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**VodsNittats** · 10-06-2010, 07:42 PM

I don't believe the libertarians would have any issues with a private entity hiring a private security firm for conducting private business that is in no way related to the government or military of the U.S. outside of the U.S..

This is a different issue from deploying private firms to support military campaigns and having them hire mercenaries to protect assests necessary to support a war effort even if low priority.

Well, the difference is only notable when you assume that military efforts by the US government outside of US is completely disjoint, or unrelated, to the interests of the US private sectors. So suppose (without any far fetched conspiracy theory) the multinationals, such as BP, Vodafone, Bechtel, Royal Dutch Shell, etc. suppose they spent hundreds of millions to lobby for a foreign intervention, whether humantarian, or defeating a "failed state". Suppose they advocated it, and lobbied for it. Because there are financial gains for them. And suppose members from within the US government went with it (which is hardly surprising). Do you think the hiring of Blackwater by Vodafone to defend its cell site is something completely unrelated to US foreign policy?

I mean, I don't think any of the above is far fetched. In fact, I am quite happy to take out some time in proving them (I have already done so over the years of posting on this forum). But suppose they are the case. Wouldn't the above distinction you made, in which the libertarians are making, become somewhat outdated, or quaint?

10-06-2010, 07:42 PM	#35
VodsNittats Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 551 Senior Member	I don't believe the libertarians would have any issues with a private entity hiring a private security firm for conducting private business that is in no way related to the government or military of the U.S. outside of the U.S.. This is a different issue from deploying private firms to support military campaigns and having them hire mercenaries to protect assests necessary to support a war effort even if low priority. Well, the difference is only notable when you assume that military efforts by the US government outside of US is completely disjoint, or unrelated, to the interests of the US private sectors. So suppose (without any far fetched conspiracy theory) the multinationals, such as BP, Vodafone, Bechtel, Royal Dutch Shell, etc. suppose they spent hundreds of millions to lobby for a foreign intervention, whether humantarian, or defeating a "failed state". Suppose they advocated it, and lobbied for it. Because there are financial gains for them. And suppose members from within the US government went with it (which is hardly surprising). Do you think the hiring of Blackwater by Vodafone to defend its cell site is something completely unrelated to US foreign policy? I mean, I don't think any of the above is far fetched. In fact, I am quite happy to take out some time in proving them (I have already done so over the years of posting on this forum). But suppose they are the case. Wouldn't the above distinction you made, in which the libertarians are making, become somewhat outdated, or quaint?
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