What is your opinion on the use of private military organizations (mercanaries)?

Question

should they be used, or not?

and why?

Answer 1

The primary use of mercenary units today is the protection of corporate assets in hostile environments. Mercenary units are used to protect oil refineries, mines, etc. in places like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, countries that are in civil disorder. The corporation doesn't choose which countries will get the resources, but to extract the resources safely sometimes they need more advanced security than is available inside the country.

For instance, the Iraq conflict has seen the mass use of PMOs such as Blackwater USA to protect diplomats and contractors operating. They save lives there, they save lives elseware. I don't think that use is wrong, per se. As long as we regulate them enough to make sure that we don't have corporate security agencies running around committing war crimes, I think they should be used.

Answer 2

yes they should be used. why? because the training and technology they receive surpasses any government military organization. due to the small amount of men they have they receive much better training than the average g.i.

Answer 3

No they shouldn't be used.

1) They're more expensive than reg. military
2) They are accountable to nobody essentially