Do you believe in Mercenaries?

2007-03-01 20:34:39

#1

stryyker: bad touch; +1,682|7147|California

This has been an issue of debate for my family. I just had a cousin sign up with Blackwater USA, which is the leading private contractor group overseas right now.

Blackwater Security Consulting is a strategic division of Blackwater USA. Blackwater USA has historically provided a spectrum of support to military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations as a solution provider. Blackwater Security Consulting has its roots in the Special Operations community and continues to sustain the skills acquired over the years. These skills are effective tools that support both national and commercial objectives. Our staff has a wealth of exceptional experience worldwide and is renowned for dealing with high-risk situations and complex operations. Our mission is to provide the client with veteran military, intelligence and law enforcement professionals with demonstrated field operations performance tempered with mature experience in both foreign and domestic requirements. We employ only the most highly motivated and professional operators, all drawn from various U.S. and international Special Operations Forces, Intelligence and Law Enforcement organizations. We focus on physical and personal security, personal security/risk and assessments, and training.

They are kind of the "do whatever it takes to get it done" mini-army. Do you approve of Blackwater and the work they do?

2007-03-01 20:38:16

#2

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|7134|67.222.138.85

Meh.

It's their life, let them do what they want with it. Don't see a huge difference between it and any state army minus the nationalism.

2007-03-01 20:40:08

#3

stryyker: bad touch; +1,682|7147|California

Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Meh.

It's their life, let them do what they want with it. Don't see a huge difference between it and any state army minus the nationalism.

*cough*not obligated to follow NATO laws*cough*

yea, thats right, torture in Egypt.

2007-03-01 20:40:15

#4

Jbrar: rawr; +86|6969|Winterpeg, Canada

There has always been groups of people who are referred to as mercenaries, and there always will be. It's like a career to them, something they enjoy doing. If someone wants to put themselves in harms way, IMO props to them, I respect them for doing something I never would.

2007-03-01 20:42:16

#5

Flaming_Maniac: prince of insufficient light; +2,490|7134|67.222.138.85

stryyker wrote:
Flaming_Maniac wrote:
Meh.

It's their life, let them do what they want with it. Don't see a huge difference between it and any state army minus the nationalism.
*cough*not obligated to follow NATO laws*cough*

yea, thats right, torture in Egypt.

Well the US may comply with the spirit of NATO law, but I wouldn't say it complies to the letter.

2007-03-01 21:03:23

#6

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6988

Meh. No big difference between mercenaries and state troops atm, other than pay grade.

2007-03-01 21:05:37

#7

BVC: Member; +325|7122

What they do is different, but in the end they're just another company.

2007-03-01 21:44:54

#8

Parker: isteal; +1,452|6821|The Gem Saloon

some of those guys tried to recruit me for a one year $140,000 tax free vacation to iraq when i was at my range one day. i pretty much laughed in the face of the guy that was walking around with this big binder with all sorts of info. just not my thing i suppose.

2007-03-02 01:01:42

#9

chuyskywalker: Admin; +2,439|7275|"Frisco"

test

2007-03-02 01:03:49

#10

ozzie_johnson: Member; +98|7085|Penrith, N.S.W, Australia

they get paid heaps though.

2007-03-02 02:45:17

#11

Bubbalo: The Lizzard; +541|6988

chuyskywalker wrote:
test

Geez, what are you, a n00b?

The rules wrote:4. Positively contribute to the forums with useful posts and information relevant to the section being posted under.

2007-03-02 02:48:14

#12

some_random_panda: Flamesuit essential; +454|6818

Bubbalo wrote:
chuyskywalker wrote:
test
Geez, what are you, a n00b?

The rules wrote:4. Positively contribute to the forums with useful posts and information relevant to the section being posted under.

Chuy's probably tentatively trying out the server to see if posting results in another 00007fffffc68850"ERROR OMGYOURESTUFFED.

Of course, I recognise that the post was a joke.

Last edited by some_random_panda (2007-03-02 02:50:44)

2007-03-02 03:03:35

#13

oug: Calmer than you are.; +380|6946|Πάϊ

scum of the earth

_ƒ³

2007-03-02 03:09:13

#14

JahManRed: wank; +646|7055|IRELAND

Ohh yeah these are the guys who shot Innocent families dead from the back of their trucks too metal music and woooohoooo's for fun and enjoyment. Yep we need more of them.

2007-03-02 03:34:52

#15

zeidmaan: Member; +234|6842|Vienna

LoL its not about people stat padding so you can say "its their game, they paid for it let them do what they want".
We are talking about mercenaires who have been know to do some dodgy things. So no props for them.
Havent you watched Jericho ??

2007-03-02 04:35:44

#16

aardfrith: Δ > x > ¥; +145|7219

Mercs confuse me. Are they not illegal combatants?

2007-03-02 05:20:26

#17

usmarine2007: Banned; +374|6794|Columbus, Ohio

aardfrith wrote:
Mercs confuse me. Are they not illegal combatants?

What is the difference between these guys and the French foreign legion?

2007-03-02 05:52:37

#18

aardfrith: Δ > x > ¥; +145|7219

usmarine2007 wrote:
aardfrith wrote:
Mercs confuse me. Are they not illegal combatants?
What is the difference between these guys and the French foreign legion?

If you answer my question, perhaps I'll be able to answer yours.

