Military Contractors (from topsy.org)

[bobthedrummer]

Imo we are witnessing the rise of a new form of fascism.

This includes the employment of Private Military Companies.

Here's a link that is educational to understanding what these mercenaries do.

It is repulsive, and seems a crime against our US Armed Forces and their families to use PMC's-many of which are big political contributors to RW politicians.

It also seems that some may take on domestic work.

http://www.topsy.org/contractors.html

[patrice]

1. I agree.

One of the real objectives of the Invasion of Iraq was to root Military Contracting in the middle-class jobs base.

[bobthedrummer]

3. It's part of the Revolution in Military Affairs and Force Transformation.

But it's truly fascist militarism imo.

[patrice]

4. It's such a Sad thing to know so many people are Okay with

either killing or supporting others in killing for money. They have abdicated what makes them human, their own consciences, in the name of obedience to authority.

[punpirate]

2. A very comprehensive study of them...

... is available in P.W. Singer's Corporate Warriors. Lots and lots of detail there, as well.

Cheers.


edit for code.

[dusmcj]

5. blurring of boundaries between government and business: fascist standard

Government becomes populated by business leaders and their lackeys and associates.

The activities of government become suffused with business influence. Hence an energy policy written by the major oil corporations.

The boundaries between war and peace become blurred.

Military spending is uniquely interesting to the business world because:

• the money is free. Government already took care of collecting it from the public
  
• the supply community has a monopoly relationship with the consumer - the government is a captive audience
  
• the products sold must meet certain specifications, but:
  
  
  
  • history shows us that holding business to these standards is a recent innovation
    
  • history shows us that holding business to cost limits with or without standards adherence is a recent innovation
    
  • the products need no utility, i.e. they need no contain any persistent value in the market
    
  
  

The trajectory to fascism is always marked by the formation of a governmental-business complex which institutes, perpetuates and protects fascist capitalism, where the social organizational power of the state is employed to serve the interests of an economy structured to deliver wealth to those who control the engines of production.

The rise of PMCs, while ostensibly part of a fairly rational restructuring of military logistics and force protection to take advantage of free market efficiencies, also constitutes a devolution of nation state power to private business. As such it needs to be approached with caution and closely policed. (No pun intended.)