Hiring security personnel rather than soldiers
The recent Blackwater incident highlights yet another disturbing aspect of the Iraq war. Most Americans have never heard of Blackwater; and those who have, give it little thought. Blackwater is one of several corporations which provide security personnel, AKA mercenaries, for the US government. Such personnel sign contracts to work for these companies and are paid handsome sums which significantly exceed the annual pay for our fighting men and women.
While American tax payers foot the bill for both, the mercenaries’ come with significant corporate profit margins.
Why hire mercenaries? The administration would tell you it is cost effective. In other words, the military which we train to fight and provide security can’t do the job as cheaply. Outsourcing security work saves tax payers money. Just think about that. According to this logic, if you have all the skill sets needed to build your own house, it would be cheaper for you to hire someone than to build it yourself. Balderdash!! Rather than being cost effective, it is politically effective to hire mercenaries. The administration and the Congress don’t have to institute a draft and face the public’s wrath. It’s a win/win for the government and corporations. No political heat and a gravy train for corporations. The hiring of these mercenary security companies represents the epitome of President Eisenhower’s farewell speech warning about the dangers of the military-industrial complex.
It’s unfortunate the media has not made it a priority to expose this mercenary industry. The pay scales for these mercenaries are significant multiples higher than our regular military’s pay scales. How much is this costing tax payers? How many mercenaries work for the Pentagon and other Federal departments around the world? How many are actually in Iraq and Afghanistan? Are these mercenaries subject to the same rules of engagement and the same justice system as our regular military? In a word: no. Americans need to learn these facts.
During WWII the war industry’s profits were capped. Unlike this war, everyone was called on to sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Certainly mercenaries, many of whom acquired their skills at American tax payers’ expense, should receive no more than our military would receive for doing the same job. It would be the patriotic thing to do.
This letter has not been edited.
It is hardly surprising that an America hating liberal would oppose detached special forces from making a fortune as mercenaries in the free market. President Bush provides your security and you are unable to appreciate the manner in which he does so. To the degree that liberals hate America, our armed forces, and their mercenary brothers in arms, your letter is a case in point.
Posted by Brian Stuckey on September 29, 2007 02:55 PMmercenaries in the free market
Simplistic thinking as the market for 'war' isn't free by any stretch -- it is the definition of government subsidy: governments create it and fund it. Especially in the case of Iraq where it was an experiment in privatized military adventures from the beginning. Classic wealth redistribution at work: tax the average citizen to subsidize a new industry, whose members have an material interest in prolonging the Iraq conflict regardless of the number of real soliders who die.
Is this knucklehead the best that 'conservatives' have to represent them here in Colorado? Pathetic.
Posted by on September 29, 2007 05:12 PMOur troops are sharecroppers. It is vile that these illegal contracted American civilian thugs earning $150K-$300K, while our troops are being paid peanuts. Also these Mafia types are getting lucrative disability compensation insurance. Our Iraq-NAM vets, return home to scrounge for medical treatment adn VA disability compensation. This wouldn't have happened if the blood and treasure of Mitt (5 future draft-dodging sons), Bush's drunk twins, Mastermind, St. Elway, Allard, Salazar, Tancredo, Rudy, and Owens kids, were serving in Iraq-NAM. Ooops! MY BAD! Owens son is a convicted felon. Wait, because Bush is too much of a coward and beaver to start the military draft, he is already augmenting our troops in Iraq-NAM with convicted felons, who are also being given Rx mind-altering drugs (PTSD suppressors). Bush then rewards these doped-up uniform thugs with court martials (death penatly), after they have carried out his orders to exterminate Arabs.
Posted by draftdodgingisntafamilyvalue on September 29, 2007 05:42 PMMachiavelli:
"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. The fact is, they have no other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend, which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you."
Benjamin Franklin:
"It is impossible we should think of submission to a government that has with the most wanton barbarity and cruelty burnt our defenseless towns in the midst of winter, excited the savages to massacre our peaceful farmers, and our slaves to murder their masters, and is even now bringing foreign mercenaries to deluge our settlements with blood."
Thomas Jefferson (from the Declaration of Independence):
"He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy."
Posted by Colorado Dave on September 29, 2007 08:01 PMPresident Bush provides your security and you are unable to appreciate the manner in which he does so.
Sounds like someone has some Daddy issues.
Posted by on September 29, 2007 09:05 PMPresident Bush provides your security and you are unable to appreciate the manner in which he does so.
Sounds like someone has some Daddy issues.
No, it sounds as though someone is mistaking Hollywood for real life and they have Jack Nicholson issues.
Posted by Colorado Dave on September 29, 2007 09:20 PMNo, it sounds as though someone is mistaking Hollywood for real life and they have Jack Nicholson issues.
Fair enough.
Posted by on September 29, 2007 09:34 PMBrian Stuckey on September 29, 2007 02:55 PM was not the real Brian Stuckey, it was me.
I was getting in the spirit of "Hank" on the Bush administration & health care for children thread.
I thought the over the top "America hating" nonsense and the "A Few Good Men" quote would make it obvious. Guess not.
It's too bad the real BS couldn't write to denounce the forgery.
I guess he agrees.
Posted by BS on September 30, 2007 12:55 PMWell, BS you have convinced me to never post here again.
What you did was wrong. Period, no debate.
Stuckey's posts are often over the top knee jerk Republican posts but they are his posts.
To post under another's screen name does nothing to encourage reasoned debate and does everything to turn these pages into a sewer.
If you are a liberal please keep you thoughts to yourself from now on because you will undoubtedly make the rest of us look bad.
If you are a conservative I am sure your fellows are ashamed of you as well.
Geez, the Rocky Mountain News comment section. What a waste of time.
Posted by Colorado Dave on September 30, 2007 06:27 PMBS, your style is far too developed to mimic our pal Brian S.
:)