Mercs for Hire, good or bad?

Well I figured this was the best area to post this topic. With the increasing amount of Private Companies in Iraq for Security and other specialties, are we seeing a positive trend? At first I thought of private SOF companies as bad until I heard about what happened in Sierra Leone where a small merc group basically halted the resistance group that had been terrorising the population. In fact the same group had offered to go in and stop the genocide in Rewanda, of course the U.N. had put political pressure on most of that area towards the hiring of such groups.

In my opinion I think that Mercenary companies could be a great way to help out in serious humanitarian issues where regular countries are too caught up in politics to do anything. How do you all feel on the subject?

I think it would be great for US to hire some thirld world country mercenaries now in Iraq. Of course non muslims, maybe from India, Philipines or Thailand. They would cost less than current army and there will be also not that much political risk when one is captured or killed. They should not work with very complicated systems, just infantry and patrols. So a force of 40 000 mercs backed by 80 000 US troops (for major engagements) patroling on foot in Sunni triangle together with new Iraq army could solve most problems (budget and also political). The mercenaries from US or Europe are not that good because political risk and cost are the same or even higher than by normal US armed forces.

mercs are smart soldiers of fortune. the french forign leagion is a good exsample of one.

Just as the US military is doing, I would hire private soldiers for a war but not in great numbers its not to good to get dependant on them also I wouldn't trust third world countries with the lives of US soldiers so i would only hire British German Australian and us merc

well I think one of the risks with mercs is what we're seeing in Iraq now: A goverment uses "civilian contractors" to cover their backs if something needs to be done that is not according to international (geneva convention) law.
Please do notice I used Iraq as an example since almost everyone seems to be well updated on the events there, NOT to bash the US.

Please see thread Bush's Secret private army

According to Jane's over 10,000 men and women perform various jobs under contract to the military in Iraq we have been told. Furthermore, official US government figures indicate that out of a total US$85bn allocated by the USA for military operations in the Middle East this year, over a third will go to private contractors. Reality check: this figure is greater than the defence budgets of most countries.

The private sector became even more deeply involved in the war's aftermath. A US company has the lucrative contract to train the new Iraqi army; another to recruit and train an Iraqi police force. And even the life of the USA's chief civilian administration in Iraq, Paul Bremer, is usually protected by a private company, rather than conventional US troops.

A US-based company is providing patrols throughout Iraq and its arsenal ranges from M4 assault rifles to 20mm cannons mounted on its own helicopters. The company operates firing training ranges in the USA and actively recruits for what, to all intents and purposes, is now a private army. It is all perfectly legal.

One thing I have noticed is that Merc's are usually a lot better when used in unconventional warfare, but as in Iraq right now where they are used for security purposes their really not as effective (plus they could leave whenever the going gets tough). But I agree, Asian and African Merc's are much better than European and American ones, because they aren't as politically motivated.

are you kidding me? have you seen the french forign leagion?
thier insane!
they do things there that are illegal in most EASTERN countries never mind western.

The French Foreign Legion is probably one of the most unique european Merc type group, although they are still under French control, but they are probably one of the only notable ones. However Ive heard a lot of bad stuff about them over the years, probably because its made up mostly of criminals. Guess thats why we get the bad image of SOF's

I would say keep the ratio as low as ten military soldiers to one mecrenary. At least. But they are very effective if you are a smaller nation who doesn't really have an army. Let me guess you just saw that one show on the History Channel. If you watch that it shows how effective they are in small numbers.

The profession of mercenary is one of the oldest in the world. Throughout recorded history, mercenaries have played a key part in wars around the world - from Biblical times to modern conflicts such as Bosnia.

National armys are a rather new thing in the history on combat. These dogs of war as they are often refered to as are the true veterans of historical combat.

Units such as the French Foreign Legion and the British Gurkhas are, strictly speaking, mercenaries - and they are among Europe's most effective and respected military units.

A few hundred mercs in Africa that costs about $20 million a year were able to do more then 13,000 UN troops costing $1 billion a year when it came to dealing with the RUF.

Mercs are going to play a larger roll in future conflicts

Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war

I would prefer to be a private soilder than one that is bound by contract to do whatever anyone wants.

Originally posted by ShadowXIX


Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war

wheres that from again?

The US military should tell the merc that it has in Iraq now go and take care of this person for me and use whatever it takes to kill him the merc are not held accountable by international law and don't have to follow the Geneva conventions so they are great for unconventional warfare and if they get killed it looks great on paper cuz they are not soldiers plus if the operation goes wrong the US army can just say what it wasn't our soldiers we would never do that you have got to love that idea

Originally posted by devilwasp

Originally posted by ShadowXIX


Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war

wheres that from again?

A speech Marc Antony made at Caesar's funeral. It was in the Friends, Romans, Countrymen speech. He was reacting to the murder of his friend by the Roman senators. He shouted out "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!!!"

Its been used other times but this was the first I think

Originally posted by ShadowXIX
The profession of mercenary is one of the oldest in the world. Throughout recorded history, mercenaries have played a key part in wars around the world - from Biblical times to modern conflicts such as Bosnia.

National armys are a rather new thing in the history on combat. These dogs of war as they are often refered to as are the true veterans of historical combat.

Units such as the French Foreign Legion and the British Gurkhas are, strictly speaking, mercenaries - and they are among Europe's most effective and respected military units.

A few hundred mercs in Africa that costs about $20 million a year were able to do more then 13,000 UN troops costing $1 billion a year when it came to dealing with the RUF.

Mercs are going to play a larger roll in future conflicts

Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war

Boy you sound just like the history channel, I mean almost word for word.
Thats uncanny do you work for them?

I wish I had a job for the history channel that would be cool. I would love a job like R .L. Ermey on Mail call and bring the pain to thoses evil watermellons

I addmit I watched the show but they focused on African mercs mostly and never really mentioned French Foreign Legion or the British Gurkhas and they are pretty bad a$$

Plus the ''Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war '' was all shadowXIX

Yeah that MP5 kicks @$$ if you watched Mail Call after Soldiers for Hire. I wonder how many of those companies are in the US. I would have liked to have seen some action from the French Foreign Legion. Does anybody have any cool info on them. These aren't your average rent-a-cops. I'm almost shocked at how pitifully the UN performed.

Originally posted by daeldren
The French Foreign Legion is probably one of the most unique european Merc type group, although they are still under French control, but they are probably one of the only notable ones. However Ive heard a lot of bad stuff about them over the years, probably because its made up mostly of criminals. Guess thats why we get the bad image of SOF's

Mostly criminals, eh ?
You do know that they (FFL) check every person that is trying to enlist through interpol, and other sources ? and if they have a criminal background (wanted in any country) they are sent back to that country.
There is really a small chance that a person with a criminal background will be able to enlist.

Does anybody have any cool info on them. These aren't your average rent-a-cops. I'm almost shocked at how pitifully the UN performed.

www.cervens.net... / www.cervens.net...

I wonder how many of those companies are in the US.

Quiete a few of them.
I believe they talked about some of them in that program.

[edit on 20-7-2004 by kaskad]

Originally posted by WestPoint23
I wouldn't trust third world countries with the lives of US soldiers so i would only hire British German Australian and us merc

Yeah, there's heaps of Australian SASR guys who have left the service to be private security guards. They earn something like 6 times as much as they do in the SASR.

Would you trust the Neaplese Gurkhas Westpoint? I heard they're really good. I know they're more part of the British armed forces, but they seem to run a bit like the French Foreign Legion.

[edit on 20/7/04 by D]