All-Mercenary service?

[GorTex6]

Col. Chet Richards introduces this arguement in his new book Neither Shall the Sword.

[Stratiotes]

Col. Chet Richards introduces this arguement in his new book Neither Shall the Sword.

It is an idea that has surfaced from time to time. Chet's book is on my to-read list. His previous book, _Swift Elusive Sword_, was quite good too. His OODA applied to business book is also quite good. He is a smart gentleman and I would highly recommend anything coming from his pen.

[GorTex6]

Someone should use this Creveldian/PMC plot in a sci-fi novel. The ideas will spread like wildfire.

[Stratiotes]

Someone should use this Creveldian/PMC plot in a sci-fi novel. The ideas will spread like wildfire.

Yes, I had thought the same thing some time ago - before I knew Chet was writing his book actually. I wish there was more time in the day and that I had more talent to deliver the idea.

[Stu-6]

It seems that an all mercenary service is the wave of the future, but by doing so states will risk lose what legitimacy they have left. A state that relies on a corps of mercenaries will have given up it monopoly on violence. The state also runs the risk of creating a powerful enemy by empowering mercenaries.

[Stratiotes]

Last night I was watching Thomas Barnett's Blueprint presentation on video and it occurred to me that some sort of balance would need to be struck between protecting the homeland and projecting power. Mercenaries might be a good solution for projecting power but not necessarily desirable for defense forces - for several reasons, not least of them being fear of military coups but such a force. Many have advocated a well regulated militia for national defense - i.e., not a professional service like the national guard so much as an armed citizenry as with Switzerland. I think such a system could give us the best of both solutions. Every system is going to have flaws but this one seems to me the most cost-effective and also has the benefit of giving all Americans greater stake in our country so it should improve more involvement of the people in political movements. Seems a win-win to me.

[Stu-6]

Mercenaries are useful when the state needs deniability or expendable soldiers, I worry about a government that thinks it need either. A militia, like you described, would be the exact opposite and something that would inspire a lot more confidence with people like me.