others it is Honor, Duty, Country, etc., for almost all it is self preservation when the bullets fly.

Perhaps the best soldiers will be those who have all of these as motivation.

It hasn't been unusual for Mercenaries choose the cause for which they will fight, and a wise commander will seek those for his command,  and be aware of which lesser Mercenaries have been enlisted.

Fighting for Self Interest, in any combination, is the Free Market (Libertarian) way  

FQ's opposition to the use of Merc's shows how poorly founded his "alleged" Libertarian views actually are.
In the Federalist papers and other writings the founding fathers made clear their objections to a standing Army.
The alternative is a militia force, trained and led by purpose hired proffesional soldiers.
In other words "Mercenaries".
Gee, isn't this pretty much what Blackwater is providing ?

[fightingquaker13]

It comes down to reiability in terms of their willingness to take risks (Marines don't get a choice), their willingness to accept the rule of law and respect the rights of civilians here and abroad, and the accountability of government for its actions. When it comes to the power of the sword I want sworn troops/officers who are directly accountable to civilian leadership, not third party contractors. I also want these folks, if we're going to use them, held accountable to the UCMJ, not virtually unaccountable like Black Water was before. I hardly think this is a radical proposition. The Founders agree with me. You might have noticed that the hiring of foriegn mercenaries was part of the Bill of Particulars in the Declaration. I don't think they'd have dropped the objection if the mercs were English rather than Hessian
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

It comes down to reiability in terms of their willingness to take risks (Marines don't get a choice), their willingness to accept the rule of law and respect the rights of civilians here and abroad, and the accountability of government for its actions. When it comes to the power of the sword I want sworn troops/officers who are directly accountable to civilian leadership, not third party contractors. I also want these folks, if we're going to use them, held accountable to the UCMJ, not virtually unaccountable like Black Water was before. I hardly think this is a radical proposition. The Founders agree with me. You might have noticed that the hiring of foriegn mercenaries was part of the Bill of Particulars in the Declaration. I don't think they'd have dropped the objection if the mercs were English rather than Hessian
FQ13

Crap.
It's about will they get the job done while lowering our manpower needs.
Remember, the number one pass time of Dems is cutting defense spending. Yet FQ has balls enough to have it both ways.
Don't spend $ on bigger Army, but don't hire any one else to do the job either.


dumbass

[fightingquaker13]

Crap.
It's about will they get the job done while lowering our manpower needs.
Remember, the number one pass time of Dems is cutting defense spending. Yet FQ has balls enough to have it both ways.
Don't spend $ on bigger Army, but don't hire any one else to do the job either.


dumbass

Who said I want to cut defense spending? Unlike the Low tax zombies, I think we decide what we want government to do, then figure out how to pay for it. This means taxes, as deficit spending is a fools game. In the current case we are fighting two wars with a third being a real possibility. Spend more on defense. Tax accordingly and cut back in other areas.  I am all im favor of a larger Army as it was Rumsfeld's three guys and a remote control airplane doctrine that got us into trouble in Afghanistan in the first place (and cost us Bin Laden as we relied on hey, mercenaries). I would much rather a larger army and a bigger hit in April, than a slightly smaller tax bill and Blackwater. Do not put words in my mouth as far as policy goes. Unless we are talking pork barrel nonsense, I have rarely seen a defense budget to seriously complain about.
FQ13
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

I should have been asleep 1/2 an hour ago, but you got this wrong.

"(and cost us Bin Laden as we relied on hey, mercenaries)"

Actually it was Rangers and Regular Army who did not get to Tora Bora in time.

[fightingquaker13]

I should have been asleep 1/2 an hour ago, but you got this wrong.

"(and cost us Bin Laden as we relied on hey, mercenaries)"

Actually it was Rangers and Regular Army who did not get to Tora Bora in time.

Wrong. There were damn few on the ground. We relied on our stalwart ARVN, uh, I mean Northern Alliance, allies to hold the perimeter. These were tribal militia, who by many accounts got paid by Al Queda  to take a cigarette break.
FQ13