U.S. Mercenaries: Does Any Law Apply

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

U.S. Mercenaries: Does Any Law Apply
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=197&sid=110bb270f112da7c08398541ba3a885e

By Dick Kazan (posted with permission)

Once upon a time, a President of the United States directed the military invasion and occupation of a Middle Eastern nation to free it from an evil dictator.

"You're with us or your with the terrorists," he proclaimed and many people in America cheered him on as the U.S. quickly prevailed.

"Mr. President," one of his senior advisors said during a large meeting, "You had the courage of George Washington when you freed those people from their dictator." And as they all stood and clapped, none of them realized the inaccuracy of that statement.

George Washington had defended the U.S. from British attack, not invaded Britain to everthrow their government and rule them.

After the invasion the U.S. troops never left and the U.S. government began to rule this nation with an iron hand as it quickly built giant military bases, seized their oil, occupied the former dictator's palaces and used his prisons.

The people fought back, forming militias and defying U.S. authority. "What's the matter with these people," the President said in frustration. "Why don't they appreciate what I did for 'em."

"What about 'shock & awe' Sir," asked one of his advisors. "Those bombs killed thousands of their men, women and children and thousands more were left homeless."

"Well, they'll just have to understand," the President replied, "It was done for the greater good of these people."

Meanwhile the militias grew stronger and their defiance reminded some people of what the U.S. had done centuries earlier under George Washington in defying their British rulers. And then the situation grew more complicated as these Middle Eastern people began to fight with one another as well in a civil war no-one could control.

The President faced a stark dilemma. "We need vastly more soldiers," his generals told him. "Maybe so," he replied. "But where do I get 'em."

"How about a draft," asked one general. "Are you crazy," the President snapped at him. "The American people would never allow it and if we put their families at risk, they would protest this war."

"Well where do you expect us to get more soldiers," that general asked, still irritated with the President's last response. "We've already called up most of the National Guard units and we've extended deployments."

The President was dumbfounded and had no answer. Just then the Vice President spoke up. "I know what we need to solve this problem," he said with an erie growl. "Mercenary soldiers. But we can't call them that because it sounds bad. We'll call them 'private contractors' and with the help of my former employer, I know where to get them."

But this will cost many billions of dollars," said the Treasury Secretary with panic in his voice. "And we don't have the money!" "Then borrow it," the Vice President replied. "In the years to come, it'll be up to others to pay it back, it won't be our problem."

Soon this President had 126,000 military contractors in this Middle Eastern nation, along with 171,000 U.S. troops. He didn't tell the American people how many soldiers he had there because it would upset them and it might seem that like Vietnam, no number of troops would be enough.

"What legal rights do these mercenaries and their families have," asked the President's lawyer to another group of lawyers. "I don't know because a President having a large, private standing army is unprecedented in U.S. history.

"What financial and legal obligations do the American tax payers have to each mercenary's family," the President's lawyer asked the others. "What if these mercenary soldiers are killed or severely wounded in battle, who pays the cost?

What if America gets sued because of actions these mercenaries take against others? Who pays? Who is responsible? Who controls them?"

"I don't have an answer to any of those questions," replied one of the lawyers. "But let me pose a question to you. If mercenary soldiers are paid far more money than U.S. troops, how do we retain the veteran U.S. troops? Won't many of them want to switch employers from Uncle Sam to a private contractor?"

No-one had answers to these questions nor were they comfortable sharing their concerns with the American people.

Then as happens in war, the mercenaries began killing the citizens of this Middle Eastern nation and their citizens cried out in protest. Fortunately, this President anticipated the problem and issued an Executive Order giving the mercenaries immunity from the laws of this Middle Eastern nation so they could not be put on trial there.

And this President ignored international laws as well. He viewed the law of this war as the law of the prisons. The biggest baddest guy in the yard makes the rules.

"Your mercenaries and your soldiers are terrorists in our land," screamed the people of this Middle Eastern country. "You don't respect us, nor our laws and you brutalize and kill our men, women and children.

"What makes your terrorists different than other terrorists," they asked. How are you different than Al-Qaeda? Different than the Taliban?"

At first, the President ignored their questions. But their voices grew louder.

"Okay, we gotta humor 'em," the President said with a grin to the Secretary of State. "Make 'em more promises. What does it matter." With a chuckle, he added, "It's a little like the promises our government used to make to the Indians."

But the anger only built among these Middle Eastern people who were not allowed to put on trial those who had committed murder and other crimes in their land.

Desperate, their Parliament asked the U.S. to leave. "Sorry 'ol buddies," the President replied with a shrug and a smile. "But it ain't gonna happen,"

But when the President went to bed that night safe and snug in the White House, it occurred to him, "What if the American people unite to oppose this war. They could make real trouble for me.

"Last year they got mad and changed Congress thinking it would make a difference," he recalled. "But then nothing happened. Congress didn't do anything different because they don't have the courage to act.

"They just do what I tell 'em," he said to himself as he laughed out loud. "I wonder if Saddam Hussein had it this easy."

Then his mind drifted back to the mass demonstrations he witnessed in his youth. "Those Civil Rights Marches, those Vietnam War Protests, drew a lot of people on to the streets," he said to himself. "If people get angry enough it could happen again."

Then he thought, "No way this will happen. I'm the decider and they'll do what I tell 'em. Beside, most of them don't seem to want to get involved."

"And if there was a possible change in the public's actions," he pondered, "I'd know it. We've got police in the NSA and in other security agencies all over the U.S. secretly monitoring what's going on. We can deal with the trouble makers."

That night, feeling confident of himself he rolled over and soundly slept the sleep of the righteous.

Dick
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=197&sid=110bb270f112da7c08398541ba3a885e

[no_hypocrisy]

1. They're kind of renegade, like bounty hunters.

[YOY]

2. And just like "bounty hunter" a perfect white trash job

n/t