Seriously. How can the men and women of our armed forces not look at the latest smoke coming from the dumpster fire that is the trump administration (The White House’s bold new plan to “privatize” the war in Afghanistan) and not see it as a gigantic slap in the face?
Show me one other job out there where a boss could announce that the workers weren’t doing it right so he was outsourcing their jobs and NOT have it be considered a vote of no confidence.
What does this say to the world about our military?
We have always advertised our fighting forces as “The BEST trained” and “The BEST outfitted” fighting force IN THE WORLD. Now though, the President of the United States (their boss) is announcing that they are the best EXCEPT for the mercenaries that Blackwater can provide to anyone willing to pay their wages.
SERIOUSLY ?
Why is the far right NOT jumping all over this as the most UN-patriotic thing since flag burning?
Some are trying to spin this as “We hire military contractors all the time.” However any comparison between hiring civilians to run a mess hall or deliver bullets to the front or even “stand in front of this building with a gun and don’t let anyone in” and THIS — which is to tell them to actively go out and kill anyone they deem to be a bad guy … well that is simply ludicrous.
There are those who will argue that trump is not doubting our troops. He is simply trying to get around the bureaucracy (rules) that our troops must operate within. How is this any better? This argument is that “WE are bound by laws and morality but if we hire mercenaries, they can commit any atrocity they want and WE are free and clear!”
An army of mercenary soldiers with their own “90-plane private air force”, whose armed “employee’s” are NOT under the direct control of (or even answerable to) the US. They answer to their chain of managers who eventually communicate to a government Contracting Officer. If they start leveling civilian villages we can say “stop that” all we want but they don’t have to listen. In the end, the best we could do is cancel Blackwaters contract.
How could any of this possibly go wrong.
One last thought. If we allow this to happen. If we “normalize” the White House’s hiring of a private army of mercenary solders to do their bidding, what will they hire them for next? Where?
“Security” at the next “March on Washington” ? “Protecting” polling places from the army of illegal voters that cost him the popular vote in the last election?
This path does not end well.