2007-03-02 05:53:52

#19

JahManRed: wank; +646|7055|IRELAND

usmarine2007 wrote:
aardfrith wrote:
Mercs confuse me. Are they not illegal combatants?
What is the difference between these guys and the French foreign legion?

The French Foreign Legion still comes under the wing of the French military. Trained by the military, bound by the military. Its just a wing of the french army for Foreigners. Used to be popular because you could join and take on a new name and national identity and no back ground checks. But the drilling and training is shaped in such a way as to break anyone no matter how bad they are. The scariest person I know spent 10 years in the legion. I share the odd pint with him. Some of the shit they were put through would make your hair stand on end.

2007-03-02 06:05:58

#20

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|7080|pimelteror.de

the question is: who is responsible for them?

the army is part of the state and under democratic control of the government. if the government (which is elected by the people) decides to send troops to kill other people, then it is the whole nation and its government, who is responsible.
private organisations aren´t elected and controlled by democracy. killing people shouldn´t be a private economical matter.
when a soldier kills another human being, it is part of his job, because his mission was given by his nation/government. when a merc kills someone, there is no difference between him and a hitman

2007-03-02 06:18:29

#21

usmarine2007: Banned; +374|6794|Columbus, Ohio

JahManRed wrote:
usmarine2007 wrote:
aardfrith wrote:
Mercs confuse me. Are they not illegal combatants?
What is the difference between these guys and the French foreign legion?
The French Foreign Legion still comes under the wing of the French military. Trained by the military, bound by the military. Its just a wing of the french army for Foreigners. Used to be popular because you could join and take on a new name and national identity and no back ground checks. But the drilling and training is shaped in such a way as to break anyone no matter how bad they are. The scariest person I know spent 10 years in the legion. I share the odd pint with him. Some of the shit they were put through would make your hair stand on end.

Ya, but I thought they had no ties to the French government. Then can use them without repercussions, I mean, when is the last time you saw the BBC or CNN follow around a FFL platoon in Africa?

2007-03-02 08:52:15

#22

Stingray24: Proud member of the vast right-wing conspiracy; +1,060|6872|The Land of Scott Walker

If someone wants to risk their life and limb for a big payday let em.

2007-03-02 09:04:55

#23

silo1180: The Farewell Tour; +79|6849|San Antonio, TX

I think it's a toss though depending on who is paying their tab. If it's a government paying their bill, then I would consider them an illegal combatant. If they are being paid by a corporation/co-op, then they are not illegal combatants, but should still have to adhere to the "laws of conflict set-forth via the Geneva conventions".

But IMO... what they do should be done via a military. We shouldn't have civilians running around in a war zone.

2007-03-02 09:16:17

#24

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|7080|pimelteror.de

and civilians, who kill people are murderer...

2007-03-02 09:18:33

#25

CannonFodder11b: Purple Heart Recipient; +73|7117|Fort Lewis WA

stryyker wrote:
This has been an issue of debate for my family. I just had a cousin sign up with Blackwater USA, which is the leading private contractor group overseas right now.

Blackwater Security Consulting is a strategic division of Blackwater USA. Blackwater USA has historically provided a spectrum of support to military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations as a solution provider. Blackwater Security Consulting has its roots in the Special Operations community and continues to sustain the skills acquired over the years. These skills are effective tools that support both national and commercial objectives. Our staff has a wealth of exceptional experience worldwide and is renowned for dealing with high-risk situations and complex operations. Our mission is to provide the client with veteran military, intelligence and law enforcement professionals with demonstrated field operations performance tempered with mature experience in both foreign and domestic requirements. We employ only the most highly motivated and professional operators, all drawn from various U.S. and international Special Operations Forces, Intelligence and Law Enforcement organizations. We focus on physical and personal security, personal security/risk and assessments, and training.
They are kind of the "do whatever it takes to get it done" mini-army. Do you approve of Blackwater and the work they do?

First off. Blackwater is not a Merc Group.
They Don't sneak in behind enemy lines and go shoot and scoot. Blackwater is exactly what that description says they are. They do PSD (Personal Security A.K.A Highly Trained body guards. And seeing them out here, I do agree with what they are doing. If not for the security people like Blackwater, there would be about 10,000 more troops here. (for every Combat arms troop in theater there are double that in FOBbits.)

www.blackwaterusa.com
www.triplecanopy.com
www.globalsecurity.com

Global is the worst, they hire the undertrained, and don't train them they just give them a SUV and Light machine gun, and a few MP5's and we have to scrape them up off the pavement. Blackwater and Triple Canopy have had a few snags but these guys are professional and always fun to talk to. If I hadnt of gotten extended for 6 more monthes I would trying to get hired on with Blackwater.

Yes, I approve of what they do	56%	56% - 45
No, sending mercs into war is horrible	16%	16% - 13
Meh, don't care	26%	26% - 21
Total: 79

BF2S Forums Do you believe in Mercenaries?

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Flaming_Maniac wrote:

stryyker wrote:

Flaming_Maniac wrote:

chuyskywalker wrote:

Bubbalo wrote:

chuyskywalker wrote:

aardfrith wrote:

usmarine2007 wrote:

aardfrith wrote:

usmarine2007 wrote:

aardfrith wrote:

JahManRed wrote:

usmarine2007 wrote:

aardfrith wrote:

stryyker wrote:

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