Ted Koppel: Time for U.S. to Form an "Army of Mercenaries"?

[Canuckistanian]

NEW YORK Little known to the American public, there are some 50,000 private contractors in Iraq, providing support for the U.S. military, among other activities. So why not go all the way, hints Ted Koppel in a New York Times op-ed on Monday, and form a real "mercenary army"?

Such a move involving what he calls "latter-day Hessians" would represent, he writes, "the inevitable response of a market economy to a host of seemingly intractable public policy and security problems."

~snip

"So, what about the inevitable next step — a defensive military force paid for directly by the corporations that would most benefit from its protection? If, for example, an insurrection in Nigeria threatens that nation's ability to export oil (and it does), why not have Chevron or Exxon Mobil underwrite the dispatch of a battalion or two of mercenaries?"

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002539966

Oh. My. God.

[acmavm]

1. Koppel must have really lost his mind after the end of his show.

[Cassandra]

8. I think he's playing Devil's advocate...

stringing out the argument to see where it would logically take us (nowhere we'd like to go).

[Bucky]

12. It's a legit question. The answer of course is, "no, that would be crazy"

But Koppel, you, me, and the free press all have the right to ask. Asking draws attention to the fact that almost 40% of coalition forces in Iraq do not answer to US, military, or Iraqi law because they're private "contractors" given immunity for all acts they perform. Just amazing. Koppel's suggestion may be something of a "modest proposal."

The downside to have some fighters be private while the others are public employees is substantial. Many of these contractors, besides being unaccountable, are getting recruited out of the military. These are the experienced noncoms who could give valued experience and guidance in security work to our public troops, so in a very real way, the presense of these contractors makes our military weaker.

[One Honest Guy]

2. He wants to turn Iraq into Angola?

Well too late. There are over 40 "private security contractor" firms operating in Iraq.

[KittyWampus]

3. Not Once Did He Mention Mercenaries Not Bound By Conventions Of War

in this article.

It is sick.

[Rose Siding]

7. I was thinking his use of the term "Hessians" indicated a value judgement

-on his part. If it was, it's too subtle. Just suggesting something so vile shouldn't be done in today's America without a clearer condemnation.

[KittyWampus]

9. At least his OpEd has us talking about the issue.

[Bucky]

15. Hessian used this way is an ethnic slur. Koppel should apologize to Hesse

Don't tell me he didn't know that Hessians were Germans, or that being militaristic is a common ethnic slur against Germans. What a racist!

[Canuckistanian]

13. They're not bound by ANY laws in Iraq

Not unaccountable to anyone but their own bosses. I think even the companies are immune to lawsuits.

Notice Bush STILL hasn't commented on the legality of mercenaries that the student once asked of him.

[htuttle]

23. The United States acts like it's not bound by any laws, either

How many international laws and conventions of war has the US violated in the last 6 years? I've lost count...

[tridim]

54. Anyone know anything about the status of CACI vs. Randi Rhodes?

She hasn't talked about it for awhile

[Gabi Hayes]

61. are they the ones suing her for $11 Million over Abu Ghraib?

she was just talking about that, but only mentioned what I typed

[Canuckistanian]

64. Come to think of it, you're right

Maybe the next appaerance has been scheduled for later. I think her first appearance was a preliminary.

[NNN0LHI]

4. But what happens when someone hires mercenaries to kill us in return?

Didn't think of that little detail did you Ted?

I guess the people who can afford to live in gated communities with 24 hour security don't think over all the drawbacks real well?

Don

[Ganja Ninja]

14. What happens when the military is so weak that Bush's ...

hirelings out gun them? Who's going to defend the American people from the Bush-co oil companies hired thugs?

[RagAss]

68. How's that working out in Iraq ???

[KittyWampus]

5. Oh, and he mentions Corporations directly hiring mercenaries thus

confirming that the United States is currently sending its troops out to protect CORPORATE interests.

[rodeodance]

10. it is an ironic statement--meant to diss the WH and the war--and saying

let the free market go to its logical conclusion.

[ProfessorPlum]

17. I doubt it

Koppel's bestest buddy is Colin Powell.

