Robert Gates...a "master of the obvious"

[SHRED]

In reference to corporate USA's private mercenary forces (Blackwater, etc...):

"I worry that sometimes the salaries that they are able to pay in fact lure some of our soldiers out of the service to go to work for them," Gates said.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-na-gates27sep27,1,201139.story?coll=la-headlines-business&track=crosspromo

And let's remember that those bloated "salaries" are paid by you and me.


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[Didereaux]

1. the 'luring' is fact, and no joking matter...

My son is one of those 'elite' Special Warfare Operations teams, such as SEALS DELTA, Rangers etc. He told me two years ago that Blackwater had gotten two of his team-mates to not re-enlist(one had 12 years in the military, 8 more and he had retirement, full med bennies the works) they left for the money. Smartly my son did not toss his 14 yrs ou the window. He is presently packing for his third, count 'em third deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan. (the sonsavitches better hope to whatever myths and imaginary superfriends they believe that he returns in one piece again.

But what this does is decimate the experience and leadership levels in these teams, and that reduces their chances of success. Not to mention the several hundreds of thousands of tax dollars spent on the training.

Blackwater and all the other such firms should be completley denied access for recruiting active personnel.