I used to think that way, but the more that I give the issue some thought, the more that I am convinced a private, mercenary army is the way to go. Think about the current situation in Iraq/Syria for a moment. No Nation wants to commit ground forces to stop ISIL/ISIS; so the logical solution is to "hire" an Army similar to a Blackwater type organization, and consisting of American, British, Canadian, Australian and other European soldiers, for hire, and to kick ass. Makes sense to me!
On Sun, Oct 12, 2014 at 7:32 AM, Brian Bednarek <[email protected]> wrote: > The smiley emoticon was to let you know it was a joke!!! I don't think we > should pay for private armies to fight for us when we already have an tax > payer funded military!!! > > On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 8:08 PM, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> No, just the opposite..... >> >> On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 6:09 PM, Brian Bednarek <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> SO an enlisted man makes $80K more than a privateer!!! :) >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> A difference of close to $80k. >>>> >>>> On Sat, Oct 11, 2014 at 4:40 PM, Brian Bednarek <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> What is the pay gap between an enlisted person and a grunt in a >>>>> private mercenary army??? >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, Oct 10, 2014 at 11:31 AM, Travis <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2014/10/09/let-contractors-fight-the-islamic-state-blackwater-founder-erik-prince-says/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Let contractors fight the Islamic State, Blackwater founder Erik >>>>>> Prince says >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> By Dan Lamothe <http://www.washingtonpost.com/people/dan-lamothe> October >>>>>> 9 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Erik Prince testifies in 2007 before the House Committee on Oversight >>>>>> and Government Reform about the controversial company he founded, >>>>>> Blackwater, Inc. (Photo by Linda Davidson/ The Washington Post) >>>>>> >>>>>> As the fight against the Islamic State unfolds, the take of Erik >>>>>> Prince, the founder of the former private security firm Blackwater, is >>>>>> straightforward: If the United States is unwilling to send in ground >>>>>> troops, “let the private sector finish the job.” >>>>>> >>>>>> Prince addressed the subject this week in a little-noticed blog post >>>>>> <http://www.fsgroup.com/chairmans-column-isis/> on the site of his >>>>>> newest security and logistics firm, Frontier Services Group. Prince >>>>>> left Blackwater, with its checkered history in Iraq, including the >>>>>> killing >>>>>> by contractors of 17 civilians in a 2007 shooting, in 2010. The trial of >>>>>> four Blackwater guards involved in the shooting in Baghdad’s Nisoor >>>>>> Square, >>>>>> has been underway for months. >>>>>> >>>>>> Prince is currently courting private business in Africa for his new >>>>>> company. He also is preparing to drum up readers for the paperback >>>>>> version >>>>>> of his bestselling book, “Civilian Warriors: The Inside story of >>>>>> Blackwater >>>>>> and the Unsung Heroes of the War on Terror,” out later this month. >>>>>> >>>>>> The former Navy SEAL declined interview requests for this piece >>>>>> through a spokesperson with his book publisher, the Penguin Group. In his >>>>>> blog post, published Monday, Prince said President Obama’s strategy to >>>>>> counter the Islamic State is “half-hearted at best” and will not be able >>>>>> to >>>>>> dig the militants out of any urban centers where they seek shelter among >>>>>> civilians. >>>>>> >>>>>> Prince said military clearing operations fall to foot soldiers, and >>>>>> the Iraqi military is “demonstrably inept after billions spent on >>>>>> training >>>>>> and equipping.” He points out that when the Islamic State attacked Iraqi >>>>>> units earlier this year, they folded and the militants were able to seize >>>>>> tanks, Howitzers, armored vehicles and ammunition, among other supplies >>>>>> and >>>>>> equipment. >>>>>> >>>>>> “The Kurds, once a lean and strong fighting force that routinely >>>>>> rebuffed Saddam’s forces, now find themselves outgunned, under-equipped, >>>>>> and overwhelmed,” Prince wrote. “But they do fight, and they fight >>>>>> bravely. >>>>>> The Kurds’ biggest problem is the U.S. State Department blocking them >>>>>> from >>>>>> selling their oil and from buying serious weaponry to protect their >>>>>> stronghold and act as a stabilizing force in the region.” >>>>>> >>>>>> Prince, long a proponent of using private military contractors to >>>>>> backstop U.S. policy abroad, added that the private sector has “long >>>>>> provided nations around the world with innovative solutions to national >>>>>> defense problems,” and he seems to look back fondly on the work >>>>>> Blackwater >>>>>> did. >>>>>> >>>>>> “If the old Blackwater team were still together, I have high >>>>>> confidence that a multi-brigade-size unit of veteran American contractors >>>>>> or a multi-national force could be rapidly assembled and deployed to be >>>>>> that necessary ground combat team,” Prince wrote. “The professionals >>>>>> would >>>>>> be hired for their combat skills in armor, artillery, small unit tactics, >>>>>> special operations, logistics, and whatever else may be needed. A >>>>>> competent >>>>>> professional force of volunteers would serve as the pointy end of the >>>>>> spear >>>>>> and would serve to strengthen friendly but skittish indigenous forces.” >>>>>> >>>>>> It’s not the first time Prince has said that Blackwater — later >>>>>> re-branded as Xe Services, and more recently as Academi — would have >>>>>> changed the equation in the fight against the Islamic State. At a >>>>>> political >>>>>> event last month, he said it was “a shame” the Obama administration had >>>>>> “crushed” his old business because it could have solved the issue of >>>>>> whether to put American troops on the ground in Iraq this year, according >>>>>> to the Daily Beast >>>>>> <http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/19/blackwater-founder-wants-to-fight-ebola-isis-and-for-the-gop-to-get-off-their-ass.html> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>>> Contractors could have “gone in there and done it, and be done, and >>>>>> not have a long, protracted political mess that I predict will ensue,” >>>>>> Prince added. >>>>>> >>>>>> Prince’s comments are likely red meat for those who think the Obama >>>>>> administration should do more to fight the Islamic State. His contention >>>>>> that Iraqi military units fell apart when tested by the militants is >>>>>> true. >>>>>> It’s also true that the State Department government has declined to >>>>>> sanction the sale of oil from the semi-autonomous Kurds or sell them >>>>>> weapons, preferring instead to deal with Iraq’s government in Baghdad. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> __._,_.___ >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> Posted by: "Beowulf" <[email protected]> >>>>>> ------------------------------ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Visit Your Group >>>>>> <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/grendelreport/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmZW9laGphBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0MTI5NTM5MTk-> >>>>>> >>>>>> - New Members >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/grendelreport/members/all;_ylc=X3oDMTJnbGlzbTI5BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxNDEyOTUzOTE5> >>>>>> 1 >>>>>> >>>>>> [image: Yahoo! 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Register and vote in our polls. >>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "PoliticalForum" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> -- >> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >> >> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >> * It's active and moderated. 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