[1932]

6. Pinkertons -- that worked out so well the first time.

[The2ndWheel]

11. Being born at Wal-Mart

Living in Wal-Mart, eating Wal-Mart food, sleeping in Wal-Mart, fighting for Wal-Mart, dying in Wal-Mart.

Not that the US military hasn't done this already(i.e. Smedley Butler).

[bleedingheart]

21. We've done that before...didn't last long...

Coal companies...even Westinghouse...built company houses and they had company stores...and some paid you in company script...

was so delightful that it was what caused the masses to unionize....

[The2ndWheel]

34. Now that your job can be sent across the planet

in the blink of an eye, or easily done by someone more deperate than you, who's worried about unions?

[bleedingheart]

37. well according to what I am reading here on DU..factory workers

are burning down factories in Bangladesh because of their disgust with the system....it is a bit hard to keep rebuilding those factories all over the world.

funny part is my company has tried outsourcing and has found that it doesn't work so well....and it ends up costing more money in the end...

[The2ndWheel]

41. I missed that

Good for the Bangladeshis.

[bleedingheart]

47. I feel the same way...

[rustydog]

16. They could be named: Neo-knights Templar!

What the Hell, they're doing Gawds work aren't they?
Right George Bush?

[ProfessorPlum]

18. No one seems to have noticed that we are already there

Sure, we have the nation's military there as well, but this is already a war by the corporations, for the corporations, and of the corporations. Also, we have these mercenary forces providing "security" in the New Orleans area for various government-subsidized corporations. I'm sure that's working out well. /sarcasm


Many of the worst fighting in Iraq has been launched by the mercenary hot dogs that are over there, following no military discipline or laws.

We are already there. Koppel is late to the game.

[Canuckistanian]

66. But he seems to be talking about ramping up the number

And also changing their mission. To work explicitly for corporations instead of being an annex to the military.

[ProfessorPlum]

69. I think to think it isn't already like that is

sadly naive. But I like being sadly naive, too, and I don't know what the truth is.

[niyad]

19. and the difference between mafia hitmen and these hired killers is????

[htuttle]

20. Sounds like a Modest Proposition to me

In fact, why not just take the US entirely out of the loop. If Chevron wants an army, let Chevron buy an army. Just not ours anymore...

Of course, the coming Corporate Wars of the 21st century might change our view on this, but the sight of soldiers with corporate logos instead of flags on their sleeves might jar a few people awake...

[catmandu57]

22. It's Milo Minderbinder's wet dream

Everything is done for the good of the corporation, as long as the corporation makes money for the shareholders everything is okay. There isn't evil or good, it's all profit and loss, red ink and black ink, if you happen to get hurt or killed tough but that's business.
I fucking hate living in this Catch 22 world.

[LouisianaLiberal]

28. Good catch.

My favorite, and scariest, Milo quote. As Yossarian follows Milo's vehicle, and accuses him of murdering Nately:


1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder: Nately died a wealthy man, Yossarian. He had over sixty shares in the syndicate.
Yossarian: What difference does that make? He's dead.
1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder: Then his family will get it.
Yossarian: He didn't have time to have a family.
1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder: Then his parents will get it.
Yossarian: They don't need it, they're rich.
1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder: Then they'll understand.



The corporate mind at work.

[ProfessorPlum]

24. Just like in "Snowcrash"

the future is now.

[anarch]

25. uh...isn't that sort of what we already have?

Blackwater, Vinnell Corporation, Brown and Root, MPRI, Sandline Ltd., Executive Outcomes....

[ProfessorPlum]

26. He also said this move would get "US" out of a political bind

I guess he includes the elite media in with the GOP administration. As well he might.

[Yollam]

27. I think it's an excellent idea.

It's about time that the corps paid their share. They already use the military as a mercenary force, and they get it for dirt cheap, with soldiers making pennies on the dollar compared to what contractors do. As long as we are going to be a fascist aggressor state, we may as well organize things so that the soldiers can actually get some decent money for what they do.

[KoKo]

29. Yes...excellent idea until the "Corporations" turn them on us....think

about that...if that doesn't give one pause I don't know what would.. :eyes:

Corporations already own our Media our lives and now we give them our military. WHOOPEE!

[Yollam]

31. They already own our military.

They own the politicians. I wouldn't be surprised if they turned the military on us as it is...

