In-Depth Discussion - Mercenaries

[user]

lets get our braincells moving

Like the situation in Iraq right now, the US Army simply doesn't have enough man power to escort civilian companies on the streets, so the US Army contracted such tasks out to Private Military Companies (PMC), eg. Blackwater USA or Executive Outcomes. Such companies then hire security contractors do the jobs that were originally meant for US Army persons.

Here is the problem, are the security contractors considered mercenaries? I can't seen to decide on a definitive answer because of:

1. They are - they are filling in the roles of US Army persons.
2. They are not - say what if the PMCs hire truck drivers from the US to drive trucks in Iraq? They are not considered mercenaries.

EDIT: - Question bolded because of dom

[dom]

Bush is the antichrist, it's his fault. I don't understand why, but everyone says it's his fault, so I will agree. He's the reason why american soldiers die, why the iraqi population live in fear, why pedophiles exist, and why global warming is happening.

[user]

Bush is the antichrist, it's his fault. I don't understand why, but everyone says it's his fault, so I will agree. He's the reason why american soldiers die, why the iraqi population live in fear, why pedophiles exist, and why global warming is happening.

what the fck are you talking about? it has nothing to do with the topic?

[Reise]

Basically if you work solely for profit you're a mercenary. Or if you fulfill a military role for money you're a mercenary. So yeah, that makes things like Blackwater a mercenary organization.

[Sharp324]

PMC are mercenaries but more on a legal side of it all. As long as they dont take up arms agaisnt a country its all good. They get paid to do a job. Depends most mercenaries dont care what they do as long as they get paid, usually operating outside the law..

[satman83]

Well there not mercs at all...because there just paid contractors to
provide a security role...its not like there out there fighting a war soloy
for cash.

Basicly there just a security company

[CrimsonNuker]

Well there not mercs at all...because there just paid contractors to
provide a security role...its not like there out there fighting a war soloy
for cash.

Basicly there just a security company

Question Answered.

[Biscuit]

[...]

I can't seen to decide on a definitive answer because of:

1. They are - they are filling in the roles of US Army persons.
2. They are not - say what if the PMCs hire truck drivers from the US to drive trucks in Iraq? They are not considered mercenaries.

[...]

Well, looks like there really isn't a definitive answer. My guess would be, that we'd have to look up a definition of "mercenary" we all agree on and then compare the private companies, active in Iraq for example, to that definition. Sadly I don't have any english dictionaries at hand, so I can't provide one.

An online definition (Geneva Conventions@Wikipedia)

Code: Select all

Art 47. Mercenaries
1. A mercenary shall not have the right to be a combatant or a prisoner of war.
2. A mercenary is any person who: 
(a)  is specially recruited locally or abroad in order to fight in an armed conflict;
(b)  does, in fact, take a direct part in the hostilities;
(c)  is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar ranks and functions in the armed forces of that Party;
(d)  is neither a national of a Party to the conflict nor a resident of territory controlled by a Party to the conflict;
(e)  is not a member of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict; and
(f)  has not been sent by a State which is not a Party to the conflict on official duty as a member of its armed forces.

Since I don't agree on (d), I think part (b) is worth discussing and also where it gets difficult to decide one way or another. For example, in a country on the brink of or in civil war, is there really such a thing as not taking a direct part in hostilities for those companies? Is it a direct involvement if someone takes over logistical functions that free capacities of the coalition troops that are more directly involved in conflicts?

[user]

Well there not mercs at all...because there just paid contractors to
provide a security role...its not like there out there fighting a war soloy
for cash.

Basicly there just a security company

Question Answered.

but like Reise said, they are fulfilling a miiltary role for money

[Sharp324]

Well there not mercs at all...because there just paid contractors to
provide a security role...its not like there out there fighting a war soloy
for cash.

Basicly there just a security company

Question Answered.

but like Reise said, they are fulfilling a miiltary role for money

Well all it comes down to really is what they are doing.

[Valkasdar]

Bush is terrorist !

OK ?

[dom]

Bush is terrorist !

OK ?

LOL! I win.

[StuckUP]

lets get our braincells moving

Like the situation in Iraq right now, the US Army simply doesn't have enough man power to escort civilian companies on the streets, so the US Army contracted such tasks out to Private Military Companies (PMC), eg. Blackwater USA or Executive Outcomes. Such companies then hire security contractors do the jobs that were originally meant for US Army persons.

Here is the problem, are the security contractors considered mercenaries? I can't seen to decide on a definitive answer because of:

1. They are - they are filling in the roles of US Army persons.
2. They are not - say what if the PMCs hire truck drivers from the US to drive trucks in Iraq? They are not considered mercenaries.

EDIT: - Question bolded because of dom

if u kill for profit ur a mercenary