Why doesn't the US hire mercenaries?

Question

Looks like we have a hard time finding the 20,000 extra people for the "surge" (are you kidding me)...

Why not hire people who are willing and eager to fight and probably cheaper, too.

Looks like the Ethiopians can get the job done.

Answer 1

When we made our armed forces political, correct the rest of the world labeled us as mercenaries and regrettable I would have to agree. You are probably aware most European countries have a mandatory service commitment; you either go into the armed forces or public service (with a longer time requirement). If the Government pays for your education, you will repay the funding by working in the appropriate field EX medical, legal. That is one of the reasons they can control their military budgets they do not have to send personnel out to civilian doctors. Then they do as we used to do if you get married below a certain rank/ time and or grade you are on your own. If you elect to remain in the service after the mandatory time you are paid a decent salary (one more interesting thing is most pay differently per skill; for example a Sargent in the infantry would make $1500 like a Sargent who is a truck driver would be paid $1100; while a computer operator $1300). They have excellent retention and their budgets can be better spent!

God Bless You and Our Southern People.

Oh, for the record the Ethiopians had a different mission then us. We were there as police to guarantee persons, tasks and to apprehend. The Ethiopians are there to kick butt and doing a good job.

Answer 2

They do; they are called Private Security Contractors.

Companies like Blackwater USA, KBR, Global Ghurkha Response, Dyncorp and others are in fact manned by former military personnel who use their military expertise in the private sector as bodyguards, RIsk Assesment Managers and technical assistants for private companies that work in third world countries.

Is not exactly the textbook example of a Mercenary, like the ones you see in movies like "Proof Of Life" (Russel Crowe plays a merc), "Dogs Of War" and "Man On Fire" (Denzel Washington plays a former CIA Operative turned Merc); but it is there.

Also, pick up any issue of Soldier Of Fortune Magazine; you'll hear of a company called "Executive Outcomes" it was a Merc outfit that worked extensively in Sub Saharan Africa and Rhodesia; Private armies in Africa are comprised of mercenaries of multiple nationalities, including Europeans and Americans.

Answer 3

Americans love sports, and we have a two-party political system. Our culture sets us up to think in an "us vs. them" way. The situation in Iraq, though, is not two-sided and does not lend itself to a "with us or against us" mentality. The Iraqi government seem to have put out peace feelers with al Sadr, for instance, with the idea of trying to get him to support the government. A mercenary force would be hard to control and a bit heavy-handed, and that's a lot of numbers. Mercs tend to work in small groups.

Answer 4

We hire trained contractors to provide security. Foreign mercenary bands are untrained and basically cannon fodder, which makes them not worth the money.

Answer 5

Something about hiring someone from another country kind of scares me. Spies can do a really good job of making you lose a war.

Answer 6

How do you know they don't? Haliburton and other companies are providing "security" over in Iraq. Private companies have a couple of hundred thousand people there doing many things.

Answer 7

there were close to 60.000 mercenaries there already,the problem with it is,this war according to many people is already illegal,and sending mercenaries there will just add more problem than finding a solution to win this war,mercenaries will only work if theres lots of money upfront and it will be a lot more expenssive to have those people there

Answer 8

loyalty is a big issue

Answer 9

the problem with that is............anyone that does it for money as apposed to honor is..............nuff said

Answer 10

They do.