[rman]

46. Not officially - that limits their possibilities

We better not help them increase their possibilities to terrorize and kill anyone who stands between them and their profits - and to get away with it.

[rman]

44. Here's why it's a very bad idea

There'd be no accountability.

If the point is to have corporations pay the bill for their own wars, it'd be more sensible to put a limit on war-time profits and to just tax corporations as they're supposed to, instead of turning a blind eye to their using tax havens and other 'loop holes' to practically dodge taxation all together.

[populistdriven]

48. Great Idea! Shows the "Empire" for what it is - Fascism

[davepc]

30. Well, that's what the French do. Whole Foreign Legion thing

That way people that French society don't care about can get blown away and do killing in the name of France without losing any native sons.

The shroud it in elan and esprit de corps, but at the end of the day they're just mercenaries working for the French government.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

32. K & R. This is exactly where we're headed, and...

..."BushCo's Imperial Militia" is what we should start calling the U.S. military.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

33. The raw Military Industrial complex without the fiction of oversight.

Now with an acquiescent congress that wets itself in terror of not "supporting the troops" won't have to go through the charade of democracy.

[gatorboy]

35. I kinda agree with this.

The Republicans refuse to hold Big Oil accountable by saying that they're a private company and they'd rather not smother them with gov't restrictions. But if there's a disturbance in oil rich countries, the conservatives wouldn't think twice about sending in the military.

If they're a private company they should foot the bill for their own security....

[rman]

40. There'd be no accountability

If the point is to have corporations pay the bill for their own wars, it'd be more sensible to put a limit on war-time profits and to just tax corporations as they're supposed to, instead of turning a blind eye to their using tax havens and other 'loop holes' to practically dodge taxation all together.

[bvar22]

36. A Modest Proposal.... unless he's gone completely bonkers.

Why not extend the privatization of the Military to domestic Law Enforcement?
It is already happening.

Corrections is already undergoing Privatization.
These private prisons are not accountable to the public.

[rman]

38. At least it would be obvious who really rules the world

What I've Learned About U S Foreign Policy
http://www.chomskytorrents.org/TorrentDetails.php?TorrentID=1220
The basic message being that the CIA, the military-industrial-complex, the Pentagon, the multinational corporations, the media and the Government of the United States are responsible for the deaths of millions of people in the third world, not to mention the poverty and oppression of millions more. We support, arm, and train dictators and militaries that do these evil actions to their own people. All of this is to insure that we control the natural resources of these countries and their market place, use the people for cheap labor and keep the business of war (which is our biggest business) ongoing.


--
How to deal with torrent files
To download these videos you'll need a bittorrent client such as Azerus (works on windows and mac) or micro torrent. Also see bittorrent.org.
http://azureus.sourceforge.net/
http://www.utorrent.com/
http://www.bittorrent.org/introduction.html

[newspeak]

39. the unsuccessful coup against FDR

those industrialists supposedly had a hired army ready to go. Think about it. Corporations hiring the thugs of the world, who are exempt from any code of humanity, exempt from the Geneva Convention--murdering hundreds of thousands of people around the world, including the US. This is very disturbing, very disturbing, indeed.

[rman]

42. Interesting,

I just realized that "hiring the thugs of the world" to do the dirty work is also the way of (segments of) the intelligence community.

[Ezlivin]

43. Wal-Mart - With mercenary prices THIS low, you can't afford NOT to fight!

Check out our everyday low prices on soldiers!

Making 'em cheap and stacking 'em deep.

[Recursion]

45. Well, we've followed every other part of the "falling empire" script

...so why not finish the job and hire a mercenary army, which has been the end of every empire that resorts to it?

[ComerPerro]

49. Yes! Lets give large corporations their own private armies

Great idea!

[treestar]

51. We wouldn't be paying them so nothing stops them from doing that

now. Then at least the taxpayers wouldn't be paying for it.

We could also boycott corporations that are doing it. Or at least be honest about where we are getting our cheap oil.

[StellaBlue]

50. I for one would like to see the corporations pay directly for the massive

costs of their immoral wars, if they insist on having them.

I am tired of subsidizing their adventures.

FUCK EM!

