Not sure if your post was sarcastic, but felt I should respond.

-Do they really get the "Real Work" done? All they do is guard diplomats and government representatives that go around.

-There is no draft, so every soldier that signs up knows that they are likely going to be going over there. Plus the vast majority of the Private contractors are ex-military, which means that we would be out the training costs, their prior salary, and then the deposit. Thats poor business planning.

-Nothing wrong with supporting the troops. They do what they are ordered. Say whatever you want about the people in charge but the troops are just doing their jobs.

-Private contractors are now held to the standards of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. As for the Geneva convention, not too sure about that, but if it doesn't apply to them then as soon as one of them gets captured we have "American Civilian being held hostage in (insert country here)" on every news channel. Also if they are out of Uniform (since they are contractors) and it is a state of war, then instead of POWs, they are spys and can be executed. That will go over with the American Public.

-Soldiers of Fortune are ex-Soldiers that found that they were too good/enjoyed their jobs too much, and now just want to make more money doing it. I have family members and friends in the Service, and none of them are delusional about why they are over there. They all know they're over there because: thats where their orders said they should go.

In my opinion, they should stop hiring government contractors and instead use the money to increase the pay of all the troops. Those guys deserve better salaries/ health care/ ability to retire (look up stop loss) and just in general deserve more respect from their country. They vast majority didn't enlist to kill Arabs, they enlisted to serve their country, lease we can do is show them respect and take care of them. They sacrifice so we don't have to.


Erik


p.s. Many a Marine has bought me drinks and insisted I owe them nothing, your friends are just cheap, or in the Army ; ) ::runs before Cieran reads the post::