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Posted by: Codi6934 7 months, 2 weeks ago
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Codi69347 months, 2 weeks ago
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Contractors are the only reason why there isn't a draft. Go ahead fire everyone today. You will put all DoD, DoS operations to a halt. Then let's see how Congress and the President will spin the draft to the American public. I would like to see that.
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vader827 months, 2 weeks ago
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I disagree, for one thing the primary function of blackwater has been guarding dignitaries, which could be done just has effectively with U.S. military personel at a fraction of the cost . I find it hard to believe that 1000 blackwaters employees not being on the ground would nessecitate a draft. I find the fact that they will be replaced by other private contractors disturbing. Mercenaries are never the way to go in supplementing a military, their allegiance is to the dollar not the flag. They do not follow rules of engagement in line with the employing forces, and there have been instances of them showing authority over U.S. army soldiers. In 2006 a vehicle from a blackwater convoy crashed into a U.S. humvee and held the soldiers at gunpoint until the wreck was untangled.
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Codi69347 months, 2 weeks ago
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First of all, look up "mercenary" in the dictionary. American contractors are not mercenaries, "soldiers of fortune" I will agree. But you could call anyone a soldier of fortune if they choice any type of military career.
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Second, contractors were the 3rd largest army in Iraq. Not just Blackwater, Triple Canopy, the ones that provide security etc. Also KBR ,Brown and Root. They have the contracts for construction, repairs, electrical, food, logistics. mechicals, etc Do you think the military is capable of that work. What is the MOS for an Army carpenter? I was in for 22 years, I never heard of one. The military could, but it would take at least a year to get the people, get them trained, and get them in-country. Meanwhile, everything I mentioned earlier will grind to a halt.
As I said, contractors are the only thing that stands in the way of the draft.-
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vader827 months, 2 weeks ago
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With all due respect Codi, I recognize your military experiance and have not served myself, so that may give me a different perspective. That being said, I do not object to private contractors doing the non combat services you describe, but I do have a problem with them acting in a way that would fit the definition of mercenary, as defined in Geneva convention protocol article 47. I am a civilian, but also somewhat versed in history, and mercenaries, private contractors, what ever you want to call them are an unstable asset in the best of times. I simply find it hard to believe that our men in uniform couldn't do the job better when it comes to combat or guarding dignitaries.
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Codi69347 months, 2 weeks ago
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Private contractors are not hired for offensive combat operations. That is the difference between them and mercenaries. Also, American citizens as contractors are not mercenaries because they are still fighting under the US flag. Not like they are fighting under a foriegn flag.
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It isn't that the military can not do the job. Their isn't enough of them to do the job. That is why I say contractors are the only thing standing in the way of the draft.
Also, check your history about the American Volunteer Group(AVG) or their more common name the "Flying Tigers". They were hired for offensive operations and payed bonuses for shooting down Japanese fighters over China under a Chinese flag. But that was a different time, in my opinion.
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