Modern Mercenaries
While I was working at the surplus store today, a gentleman came in and made a couple of purchases. We got to talking; generally, when a guy with a big mustache, a panama hat, and long hair comes in, you pretty much ignore him unless he buys something; however, this guy and I got into talking about some things, and he regaled me with tales from this two hour special he'd seen on the History Channel about the use of modern mercenaries and security contractors in such conflicts as Iraq and Sierra Leone.
Apparently there's an outfit of private security contractors, basically former special operations operators who have gone to the private sector to make their living as soldiers of fortune, and it's a wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton. Now, a light search on the Internet failed to locate information about this; however, I did find some articles on World Net Daily (not generally a high quality news source, but at least interesting) about a couple of similar companies based in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The articles go into detail about the operations of two companies, Sandline and Executive Outcomes, in Sierra Leone in particular. Here are the articles:
Part 1: White Mercenaries in Black Africa
Part 2: How Private Warriors Turned Tables in War
Part 3: Memorandum to a Cannibal
Also, in researching Sandline and Executive Outcomes, I came across references to An Orthodox Warrior: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair by Tim Spicer. Spicer was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Scots Guards, which included command of one of the Scots Guards units on deployment to Northern Ireland. His book, apparently, serves not only as a discussion of the use of private security contractors in the increasingly complex realm of international relations and armed conflict, but also as an endorsement and affirmative argument for such companies. I'm adding it to my reading list, though it will take some time before I can schedule it in (or procure the book, for that matter).
I think that this is worth considering. The United Nations has made a habit of demonstrating that they're willing to take control of a situation without actually carrying out the tasks that need to be carried out in order to make peace. Since the Geneva Convention is binding law in most countries around the world, the concept of freelance militias that aren't subject to certain aspects of international laws regarding the conduct of armed confict is simultaneously troubling and intriguing. If I can some up with something tangible, I'll put it together and post it. Until then, read the links and enjoy.
Apparently there's an outfit of private security contractors, basically former special operations operators who have gone to the private sector to make their living as soldiers of fortune, and it's a wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton. Now, a light search on the Internet failed to locate information about this; however, I did find some articles on World Net Daily (not generally a high quality news source, but at least interesting) about a couple of similar companies based in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The articles go into detail about the operations of two companies, Sandline and Executive Outcomes, in Sierra Leone in particular. Here are the articles:
Also, in researching Sandline and Executive Outcomes, I came across references to An Orthodox Warrior: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair by Tim Spicer. Spicer was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Scots Guards, which included command of one of the Scots Guards units on deployment to Northern Ireland. His book, apparently, serves not only as a discussion of the use of private security contractors in the increasingly complex realm of international relations and armed conflict, but also as an endorsement and affirmative argument for such companies. I'm adding it to my reading list, though it will take some time before I can schedule it in (or procure the book, for that matter).
I think that this is worth considering. The United Nations has made a habit of demonstrating that they're willing to take control of a situation without actually carrying out the tasks that need to be carried out in order to make peace. Since the Geneva Convention is binding law in most countries around the world, the concept of freelance militias that aren't subject to certain aspects of international laws regarding the conduct of armed confict is simultaneously troubling and intriguing. If I can some up with something tangible, I'll put it together and post it. Until then, read the links and enjoy.
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