Military Power

Have the use of mercenaries been successful in the past? Give examples. With the rise of the private military companies what do you think the future of the mercenary going?

During the American Revolution the British hired approximately 30,000 Hessians from Frederick II and other German leaders. They were conscripted and do not necessarily meet todays definition of meceenaries. Based on the outcome of the war I would say that this use of mercenaries was not successful in this instance.

The UN frowns upon the use of mercenaries. I guess they could pass numerous of worthless resolutions condeming their use. In fact check out this 1989 resolution on the subject.

UN Stance

would Blackwater be considered modern day mercenaries?

There are currently thousands of mercenaries serving in Iraq. Their high salaries and shorter terms of employment will inevitably make a serious dent on the military's budget -- and soldiers' morale.

While researching this topic I found the UN stance on Mercenaries which I linked to earlier. We all should know now how our President feels about the UN. I found and article that a little over two years old on the use of mercenaries in Iraq. I have yet to research the source so I cannot testify to its validity. But it makes for some interesting reading.

More on mercenaries in Iraq.

Blackwater USA is the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world.

From Blackwater USA's website, the firm that is said to have mercenaries in Iraq.

Machiavelli wrote in "Il Principe" that mercs are bad, because their loyalty is measured in money and it's always better to have troops from the people of your own city (country - respectively nowadays) because they are more reliable.

Although I'm not sure how trustworthy are the modern mercenaries.

I'm kindof torn here, I see good points and bad points in having mercenaries no days

Goliath wrote:I'm kindof torn here, I see good points and bad points in having mercenaries no days

Mind telling what those are?

I suppose he means that you save your own people, sort of "buying off life" for them, and that is good, whereas the loyalty of the mercs is questionable, which is bad.

CrazyCatman wrote:

Goliath wrote:I'm kindof torn here, I see good points and bad points in having mercenaries now days

Mind telling what those are?

Sorry...

Good points:
More people fighting for your cause
Mercs aren't necessarily bound up in the bureaucratic processes
Mercs tend to have better equipment that their respective counterparts

Bad points:
Harder to control than a countries own troops
Loyalties lie with money
More expensive to maintain


I know there are more I was thinking of at the time of my first post, I just don't remember what they are.

KnightTemplar wrote:Have the use of mercenaries been successful in the past?

In the late Roman Empire, it became increasingly difficult for Emperors and generals to raise military units from the citizenry for various reasons: lack of manpower, lack of time available for training, lack of materials, and, inevitably, political considerations. Therefore, beginning in the late 4th century, the empire often contracted whole bands of barbarians either within the legions or as autonomous foederati. The barbarians were Romanized and surviving veterans were established in areas requiring population. The Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire is the best known formation made up of barbarian mercenaries.