American Mercenaries Hired by United Arab Emirates...

[Ben]

YouTube - ‪The Turks: UAE hires American Mercenaries to invade Iran and its Persian Islands‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKOO8F4FoBg)

YouTube - ‪Erik Prince raises private army for UAE‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WgcV3t5Qtc)

[KarinaGiselle]

This reminds me of the plot from Metal Gear Solid 4, many countries started hiring PMC's and these companies became very powerful, even bigger and better armed than national military orgnizations.

I think the Mexican Government was going to do the same as the UAE, but the senate refused.

[russtafa]

better that muslims dont attack muslims and give that job to fithy infidels

[yodajazz]

This is an example of where the "privatization" movement, will lead us. That is back to fuedalism, where wealth owns and controls everything. The attack on 'big government' is part of this, because government is supposed to be for all the people, and can regulate private interests, (control of the wealth class). My favorite example is private prisons. I do plan on buying stock in them. Then I will lobby my legislators to bring stiffer penalties on offenders, maybe even debtors. Under the guise of job training, private prisons will bring in manufactoring jobs, and pay them like, $1 a day. Thus we have legalized slavery. It already exists. I read somewhere that the harsh immigration laws in Arizona, were backed by private prison corporations, who would get the contracts for locking up immigrants, until they are deported. Money is the new God. God bless those conservative Republicans. May God help the less wealthy/serfs/peasants, and slaves!

But back to the subject, I see irony in the fact that private security in Iraq were getting paid, multiple times what the military personell were getting paid. Yet people make the argument that private industry is always more efficient than government.

[hippifried]

There's always been mercenaries. Private armies even. Teddy Rosevelt's "rough riders" were a private army. Anybody can fire one up, as long as they can make payroll. Seems like there's always something going on somewhere, where somebody with military skills can get hired. Ever check out the want ads in "Soldier of Fortune"?

Is anybody really surprized that Americans are signing up in places where there aren't anything but mercenary armies?

[yodajazz]

There's always been mercenaries. Private armies even. Teddy Rosevelt's "rough riders" were a private army. Anybody can fire one up, as long as they can make payroll. Seems like there's always something going on somewhere, where somebody with military skills can get hired. Ever check out the want ads in "Soldier of Fortune"?

Is anybody really surprized that Americans are signing up in places where there aren't anything but mercenary armies?

Well, you are certainly right, that mercenaries have always existed. But I stll see it as evidence, in the larger debate about privatization. Profit is the bottom line, and does not coincide, with national interests. And in fact major voices are saying that it is our best interests to privatize goverment functions.

[hippifried]

The only thing new about this is that it's all cash. The mercenaries no longer have to rely on plunder to get paid.