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HISTORY IN THE MAKING 2008-2016

Good luck!

We've spent a good many years discussing politics, life, society and history. Most of all, the makers of history. The great events that changed the world - people, places, actions. Small acts have changed its hard-worn course, and effort and circumstance can make of its small actors immortal greats. In line with that sentiment, it seems pertinent now to recognize the potential of those who've made up this community for years, obvious through their contributions to the spirited debate and discussion that has proceeded here. HITM has sadly gone silent, though perhaps not lacking for things to say about making history, but rather for the realization that it is time we all commenced to do so, and make our mark.

Good luck to you all, see you in the history books!
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Alan Grayson, critic of military contractors, rescued by... military contractors
Topic Started: Feb 25 2010, 05:13 PM (561 Views)
DragonLegend
Field Marshal
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Danger Room

Quote:
 
Grayson spokesman Todd Jurkowski confirmed that Grayson was spirited out of the country on a Xe helicopter, and offered this statement to Schulman: “The flight was arranged through the State Department … The congressman did not know, and frankly did not care, who owned the plane.”

If anything, this little episode further underscores some wisdom from our pal Peter Singer. Contractors: Can’t win with ‘em, can’t go to war without ‘em. Or more precisely, can’t have diplomatic security without ‘em.
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Neitzluber
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It would be cheaper for the military to have gotten him out.
Hey, at least he went over there.
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Lazurath
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From a Land Down Under
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I really hate private militaries.
Sefless protector
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Ww2nerd
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Scion of the Midnight Sun

It's extremely dangerous to world security. Let it go along a little ways, and it'll be the Wars of Religion all over again, rampant mercenaries terrorizing the people.
"There are strange things done in the midnight sun,
by the men who moil for gold; the arctic trails have their secret tales that'd make your blood run cold...
the Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see...
was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge, that I cremated Sam McGee."

- Robert W. Service
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DragonLegend
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Private military personnel aren't very different from regular military men. You hear about "mercenaries" killing innocents in Iraq, but do you ever hear about the "mercenaries" working aside civilians and protecting them with their own lives?
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Lazurath
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From a Land Down Under
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It don't distrust them because of that, it's the fact to me that they are, essentially, people trained to kill and only work for money. I'm sure all of them are ex-military personnel, and know correct procedures, precautions, etc. but I simply can't trust an army that exists entirely because of the highest bidder.
Sefless protector
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DragonLegend
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What makes you think they do it solely for the money? Every military personnel gets paid. Are you saying they do it for the money?
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Ww2nerd
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Scion of the Midnight Sun

They aren't accountable under international law. It's quite arbitrary if they can be prosecuted in US courts, as they operate in countries outside their jurisdiction.

Shoot a thousand people, if they can't prove it in a US court, well, too bad.
International law only covers state militaries.
"There are strange things done in the midnight sun,
by the men who moil for gold; the arctic trails have their secret tales that'd make your blood run cold...
the Northern Lights have seen queer sights, but the queerest they ever did see...
was that night on the marge of Lake LeBarge, that I cremated Sam McGee."

- Robert W. Service
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Neitzluber
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They should be done away with.
The government had better spend the money on the real military.
Hire more actual soldiers, or give existing soldiers better equipment, pay, benefits, etc.

War shouldn't be a business. Nobody should get rich in a war. It is immoral.
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Lazurath
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From a Land Down Under
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DragonLegend
Feb 27 2010, 01:12 AM
What makes you think they do it solely for the money? Every military personnel gets paid. Are you saying they do it for the money?
An army exists because of national defence, peacekeeping missions, etc.
A private army exists because someone could, and was willing to, pay for it.
Sefless protector
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DragonLegend
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Lazurath
Feb 27 2010, 01:56 PM
DragonLegend
Feb 27 2010, 01:12 AM
What makes you think they do it solely for the money? Every military personnel gets paid. Are you saying they do it for the money?
An army exists because of national defence, peacekeeping missions, etc.
A private army exists because someone could, and was willing to, pay for it.
I'm not talking about the owners of private militaries, I'm talking about the soldiers.

When a millionaire doctor quits his job and becomes a "mercenary", does that mean he did it for the money?
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MaxJ
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HITM op dokters advies
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Yes because he wants to become a billionair.
Geschiedenis-Histoire-Geskiedenis-History-Geschichte-Historia

Parasky
 
IF YOU AIN'T DUTCH YOU AIN'T MUCH
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DragonLegend
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God I hope you're not being serious, Max.
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Neitzluber
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DragonLegend
Feb 27 2010, 03:54 PM
Lazurath
Feb 27 2010, 01:56 PM
DragonLegend
Feb 27 2010, 01:12 AM
What makes you think they do it solely for the money? Every military personnel gets paid. Are you saying they do it for the money?
An army exists because of national defence, peacekeeping missions, etc.
A private army exists because someone could, and was willing to, pay for it.
I'm not talking about the owners of private militaries, I'm talking about the soldiers.

When a millionaire doctor quits his job and becomes a "mercenary", does that mean he did it for the money?
Obviously he did.

$200,000 a year ought to be enough for any doctor.
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DragonLegend
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Really? They get paid $200,000 a year? Do you have evidence for that claim, or is it like your claim that health insurance costs $100,000?
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