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Do countries still hire mercenaries?
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:38 pm
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:38 pm
I watched the movie Blood Diamond on Netflix, which led me down the YouTube rabbit hole of watching documentaries on African wars such as the civil war in Sierra Leone that the movie is based on and others referenced in the movie like the Bush War in Rhodesia. The movie seems like a pretty accurate depiction of the war when compared to this documentary I found on it and how mercenaries were used. Mercenaries in the Sierra Leone Civil War
The video pretty much gives the impression that even United Nations troops are in reality mercenaries. Besides UN "peace keeping troops", do mercenaries still play an active role in conflicts? The whole concept of risking your life for money to fight in someone else's war seems very strange to me.
Edit - after reading some of the responses, I didn't think about the American military's use of former US soldiers serving as military contractors. However, it fits the definition. I wonder if there are a lot of soldiers that hire themselves out to other governments in conflicts not backed by the US.
The video pretty much gives the impression that even United Nations troops are in reality mercenaries. Besides UN "peace keeping troops", do mercenaries still play an active role in conflicts? The whole concept of risking your life for money to fight in someone else's war seems very strange to me.
Edit - after reading some of the responses, I didn't think about the American military's use of former US soldiers serving as military contractors. However, it fits the definition. I wonder if there are a lot of soldiers that hire themselves out to other governments in conflicts not backed by the US.
This post was edited on 5/31/22 at 8:46 pm
14
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:40 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Of course they do. We do. You've not heard of military contractors in the middle east???
shite I figured everybody knew at least one or two.
shite I figured everybody knew at least one or two.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:40 pm to Ramblin Wreck
You're ignorant if you don't think we do.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:41 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Roland was a warrior
From the land of the Midnight Sun
With a Thompson gun for hire
Fighting to be done . . .
From the land of the Midnight Sun
With a Thompson gun for hire
Fighting to be done . . .
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:41 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Ukraine has several fighting for them right now. At last checking, one of the groups was paying $2K/day minimum 30 days.
My brother hung out with many of them in Lviv; however with that being said, there were also several that weren’t being paid and were there to just help rescue people. I was surprised to hear that so many Americans were there fighting or helping Ukraine. Team Murica!
My brother hung out with many of them in Lviv; however with that being said, there were also several that weren’t being paid and were there to just help rescue people. I was surprised to hear that so many Americans were there fighting or helping Ukraine. Team Murica!
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:43 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Corporations do too. The hire guys to eliminate threats to their oil rigs, other vital assets.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:44 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Not since the Pinkertons folded.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:45 pm to cypresstiger
By the way, here were some mercenaries we hired in the 1970s-1980s in Afghanistan to fight the Soviets. They became Al-Quada.
This post was edited on 5/31/22 at 7:47 pm
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:45 pm to idlewatcher
quote:
I was surprised to hear that so many Americans were there fighting or helping Ukraine.
Netflix has a cool 5-6 episode show about US citizens fighting ISIS as part of the Kurdish army. Really interesting show. Called "Hunting ISIS"
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:47 pm to Ramblin Wreck
We do, and they are very busy checking the Chinese all over the globe.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:50 pm to OMLandshark
By the way, here were some mercenaries we hired in the 1970s-1980s in Afghanistan to fight the Soviets. They became Al-Quada.
—-Wow, talk about ignorance. “They” didn’t become A-Q. Some did, not most, not all
I guess you believe OBL was a CIA operative.
—-Wow, talk about ignorance. “They” didn’t become A-Q. Some did, not most, not all
I guess you believe OBL was a CIA operative.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:53 pm to cypresstiger
quote:
—-Wow, talk about ignorance. “They” didn’t become A-Q. Some did, not most, not all
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Not every single one of them did, and a lot of the ones who didn't instead joined the Taliban, so great defense there. Clown defense.
quote:
I guess you believe OBL was a CIA operative.
They financed him and he turned on them. This is relatively common throughout history that someone hires mercenaries, do the job they were hired to do, and then turn on their handlers.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:54 pm to Ramblin Wreck
shite right now is a modern day gold rush for the private security guys with this Russia shite.
Paying higher rates then even the early heyday of Blackwater and beginning of Iraq.
The best part is the main selling points. You will work directly under American commanders with no hand holding of Ukrainian forces and your money is coming directly from DOD so you no worries of getting paid by Ukraine.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:54 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Russia had them in Syria for years
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:56 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
The best part is the main selling points. You will work directly under American commanders with no hand holding of Ukrainian forces and your money is coming directly from DOD so you no worries of getting paid by Ukraine.
We've directly financed a battalion filled with Neo-Nazis at this point. People are not thinking through what's the harm in giving a few billion dollars in weaponry to a Nazi battalion. What could go wrong?
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:56 pm to IonaTiger
quote:
Roland was a warrior From the land of the Midnight Sun With a Thompson gun for hire Fighting to be done . . .
Of all the Thompson gunners, heard he was the best
This post was edited on 5/31/22 at 8:01 pm
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:05 pm to OMLandshark
The US is a lot more hands on then most realize in this. There are SF and SAD guys there running hot missions and have been for some time.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:07 pm to Ramblin Wreck
We have Americans fighting for Ukraine right now.
Not going to venture in who is paying them.
Not going to venture in who is paying them.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:22 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Look up Triple Canopy.
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:24 pm to Ramblin Wreck
Hillary Clinton does
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