General Discussion

HardTimes99

(2,049 posts)

50. Yeah, this semantic quibbling over 'mercenaries' vs. 'security guards' strikes

Mon Jul 8, 2013, 10:38 AM

Jul 2013

me as a little silly. I meant only to suggest that volunteers who enlist in the U.S. military (or any country's military) can only be considered 'mercenary' if one uses the loosest, most metaphoric definition of the term, i.e., anyone who performs a service for money.

BTW, I like your 'security contractors in excessive garb' Has a nicely sardonic ring to it

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Armed mercenaries guarding proposed mine site in Wisconsin [View all] Scuba Jul 2013 OP

Pointless WovenGems Jul 2013 #1

A map of all US steel mills - there are plenty of working foundries in America. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #5

Nowhere WovenGems Jul 2013 #7

Actually there are a lot in the East too NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #11

Pointed Berlum Jul 2013 #20

Nothing says USA like mercs in the hood.... think Jul 2013 #2

Who/what are they guarding it against? (nt) enough Jul 2013 #3

Protesters have been trying to disrupt the exploratory drilling. Scuba Jul 2013 #4

Thanks Scuba, and thanks to the protesters. (nt) enough Jul 2013 #66

They are private security - not US military. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #6

But some have probably served in the military. atreides1 Jul 2013 #8

The term mercenary has a specific meaning under international law hack89 Jul 2013 #9

What's the point of your parsing of words? Scuba Jul 2013 #10

I don't like to be emotionally manipulated hack89 Jul 2013 #12

+1 treestar Jul 2013 #13

i am sorry i live in wisconsin and the thought of masked gaurds up north makes me very ill dembotoz Jul 2013 #14

I have seen many private security guards here in the US, grntuscarora Jul 2013 #18

Right, but "security guard" is a bit manipulate too... CoffeeCat Jul 2013 #23

To be honest, when I think of police, I think of this: NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #28

+ another 1000. Their uniforms and ordnance are manipulating me emotionally. Ed Suspicious Jul 2013 #77

+1000! drokhole Jul 2013 #33

Corpoarte interests in this country have always used deadly force for hire against both civilians Ikonoklast Jul 2013 #17

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #31

Jeeze, I thought Duckwraps Jul 2013 #26

US military provides free training program for private security corporations/businesses. Divernan Jul 2013 #22

INMO our own military Duckwraps Jul 2013 #27

Ugh, no. NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #32

I would say the personnel deployed by a private-sector concern such as 'Xe' (pka 'Blackwater') HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #40

Blackwater was potentially a mercenary outfit. NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #44

Yeah, this semantic quibbling over 'mercenaries' vs. 'security guards' strikes HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #50

Yep, sardonic would be apt. NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #56

This message was self-deleted by its author Dash87 Jul 2013 #15

They all look like a bunch of hicks. Dash87 Jul 2013 #16

Welcome to the Corporate-States of America. Civilization2 Jul 2013 #19

This post is wierd. JayhawkSD Jul 2013 #21

Minnesota's Jenoch Jul 2013 #60

21,000 acres is nearly 33 square miles Art_from_Ark Jul 2013 #67

Two questions spring to mind looking at those pics Vinnie From Indy Jul 2013 #24

They're protecting the geologists, mining officials and equipment involved in taking bore samples. Brickbat Jul 2013 #25

There are no threats against geologists or mining officials or any other people. Scuba Jul 2013 #35

Oh, I thought there was a disruption with some bore-hole drilling. Brickbat Jul 2013 #38

True, but that does not constitute a threat to people. Scuba Jul 2013 #39

Isn't some of the included land contested Native American land? If so, anyone HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #41

Many groups are working to stop the mine. None of these groups condones violence against people. Scuba Jul 2013 #43

I doubt 'violence against people' is the issue; probably more 'violence against HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #46

My original reply was to BrickBat, who suggest geologists and other workers were being threatened. Scuba Jul 2013 #47

I escalated the rhetoric, which I try not to do. Brickbat Jul 2013 #48

Ah, got ya. I was thinking that possibly militant groups like the Earth Liberation Front might HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #53

I don't know who they are, but if they advocate violence they are not welcome here. Scuba Jul 2013 #55

Those who would contemplate violence against property as an acceptable tactic need to study HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #57

Bomb throwers of any ilk are not welcome here, but thanks for your concern. Scuba Jul 2013 #58

Robert Fassnacht was the victim. It was August 1970. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #59

It was and is so sad. When I was a much younger man (during the days of CISPES) and HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #61

I was a grad student at Madison at the time. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #62

i was up there several weeks before the bombing madrchsod Jul 2013 #83

Copper Falls State Park, near Mellen. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #87

Can't tell if Duckwraps Jul 2013 #29

They are most likely semi-automatics rifles hack89 Jul 2013 #30

They look like idiots. secondvariety Jul 2013 #34

This looks more like an Infowars story than one worthy of DU. Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #36

Please explain? Scuba Jul 2013 #37

It looks like pure speculation Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #42

Google is your friend. So is the DU search function ... Scuba Jul 2013 #45

gawd man! do a little research before Pharaoh Jul 2013 #65

Really sick of this kind of thing. Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #69

try google! Pharaoh Jul 2013 #70

Seriously? Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #71

Ah.........because I usually don't have time Pharaoh Jul 2013 #72

It's like your head is made of solid stone! Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #73

yeah right... Pharaoh Jul 2013 #76

This message was self-deleted by its author Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #80

I don't think you've read a single one of my responses. Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #81

I replied to everything Pharaoh Jul 2013 #82

You really didn't read my posts. Courtesy Flush Jul 2013 #84

Just more dooshbags with guns. n/t leeroysphitz Jul 2013 #49

Here is the definition for mercs Harmony Blue Jul 2013 #51

Let's look at these guys: bobclark86 Jul 2013 #52

Did you notice the Desert camo while in a forest? nt NutmegYankee Jul 2013 #63

But, but... bobclark86 Jul 2013 #64

ive seen a few Rangers with SCAR MK16 Mod 0's galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #86

What could possibly go wrong? Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #54

UPDATE: Jauch and Bewley have asked the mine to remove the guards, who are reportedly from Brickbat Jul 2013 #68

Habitat for Humanity thinks they are great. galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #74

Looks like the Central Arizona branch of Habitat for Humanity. Interesting. Scuba Jul 2013 #75

Freedom ain't free. undeterred Jul 2013 #78

No different than this RB TexLa Jul 2013 #79

I've saw guys like this brought in against the UMWA ileus Jul 2013 #85

As someone who used to wear the uniform... NuclearDem Jul 2013 #88