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Do countries still hire mercenaries?

Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:38 pm
Posted by Ramblin Wreck
Member since Aug 2011
4459 posts
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.
This post was edited on 5/31/22 at 8:46 pm
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
72531 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:40 pm to
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.
Posted by OMLandshark
Member since Apr 2009
120445 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:40 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/22/26 at 11:22 pm
Posted by IonaTiger
The Commonwealth Of Virginia
Member since Mar 2006
33327 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:41 pm to
Roland was a warrior
From the land of the Midnight Sun
With a Thompson gun for hire
Fighting to be done . . .
Posted by idlewatcher
Planet Arium
Member since Jan 2012
97919 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:41 pm to
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!
Posted by cypresstiger
The South
Member since Aug 2008
14283 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:43 pm to
Corporations do too. The hire guys to eliminate threats to their oil rigs, other vital assets.
Posted by UndercoverBryologist
Member since Nov 2020
8077 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:44 pm to
Not since the Pinkertons folded.
Posted by OMLandshark
Member since Apr 2009
120445 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:45 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/22/26 at 11:22 pm
Posted by OleVaught14
Member since Jun 2019
12208 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:45 pm to
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 by Benjamin Ryan
Hodges
Member since Aug 2018
301 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:47 pm to
We do, and they are very busy checking the Chinese all over the globe.
Posted by cypresstiger
The South
Member since Aug 2008
14283 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:50 pm to
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.
Posted by OMLandshark
Member since Apr 2009
120445 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:53 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/22/26 at 11:21 pm
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
20972 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:54 pm to


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 by upgrayedd
Lifting at Tobin's house
Member since Mar 2013
139117 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:54 pm to
Russia had them in Syria for years
Posted by OMLandshark
Member since Apr 2009
120445 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:56 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/22/26 at 11:21 pm
Posted by RIPMachoMan
Member since Jun 2011
9230 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 7:56 pm to
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 by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
20972 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:05 pm to
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 by AUriptide
Member since Aug 2009
7459 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:07 pm to
We have Americans fighting for Ukraine right now.

Not going to venture in who is paying them.
Posted by Locoguan0
St. George, LA
Member since Nov 2017
7270 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:22 pm to
Look up Triple Canopy.
Posted by Cosmo
glassman's guest house
Member since Oct 2003
132211 posts
Posted on 5/31/22 at 8:24 pm to
Hillary Clinton does
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