tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456220109410208455.post178028828170932385..comments2023-10-23T12:57:50.366-04:00Comments on Educated Soldier: Mercenary???WhiskeyBoarderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12484072959354046151noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4456220109410208455.post-64862036672005604282007-07-25T18:23:00.000-04:002007-07-25T18:23:00.000-04:00I'm glad you were able to get that off your chest ...I'm glad you were able to get that off your chest also. I agree with you. It's despicable that contractors of the United States of America's government are labeled as mercenaries just because the accuser disagrees with their use and employment.<BR/><BR/>Just look at what Markos of Daily Kos said when the four contractors were killed and burned and hung from the bridge - they're mercenaries, I feel nothing. Screw 'em.<BR/><BR/>At my last duty station I met and became casual friends with a Marine who was the Marine Aviation Detachment First Sergeant. At the end of his tour there, having done 23 years in the Corps he retired. The next time I ran into him he was supervising the grounds maintenance crew for a services contractor on the base - and mostly hating it. After OIF started I ran into him again while he was on a leave from working for Blackwater in Iraq. He was enjoying himself, he felt useful again. Yeah, he said the money was good, but he was just happy to be in the fight in some way.<BR/><BR/>If someone wants to learn what a <I>mercenary</I> really is, they should read Frederick Forsythe's excellent book <I>The Dogs of War</I>. True mercenaries have no loyalty to country or cause - only to the highest bidder. <BR/><BR/>BTW, I think Forsythe is the absolute best writer in his genre. Better than Clancy, Ludlum or any of the others.<BR/><BR/>Lately it has become fashionable in the anti-war circles to label our soldiers and other military as mercenaries because they are being paid large bonuses in some cases to reenlist and return to Iraq. They claim that makes our Armed Forces a force of mercenaries, only willing to fight because of the money. I guess they never consider that those people would have reenlisted in many cases without the bonus, that was only a sweetener.<BR/><BR/>Liberals always want to talk about <I>living wages</I> and dignity of the working man - until it comes to paying our service members what they are worth for the jobs they do.<BR/><BR/>The use of contractors like Blackwatch and TC is a prudent use of money and manpower. They provide a quick way to establish an experienced and trained force of personnel that can be employed in the stead of regular military forces. It's a force extender, a force multiplier in some cases.<BR/><BR/>I say good on 'em.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06609184524591619038noreply@blogger.com