Posted on 08/06/2017 2:29:25 AM PDT by huldah1776
Edited on 08/06/2017 4:39:49 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Democrats are de facto foreign mercenaries of foreign powers (Soros, antifa etc) and they have huge support
Let us not confuse mercs from contractors. Contractors pledging to the flag were instrumental
in filling the combat readiness gap caused by liberal budget cuts. Without them no US emergency operation is possible
Using the term “Mercenary” is a slur. I never once heard a Contractor call himself a Mercenary nor knew of any in areas that we were in. There is a very big difference. Most serve honorably and fill a vital role and will continue to do so because the U.S. Military cannot even come close to doing it alone.
Gunslingers for hire has never been a honorable profession. Mercenaries is the appropriate term to describe these gunslingers for hire.
Thank you! I’ve listened to speeches and testimony before the congress critters, but I will enjoy reading that when I get the chance in a bit.
If you don’t find the text you asked for, that would be a good book to write.
Wow. Bet they wouldn’t let anyone jump the White House fence, either. :)
“Is there a military history text that summarizes the roles of mercenaries in US wars?”
Probably not. It wouldn’t suit the timbre of our national mythology. It’s still there, you just have to wade through it war-by-war.
But it’s been going on pretty much non-stop since the Revolutionary War. Washington himself hired some prominent foreign nationals to train and command Colonial troops (notably Frederick William Augustus, Baron von Steuben and the Marquis de Layfayette) because few Continentals had the breadth of military knowledge that these life-long European soldiers did. A few Hessians also defected and came to the Colonial side, some because they were paid to.
The US Congress voted to hire a French pirate whose name you might be familiar with — Jean Lafitte — to aid in the fight against the British in the War of 1812 through a clause still in the US Constitution.
And during the War for Southern Independence, Yankee recruiters lured foreigners to come to America and enlist in the Union Army in exchange for an “enlistment bounty,” usually ~$200. That’s how Joseph Pulitzer, he of Pulitzer Prize fame, came to America from his native Hungary.
Fast-forward to 2017 and there are more than 20,000 resident aliens (non-US citizens) serving today in the US military, down about 10,000 in the last 10 years. There’s a path to citizenship for resident aliens in the service but not all will take advantage of it. I personally know one man who retired from the US Army still a green card holder and a Canadian citizen but Dutch by birth (long back story there). So what constitutes a “mercenary” isn’t always cut and dried.
The Pope has been being guarded by mercenaries for more than 500 years. And who am I to argue with His Holiness?
Whatever works, works. If your national defense strategy works better with hired soldiers than without, it would be stupid not to use them because you’re standing on protocol. Or because you’re afraid of a word.
thank you.
I appreciate the information and your willing to provide a summary.
ptsal
“..I read their story a while back and I think the 30 years was unjust. I have anxiety thinking about going shopping or driving thru a city on the expressway let along being in Baghdad...”
the difference is the mercs signed up for the gig
LOL they are also trained to spot anomalies. I just look for a NY or NJ license plate. Good thing both states require them on the front.
By the way, ironically, driving through VA Beach during rush hour has been the most stressful. All those water based special ops guys driving home? ;)
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