 enfant perdus  | 26 Nov 2015 10:20 a.m. PST |
As well as Salvadorans, Panamanians, and Chileans. link And the Saudis are using Sudanese mercenaries. While it might seem obvious, I thought this was an important observation:
"Mercenaries are an attractive option for rich countries who wish to wage war yet whose citizens may not want to fight," said Sean McFate, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and author of "The Modern Mercenary." Note that if you read further, the article describes how the Latin American mercs were originally hired for internal security, such as guarding pipelines. This raises the question; if your people are not willing to fight a "foreign war" in the country's interest, and are not willing to serve to defend the vital domestic interests of the country, what hope do you have in the face of an existential threat? Considering the Saudis in this light, if an absolute monarchy with theocratic underpinnings can't rely on it's people to fight an enemy (the Houthis) that is both a religious and political threat, how can it hope to maintain power? |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 26 Nov 2015 10:53 a.m. PST |
Why fight if you can pay someone else to do it? |
| twawaddell | 26 Nov 2015 10:56 a.m. PST |
So fighting for and against the cartels in the region did give them sellable skills? In addition to feeding bodies into the armies of other states this would give a nation the ability to drain their own potential trouble makers to be SEP's (someone else's problem). Hmmm… |
| Mako11 | 26 Nov 2015 11:34 a.m. PST |
Hmmmm, jungle fighters in the desert? Nope, not out of their element at all. That is a very interesting detail though, so thanks for sharing. |
| Sundance | 26 Nov 2015 12:33 p.m. PST |
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| boy wundyr x | 26 Nov 2015 1:26 p.m. PST |
Sometimes I wonder if Milo Minderbender is still around and behind this. |
| Winston Smith | 26 Nov 2015 3:38 p.m. PST |
Do they put on airs and call themselves "contractors" rather than mercenaries? |
 Legion 4  | 26 Nov 2015 7:09 p.m. PST |
Well that is something … It appears both the Saudis and UAE have a lot of $$$ and are lazy as well as knowing they are not very good soldiers. I wish the Contractors/Mercs luck. Hopefully none will get captured and end up beheaded or something like that. As we know many in the region have a predilection for brutality. Maybe the South Americans can show their own brand of "cartel" ruthlessness … Sorry if I sound so negative about the local militaries in that region. Most just don't seem to be very effective in combat ? |
| Whatisitgood4atwork | 26 Nov 2015 8:21 p.m. PST |
No Saudi outside the House of Saud has any reason to risk their lives for their survival. It is not a country, it is the personal property of one family. |
| Cyrus the Great | 26 Nov 2015 9:54 p.m. PST |
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| Legion 4 | 27 Nov 2015 9:55 a.m. PST |
No Saudi outside the House of Saud has any reason to risk their lives for their survival. It is not a country, it is the personal property of one family. Indeed … and some Saudis don't really like the House of Saud. Regardless, the SANG and others in the region are not consider very "good combat soldiers" … But yes Cyrus … "Say hello to my little friend!" … Many of the troopers in some units I served in, couldn't pick up an M203 without say that, Latino accent and all !  |
| doug redshirt | 27 Nov 2015 11:39 a.m. PST |
Actually the Yemeni Shiite are rather civilized and gone out of their way to release westerners. They tried to get the US on their side to fight ISIS and corrupt Sunnis. |
| Legion 4 | 27 Nov 2015 2:43 p.m. PST |
Well that is good to know … But as I said, "many" not "all" … " As we know many in the region have a predilection for brutality " But point taken .. |
| paulgenna | 28 Nov 2015 6:33 a.m. PST |
M203 was not hard to shoot but getting it to land in the right area that is a different story. For me, give me a nice M16 and let me lead the pack. |
| Legion 4 | 28 Nov 2015 8:58 a.m. PST |
That is the good thing about the 203 … you have options … BTW, I'd really like to see these Latino Mercs show the locals how to fight in a aggressive, ruthless, effective manner. Take these locals to school … and make them know what it is like to get their religiously blinded, etc.,  spanked. |
| Bangorstu | 28 Nov 2015 9:04 a.m. PST |
Regarding Yemenis… not sure if it's still the case but the tribesmen sued to kidnap Westerners as a means of applying pressure on the government to fulfil promises about roads, schools etc. While kidnapped, the victims were treated like honoured guests and tended to put on weight until the government resolved the situation. |
| Legion 4 | 28 Nov 2015 9:11 a.m. PST |
and tended to put on weight The same thing happened at Gitmo. They ate regularly wholesome ethnically correct foods/meals and had routine medical treatment, high standards of personal hygiene, etc. … And got to play a lot of soccer in a tropical warm, sunny environment, etc. … Somethings most/all lacked, while on their "jihad" … |
