Blackwater Founder Wants to Fight Ebola, ISIS, and for the GOP to ‘Get Off Their Ass’

I am a big advocate of a semi-private force, but not one like Blackwater. And the focus of it is not combat, but strictly to save hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money.

To start with, the US has the premier military in the world, that can be used for all sorts of very difficult military missions. But far too often this extremely expensive military is wasted on “guard duty” and “humanitarian aid” missions.

Let’s say we have a war with a nasty tyrant who wants to start a world war, invade other countries, exterminate millions of people, and hold the US economically hostage. Most Americans would agree that $100b to put down that rabid dog is money well spent. I agree.

However, compare that to two large African tribes that have been intermittently fighting each other for 400 years, and will continue to do so as long as they exist. They mostly use spears and machetes. But president Blowhard, who ever he is, decides to send a lot of the US military to sit on the 50 mile long imaginary line between the two tribes, covered in flies and Shinola, for TWO years, as part of a UN mission directed by foreign officers. Total cost, $100b.

To hell with that idea.

But *that* is *exactly* the mission for that semi-private force. Even with them getting their transport and supply from the US military, they might pull of the peacekeeping mission for $100 MILLION, not billion.

Total savings to the taxpayer: not just $99.9 BILLION, but our military is not degraded, AND it is available for other, REAL missions.

So what are the ground rules to such a semi-private, very light infantry army?

1) They are led by US Army officers, but none of their other personnel ever set foot on US territory. As a group, they are most likely on some Caribbean or Pacific island.

2) They are contractors, and under no obligation to take a crap mission that could get them killed. They are paid for their work and get no other benefits. They do not need US citizenship.

3) Their transportation, logistics, communications, and coordination are handled by the US military. They operate only in places that give them immunity from ICC prosecution, like the US military does. Their rights under local law are part of their contract.

There are a lot of reason military members head to the dark side. Everyone thinks it’s always the money, but that’s not always the case. Mercs contracts are law, and the soldiers know they will not be left to political winds.

Even these BW guys are still awaiting the guillotine. If they were US soldiers, they would have been convicted years ago, right or wrong. We have plenty of our troops courts martialed for doing their jobs. Too many lawyers second-guessing battlefield decisions based on political expediency.

The outcome depends on who hires them and what contracts they are willing to take. Most former SF guys will not take sides against America. No matter what.

“The outcome depends on who hires them and what contracts they are willing to take. Most former SF guys will not take sides against America. No matter what.”

Agree. It never crossed my mind that they would. The problem is and was with BW as an example is with command and control. Special Op’s guys are aggressive and always want to take the fight to the enemy - which is good so long as the adversary is indeed the enemy. Sometimes, that old saw “kill’em all and let God sort out the innocent” takes over. Rare but it happens.

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