Mercenaries?

Question

Does the United States have a mercenaries today?

if possible, can you find a link

Answer 1

Nope, mercs are outlawed under international law.

The last time they were used, was in the 1970's

Unless you count the Mexican Special Forces unit that went awol as a unit and went to work for the drug cartels.

Answer 2

Not really. There are private security firms working in Iraq, but that is far from the traditional role of mercenary armies.

Some people, including celebrities, have criticised the American military as a mercenary army because we get paid. By there reasoning, nearly all military personnel, past and present, were mercenaries.

The French Foreign Legion has also been categorized as being a mercenary army, but the Legion is controlled by the French army.

Mercenary units were prevalent in Africa at the end of the twentieth century, particularly the South African 32nd "Buffalo" Battalion and the mercenary company Executive Outcomes. However, neither unit is employed by the United States.

Answer 3

Yes and No.

It is actually quite an issue in Iraq today. I am speaking of the Private Military Companies (PMC) that the media commonly refers to as "mercenaries". A mercenary is just an illegal combat that is fighting in a conflict between two nations (ie a war) but is not a resident or subject to either nation or any other party that it is involved. THEY MUST BE INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN COMBAT. Those were the Geneva Convention's positions on a mercenary. The PMC guys differ because they are not supposed to see any combat. They support the military indirectly, but carry arms for obvious reasons. They act as security guards or a protection detail among other things.

Mercenaries themselves have been deemed illegal by the US, the UK, and France.

If they are used by/in the US.....it would be illegal.

Answer 4

heck yes look at Blackwater and other military contractors. I think it is wrong when some contractor for example like a truck driver gets paid 2-3 x times more than a regular solider such as an E-4 and below doing a job a hundred times more dangerous.

Answer 5

The word 'mercenary' is no longer used, use the word 'contractor' instead.
It's a silly language rebranding, kind of like how sales clerk became customer service representative.

Answer 6

Yes, but they don't do the whole undercover blowing things up hollywood stuff. They protect the contractors that are rebuilding Iraq or supplying the troops. Blackwater hires these mercs and trains them.

Answer 7

Good question. We had Air America in Vietnam. Those suckers got paid five times what I made flying the same friggin Hueys. And their Hueys were always new.

Answer 8

Well Bounty Hunters are essentially mercenaries.

Answer 9

Of course. You can't expect the Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard to do everything.

Answer 10

yes...one could even suggest the United States armed forces are doing the duties of a proxy army the Saudis don't have. additionally..."for hire" security forces are used heavily throughout Iraq. even acting as "gatekeepers" at U.S. facilities there.