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Thoughts On Civilian Military Contractors?
Posted on 3/10/14 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 3/10/14 at 1:53 pm
I am reading a book by Jeremy Scahill about Blackwater right now. Scahill is pretty left-wing and some of his points ring pretty hollow in the book, but all things considered, it is pretty amazing just how little oversight there has been and continues to be relative to these private contractors.
That said, pretty much everyone in the book, including the author, seems to indicate that they are absolutely necessary for our military to function properly.
Brings up two questions:
(1) What do you think about their use as a whole?
(2) What does it say about our military, past, present and future, that very large private military contract services are necessary for mission success of the US military and its allies?
That said, pretty much everyone in the book, including the author, seems to indicate that they are absolutely necessary for our military to function properly.
Brings up two questions:
(1) What do you think about their use as a whole?
(2) What does it say about our military, past, present and future, that very large private military contract services are necessary for mission success of the US military and its allies?
Posted on 3/10/14 at 2:07 pm to DeltaDoc
1) Have to have them now, used to be there was troops to do everything the private guys do now. We (via elected officials) decided to decrease troop levels so some MOS, or AFSCs, or whatever were done away with but the work still has to be performed.
So while congress can say "we cut troop levels" they also created the market for PMCs.
2) See answer #1. We could enlarge the military (or have fewer "shooters & door kickers" and rectify the issue at the current levels) but that is not a truly workable solution unless we go more isolationist.
So while congress can say "we cut troop levels" they also created the market for PMCs.
2) See answer #1. We could enlarge the military (or have fewer "shooters & door kickers" and rectify the issue at the current levels) but that is not a truly workable solution unless we go more isolationist.
Posted on 3/10/14 at 2:21 pm to DeltaDoc
They are necessary, but nation building type engagements that we seem to be fond of make them more prevalent than they should be.
Posted on 3/10/14 at 2:23 pm to jamboybarry
How much of what they do is considered routine duties, versus black ops?
Posted on 3/10/14 at 3:29 pm to dante
Maybe one of the military guys on here can correct me, but I don't think PMC's do what one would normally consider "black ops." Yes, they do have contracts with the CIA, but that is mostly to provide security for CIA stations and personnel in certain countries. If you've ever seen Zero Dark Thirty, the security guys depicted in the Camp Chapman suicide bombing incident were all Blackwater guys in real life. The two former Navy SEALs killed in action during the Benghazi attack were also CIA security contractors, but its not clear if they were staffed by a larger contractor (Blackwater, Triple Canopy, etc) or if they were just independent contractors.
My understanding is that PMCs do not perform "direct action" missions or recruit assets. They do perform some foreign internal defense-type services - say, training Explosive Ordinance Disposal units of a foreign country - but they certainly aren't "assassins for hire."
My understanding is that PMCs do not perform "direct action" missions or recruit assets. They do perform some foreign internal defense-type services - say, training Explosive Ordinance Disposal units of a foreign country - but they certainly aren't "assassins for hire."
Posted on 3/10/14 at 3:33 pm to NWHoustonTiger
The American Hero channel, formerly the military channel, had a show on the other night about contract soldiers. I did not get a chance to watch the whole thing, but they were basically implying they were NOT killers for hire.
Posted on 3/10/14 at 3:44 pm to dante
A friend of mine was a SEAL for 10 years before leaving the service. In order to make some extra cash for his young family he signed on with Blackwater for 2 years and he said he mainly did security detail type work.
Made much better money and would be considered less hazardous I guess. He also said that the majority of the people in Blackwater were ex-spec ops.
Made much better money and would be considered less hazardous I guess. He also said that the majority of the people in Blackwater were ex-spec ops.
Posted on 3/10/14 at 3:59 pm to TheDiesel
It is an interesting dynamic...on many fronts. While Obama and the democrats are decreasing the number of military personnel - or at least plan to, I assume the number of PMC personnel will only increase.
Reading this Blackwater book, one could assume that they are indirectly, direct action personnel - if you know what I mean. They are not going and raiding homes, but they are certainly not afraid to engage what appears to be the enemy (and even beyond if the book is to be believed).
Blackwater was employed by the State Department by in large in Iraq. They were investigated by the FBI, but their contract essentially made them immune from prosecution in the US and when their personnel made questionable decisions that resulted in death, they were quickly flown out of the country so as to avoid the Iraqi justice system (if there is such a thing).
Other contractors are employed by the CIA to perform other functions.
Google Raymond Davis and CIA when you have time...
Reading this Blackwater book, one could assume that they are indirectly, direct action personnel - if you know what I mean. They are not going and raiding homes, but they are certainly not afraid to engage what appears to be the enemy (and even beyond if the book is to be believed).
Blackwater was employed by the State Department by in large in Iraq. They were investigated by the FBI, but their contract essentially made them immune from prosecution in the US and when their personnel made questionable decisions that resulted in death, they were quickly flown out of the country so as to avoid the Iraqi justice system (if there is such a thing).
Other contractors are employed by the CIA to perform other functions.
Google Raymond Davis and CIA when you have time...
Posted on 3/10/14 at 4:12 pm to NWHoustonTiger
quote:
PMCs do not perform "direct action" missions
Correct
quote:
recruit assets
Illegal to do so. Not that legality matters that much nowadays.
Posted on 3/10/14 at 4:22 pm to DeltaDoc
My BIL is one. He makes well over 6 figures doing a job an E6 or E7 would be doing for way less than half of that. Good for him, I guess, but as a policy, something about it rubs me the wrong way.
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