Mercenaries? Good or bad?

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-07-26 12:57pm

In ordinary circumstances and activities, mercinaries would probably be alright. However, if the shit hits the fan and the situation is as near to hopeless as it can be, who would I rather have defending the country: some mercinaries who can take their money and run, or soldiers who will stay out of patriotism and loyalty and all those other things? I don't want to even have suspicions that the people out there will flee as soon as times get bad and I need them most. I can't trust them.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2004-07-26 01:50pm

Mercs make for good games, and I like the comic strip Schlock Mercenary.

Other than that it's just supply and demand.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2004-07-26 04:51pm

In ordinary circumstances and activities, mercinaries would probably be alright. However, if the shit hits the fan and the situation is as near to hopeless as it can be, who would I rather have defending the country: some mercinaries who can take their money and run, or soldiers who will stay out of patriotism and loyalty and all those other things? I don't want to even have suspicions that the people out there will flee as soon as times get bad and I need them most. I can't trust them.

A calculated risk, to be sure - but a good one, at that. Remember that the companies large enough to provide the resources demanded by the Pentagon have a reputation to protect. It isn't in their interest to "cut and run."

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-26 06:05pm

mercenaries aren't exactly useful beyond short-term and relatively mundane activities, given that they don't require any sense of loyalty and aren't really held to any stringent contracts like full soldiers are. It's best to go with a country's own military, and at best use mercs as a supplement, preferably not at all.