Blackwater and other “contractors” do more than protect US civilian/state department personnel.
They’re guarding supply convoys headed into and out of hostile areas.
They’re guarding PRIVATE enterprises.
It’s all good and fine, but quibbling about the term “mercenary” is a non-starter.
They are, in nearly every sense, wether they contract to the US or not.
I just don’t say “mercenary” like it’s a bad thing.
“Blackwater and other “contractors” do more than protect US civilian/state department personnel.”
Yes, I aware that other contractors (not sure why you felt the need to put that in quotes) do other things in Iraq. However, we were discussing what Blackwater was hired to do and that’s to protect US civilian dignitaries. And they do it very effectively.
As far as you and others using the term mercenary. 99% of the time it’s used in a pejorative way intentionally. There is a distinction between what Blackwater is doing and what traditional mercenaries do. Mercenaries has historically been hired to fight wars that a county either did not want to fight itself or to augment their forces by using personnel hired from other countries. Those are offensive operations. Blackwater was hired to provide DEFENSIVE operations. Sometimes, as in this case, it requires offensive actions, but the MAIN purpose is to defend those they’re hired to keep alive.
They are mercs, and that is a pejorative.