Reply #28: If I could recommend a single post, I would recommend yours [View All]

I did K&R the OP - well written indeed, but your post here is, too.

I'm reading a book now about the hired guns that they recruit straight from the military, process their paperwork so that they can start right when they get out of the military.

I have mixed feelings about it, though. Obviously we don't have enough troops, and I sure as hell don't want anyone else sent there. Someone has to do the security details, etc., I supposed, but it is a slap in the face to our military that they get paid something like $550 to $1200 a day to do the same job our military is getting paid for. WITHOUT rules, really, without having to answer to anyone, able to leave whenever the hell they want, able to drink, and many take steroids, as well.

They give our government what is called "plausible deniability" when someone gets shot that wasn't "supposed" to get shot - and I'm not even halfway through the book. They get better equipment, too. Since asshole-in-chief took office, private security is big, big business.

On the other hand, no matter how much money is being paid, it's not worth it, or it wouldn't be to me, anyway. I think we should let all our military people who want to come home, come home, and replace them with this new private military, who, apparently WANT to be there. Money doesn't appear to be an object with our government, Blackwater says there is no shortage of volunteers, and there are many other private contracters, as well. Let the guys who WANT to be there do it all. Then they could truly call it an "all volunteer" military.

edited for typo.