tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post26930305668889232..comments2023-09-30T07:24:33.315-07:00Comments on Intro to Global Security: Defining Mercenaries and MilitiasPyrautomatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15410997091290312616noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-56689322295323220292013-04-23T07:19:35.160-07:002013-04-23T07:19:35.160-07:00Short Answer Yes the common element of militias is...Short Answer Yes the common element of militias is there adaptability to different environments we can then examine cyber security and hackers in that context. More over several states i.e. China have military cyber units we can view as state militas. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655729483459623008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-27477012223148839062013-02-24T11:38:57.060-08:002013-02-24T11:38:57.060-08:00We can clearly see that militia and mercenaries ar...We can clearly see that militia and mercenaries are changing, as time goes by. Today , hackers and different cyber groups are threat to both human and global security, as most people do not actually see how we can be endangered and attacked through internet. Can different hackers and cyber groups be put into militia? And was there any case of good response for the attacks that these groups had performed in the recent past?danka.thequeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15650985040644981530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-56162368736265298722013-02-22T05:56:36.685-08:002013-02-22T05:56:36.685-08:00CRS has several reports published over the last co...CRS has several reports published over the last couple of years that look at the growth of Contractors over the course of the last decade additionally the NY Times published this article showing data going back to WWI http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/world/asia/02contractors.html?_r=0<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-51136847316203230152013-02-21T15:31:28.756-08:002013-02-21T15:31:28.756-08:00Jeff, how far back do those internal audits go? If...Jeff, how far back do those internal audits go? If it's 1 in 10 now, what was it in 2000; 1990; 1980; and so on?Pyrautomatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15410997091290312616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-38604447254627787142013-02-21T10:48:43.211-08:002013-02-21T10:48:43.211-08:00Short answer yes the US Armies own internal audit ...Short answer yes the US Armies own internal audit shows that up to 1 out of 10 people employed in some capacity by the army are Contractors. There was a big push toward this during the Bush era, because of Chennys ties to Haliburton. But the trend has been increasing both before and since largely as a cost cutting measure. Shirking both political and finical blame.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-79011942050609340542013-02-19T12:35:55.245-08:002013-02-19T12:35:55.245-08:00Is there any data to show the ratio of mercenaries...Is there any data to show the ratio of mercenaries to conventional forces in the conflicts the US have been involved in in recent years? Is the use of mercenaries growing?verymehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11167478417756736509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-91767732736785555372013-02-19T11:16:53.500-08:002013-02-19T11:16:53.500-08:00Good question first of all Category 2 and 3 is a d...Good question first of all Category 2 and 3 is a definition based on deployed capabilities not potential capabilities. Most Iraq contractors fall under category 2 because they perform a narrow function i.e. logistics, security, or technical. However several companies i.e. Blackwater are capable of performing all these functions at once and they do in Iraq just not in conjunction with each other. As for legal sanctions check out that break down of executive outcomes I posted but short answer there not only legal but frequently employed. Not in direct intervention maybe but certainly in protection of ay the US ambassador to Iraq. Blackwater handled his whole detail complete with company owned armored cars helicopters and special forces trained troopers. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-48403110552296942142013-02-19T11:11:10.676-08:002013-02-19T11:11:10.676-08:00Usually hackers if there private citizens fall int...Usually hackers if there private citizens fall into the category of community militia because they lack formal training, military hardware, and a clear political agenda. Instead its a small "community" of people working towards a goal they define as important with in there community. It should be noted I'm not including state sponsored hacker units in this they can be categorized as State military units thus outside theses permitters. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-85680707654429456792013-02-19T11:07:50.871-08:002013-02-19T11:07:50.871-08:00Usually the state that hires them provides the har...Usually the state that hires them provides the hardware, such as Mi-24 which was usually bought during the cold war and then allowed to rust as nobody knows how use it since the KGB advisors left. In step PMC's they say okay we know how to fly it and more importantly maintain it so you lease it to us to use and well get it back in working order for you. It should be noted that force multipliers include GPS, Sat phones, and heavy mortars. Knowing how to correctly work all this equipment is a force multiplier in itself. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-12687089579179625782013-02-18T22:09:32.231-08:002013-02-18T22:09:32.231-08:00Could you clarify the distinction between a "...Could you clarify the distinction between a "Category Two" mercenary and a "Category Three" mercenary? My understanding is that the United States government would not contract with a "Category Three" group, but I would be interested to see if you could identify an example of a "Category Three" group involved in an American conflict.<br /><br />Second, how do these "Category Three" groups incorporate legally in order to make profits as a legitimate enterprise? I would assume that such privately-owned and operated special forces organizations would be outlawed in Western states. How do these enterprises then circumvent restrictions in order to continue providing their services?Nicholashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14949043099047519101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-44478657935258231672013-02-18T19:44:22.769-08:002013-02-18T19:44:22.769-08:00I know we briefly discussed this in our small grou...I know we briefly discussed this in our small group in class on Friday, but I just wanted to continue the discussion here. I came across an article on foreignpolicy.com (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/02/11/cyber_gang_warfare) that spoke about the rise of cyber warfare. The gangs in the group have a few aspects of each of the definitions you've placed forth. I was wondering into which type of militia you would place these people and why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-44031009854719948272013-02-18T19:08:00.679-08:002013-02-18T19:08:00.679-08:00Where do Category 3 mercenaries acquire their equi...Where do Category 3 mercenaries acquire their equipment? Many force multipliers, like Executive Outcome's famed Mi-24, are very expensive to acquire and maintain, and it would seem more of a financial liability than an asset to a for-profit organization. You mentioned that they borrowed some equipment from Angola; is that the norm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-41848076877254178082013-02-18T15:57:53.062-08:002013-02-18T15:57:53.062-08:00Short answer whoever sponsors them. Enforcement of...Short answer whoever sponsors them. Enforcement of the sponsors agenda varies but usually there is no mechanism to enforce discipline other than sanction, i.e loss of contract or loss of funding. Usually PMC's and Militias have there own internal discipline enforcement much like a regular army. So if a US contractor breaks the law of another nation usually he has legal immunity as part of his contract. However if he embarrasses the company and the sponsor he's fired. Going against mission on a company level will lead to contract termination.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00297294586147871391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-718763757961074946.post-37077751605872791222013-02-17T13:25:07.302-08:002013-02-17T13:25:07.302-08:00In terms of a state sponsored mercenary or state s...In terms of a state sponsored mercenary or state sponsored militia, if these individuals or groups commit a crime or act that was against the agenda of the government they represent, who is held responsible? For example, is the United States responsible if its paid security contractor goes against his mission and breaks the law of another state?Katherine Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00434230825484003126noreply@blogger.com