Re: the mysteries of mercenaries

[Leigh Meyers <leighcmeyers@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Devine wrote:

> there was a story yesterday on U.S. National Public Radio's
> "Marketplace" about the "security guard" organizations that earn so
> much defending key targets in Iraq. (They interviewed the author of a
> NYT Magazine article that's coming tomorrow.) It's amazing how much
> they're subsidized (being allowed for free to pick and choose from
> weapons that were confiscated from Iraqis) and how much they cost.
> Rumsfeld is cheap when it comes to sending troops, but when it comes
> to the contractors...
> 


Yup, probably the best money those Bolivians and Fijians
(amongst others) have earned in their whole lives. But we 
don't get to see them, just some Soldier of Fortune Magazine 
models with shiny new guns, and up armoured Ford Expeditions
with exotic company names like "Blackwater" & SAIC...

The percentage of mercs in Iraq hailing from the US is nil, compared 
to the contribution of some of our more "combative" third (second) 
world friends. I mean, after all, how much practice do you need throwing
unarmed victims from helicopters to qualify for a job with Blackwater,
and how many Americans Vs. ... (pick a latin american dicatorship's army)
have the prerequisite skills(murderer) and training(School of the Americas).

One site has most everything you'd want to know about the financing 
of military contractors, from a "left" perspective, Corpwatch.org:

http://search.corpwatch.org/search?q=Military+contractor&is=corpwatch.org&x=28&y=5

Leigh
www.leighm.net