[info being]

52. Why not let the taxpayers pay for it?

corporations don't have to foot the bill when they can screw us and future generations out of our money to do it.

[gordianot]

53. We have and have had mercanaries in Iraq for some time.

They keep this out of the news but it is and has been happening.

see link: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=401463

I can see it now the Bush Legion. All recruits must have shaved heads for George to fondle.


""

[zulchzulu]

55. I think you're taking Helmethead Ted out of context...

I read the column in the NYT this morning and it seemed like he was making a note about how disgusting the whole mercenary tactic was...maybe I wasn't awake yet, but...

[genie_weenie]

56. No way. Everyone from George Clooney to George W. *

prefers to send young men, who have no rights, no union, the threat of Dishonorable discharge, earn peanuts into harm's way for their cause...

After all, with improving health care and nutrition, if there weren't wars there'd be little chance to kill off the poor.

[wtmusic]

74. Problem is, they're running out of them

and oh yeah, they aren't falling for the "serve your country" line anymore

[genie_weenie]

75. Exactly, that's why the focus

has shifted to monetary rewards (2 per month payday, overseas pay, extra combat pay, college, housing) and the always popular "Become a Man" emphasized in the shaping a rough diamond Marine Corps Ads.

[elehhhhna]

57. fuckall just grant corporations sovreignity & make them Nation-states.

The man needs to be put in a box.

[roguevalley]

58. I believe that Koppel is being sarcastic. He hates bush and the way

the MSM is now too.

[ArmchairMeme]

59. 40% of forces

are independent combatents or corporate compatents? How does our gov't distinguish them from enemy combatents?

[tabasco]

60. Large use of mercenaries.

Historically, a signal of the decline of a civilization.

[robertpaulsen]

62. Just admit it, Ted: you know our "Army of Mercenaries" is 600,000 strong.

That, or there about. They haven't conducted a mercenary estimate since 2001. I'm sure it's much larger now:

Private Military Corporations are also referred to as Privatized Military Firms (PMF)s, ... among other things, and could be considered an alternative to the Draft.

According to ICIJ, since 1994, the U.S. Defense Department has entered into 3,061 contracts valued at more than $300 billion with 12 of the 24 U.S.-based PMCs. More than 2,700 of those contracts were held by just two companies: Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR), a subsidiary of Vice President Dick Cheney's former employer, Halliburton Company, and Virginia-based management and technology consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton. The ICIJ report could not determine what percentage of these contracts was for training, security or logistical services because of the breadth of the services offered by the larger companies and the paucity of information provided by the Pentagon.<2>

The Pentagon does not even know how many contractors it uses. According to U.S. News and World Report, a preliminary report to Congress in April 2002 guessed that the Army contracted out the equivalent of between 124,000 and 605,000 persons in 2001. It is also hard to estimate how many people are working for PMCs because many of them are freelance contractors who may work for more than one of the PMCs. Often, it's hard to tell where the U.S. Army ends and a private company begins, as certain training programs run by PMCs allow retired military personnel to put their uniforms back on. One of the best known, privately held MPRI, based in Alexandria, Virginia, with over 700 full-time employees boasts of having "more generals per square foot than in the Pentagon."<3>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=PMC

Yeah, I'm sure Ted's well aware of what the real number of mercenaries is now. After all, it's not like he would shoot his mouth off on the subject without doing some research first, right? :sarcasm:

[alfredo]

63. Why should our soldiers die for Exxon and Halliburton?

[Disturbed]

65. Abu Grahib had and maybe still has Mercs

doing Interogations. None have been charged with their crimes.

[alfredo]

71. One of the first thing bush had his Iraqi government do was

grant immunity to American businesses doing business in Iraq.

[Canuckistanian]

67. Good point, but...

Giving corporations unrestricted firepower is never a good thing. They may decide to use it here in North America.

And not for purely defensive actions.

[alfredo]

72. Here in Kentucky we called mercenaries " company goons."

They were used to enforce "discipline" in the workforce. Look for an old movie called "Harlan County USA."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074605/

Plot Summary for
Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)

This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Eastovers refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA

[Terran1212]

70. Someone just tell him to shut up

[nemo137]

73. He's playing Jonathon Swift

A modest proposal, suggesting the ridiculous to make a point.