Disclaimer: I am not starting this to knock the hiring of mercenaries/security guards or whether it is right or wrong if they are in Iraq. IMO if they want to be hired and go there, fine.
I keep reading about the "security guards" in Iraq but in my experience they don't do anything differently than mercenaries. A mercenary is just a soldier for hire and that is what these blackwater guys appear to be, soldiers for hire. Are they being called security guards to be PC and to avoid any potential fallout for hiring mercenaries instead of security guards?
What are everyone else's views on this?
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"A mercenary is just a soldier for hire and that is what these blackwater guys appear to be, soldiers for hire."
i have played soldier for hire a few times in my life. Call them whatever you want to call them: They cry all the way to the bank.
We have to haveBlackwater and the other security outfits because the US military was gutted during the Klinton administration.All those Republicans in congress at the timethought it was a fine idea to eliminate eight Army divisions.As a result the USArmy and Marine Corpsdo not have enough troops to get the job done.
"Are they being called security guards to be PC and to avoid any potential fallout for hiring mercenaries instead of security guards?"
Yep, they are being PC. There is a UN convention on mercenaries. The US is not a signatory to this convention- but. Lots of ArabandAfrican dictators and do gooder liberals whined to the UN about mercenariesfrom Executive Outcomes assisting in the overthrow of violent dictators and other pond scum.The convention has about 60 signatories.
We have to haveBlackwater and the other security outfits because the US military was gutted during the Klinton administration.All those Republicans in congress at the timethought it was a fine idea to eliminate eight Army divisions.As a result the USArmy and Marine Corpsdo not have enough troops to get the job done.
I am sure we do need them. It wouldn't bother me one bit if there were more.
Quote:
Yep, they are being PC.
That is my thinking also.
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Conservative Christen owned mercenaries, Kind of funny ain't it. Blackwater is owned by Dick DeVos Wifes brother. Check it out! Some of you might even get a better understanding of why this Iraq war is not going away soon. Or why it was started in the first place!
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I am currently in Iraq, so maybe I have a differnt perspective. I also know a few guys that used to be in my unit that now work for blackwater, and yes, it is for the money.
What makes the difference btween mercinaries, and secrutiy guards is this. The blackwater guys are not out on a daily baisis kicking in doors engaging the enemy. They are not here to be fighting the battle for us. They are however, heavily armed, highly trained former military who will take the fight to the enemy when they or the people under their guard are shot at.
To me, a mercinary, is somebody paid to fight the war for us. A paid soldier to do everything that the military is trained to do. These guys do convoy security, and diplomat security, and use their training when attacked. They are hired to provide security because of their military background, and know how, since security of this type should be the military. But due to the drawdown mentioned above, we need the people to offer the security, with the training to respond like soldiers would.
So this is you the tow-ma-tow tow-may-tow arguement or just a differnece in defintion. But mercinary is paid to fight. Security, is paid to watch over, and defend.
All that being said. Should they be here. Why not. if they want to risk it, then have at it.
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RE: Difference in mercenaries and security guards
My contact in Iraq says "the war" will last for years because of all the money being made by consultantsand spent by our government. Seeing that new airport being constructed which will be among the largest in the world by the amount of flights means long term commitment. The oil is still sitting there and we are in the process of rebuilding all the infrastructure...and paying for it. It isn't the Iraqis who are working there it isAmerican companies. If that isn't political I don't know what is.
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Part of the bad karma for mercs is that the perception that they fight in any country for money. Security personnel will fight under the aegis of their company and their home nation's goals. My dislike for Blackwater is that congress should have kept the Army at an adequate strength level. The Military Police was gutted after Gulf War I, so this is part of paying the price. Once captured, mercs are about as popular as coyotes and have no Geneva Convention behind them. I remember seeing a group of defeated of mercs on trial in Africa. They got really long incarcerations.
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I am currently in Iraq, so maybe I have a differnt perspective. I also know a few guys that used to be in my unit that now work for blackwater, and yes, it is for the money.
What makes the difference btween mercinaries, and secrutiy guards is this. The blackwater guys are not out on a daily baisis kicking in doors engaging the enemy. They are not here to be fighting the battle for us. They are however, heavily armed, highly trained former military who will take the fight to the enemy when they or the people under their guard are shot at.
To me, a mercinary, is somebody paid to fight the war for us. A paid soldier to do everything that the military is trained to do. These guys do convoy security, and diplomat security, and use their training when attacked. They are hired to provide security because of their military background, and know how, since security of this type should be the military. But due to the drawdown mentioned above, we need the people to offer the security, with the training to respond like soldiers would.
So this is you the tow-ma-tow tow-may-tow arguement or just a differnece in defintion. But mercinary is paid to fight. Security, is paid to watch over, and defend.
All that being said. Should they be here. Why not. if they want to risk it, then have at it.
Stay safe KD and I know a lot of us would love to hear more firsthand accounts of everything that is happening in Iraq. Semper Fi!
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I always thought the difference between the two was the mission. If the guys are signed up to do executive protection, then they are private security guards. If they are hired as military "consultants" or "training officers" then they are mercenaries. A guy can be a security guard one day and a mercenary the next,, all while working for the same company. I have done these jobs before and I have no problem being caled a merc. The money spends the same when you get home regardless of your title.
XPatriot and I worked together a few times and he just recently retired from this kind of work. I'll send him an email, maybe he will have something to say. If he ever checks his email.
I check my email once a week whether I need to or not!
The job is mercenary, call it what you like, the job doesn't change. The guys at the mall are security guards, and we don't hire from that talent pool.
Difference in mercenaries and security guards
