6 ms·

it does, yes. he was very against the privatization of the military and intelligence services

dragonwriter 8y ago
He was against the privatization of certain US military and intelligence functions, but I'm not aware of him being against foreign states hiring US military or intelligence contractors for similar functions.
- Balgair 8y ago
  Privatization of military functions was a key reason for the downfall of the Roman Republic. Troops became loyal to generals, not to the Republic herself, as the general became the paymaster/generator of funds. The echos are getting louder.
  - gnulinux 8y ago
    It's not clear to me why Roman Empire would be relevant in this case. Society, economy, politics, military, culture, technology, wars, the life of soldiers... a lot of things were different back then.
    - Balgair 8y ago
      Roman Republic, not the Empire. There are always lessons in history, even accounting for the differences between an agrarian and digital society. Private militaries have proven to be rather fickle when it comes to rights v. might.
      - dragonwriter 8y ago
        > Roman Republic, not the Empire. The fall of the former and rise of the latter seems to be the issue being raised, so either equally applies.
  - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
    > The echos are getting louder These mercenaries are closer to Crassus hiring legions to fight a foreign war moreso than Caesar or Sulla marching on Rome. American firepower is predominantly state owned and loyal to its civilian leadership. These mercenaries are a liability because they make America look bad, not because they pose even an intermediate threat to American military power.
    - Balgair 8y ago
      True! A good look into this further is Mike Duncan's The Storm before the Storm that leads into the Sulla era: https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Before-Beginning-Roman-Republic/dp/1610397215 https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Before-Beginning-Roman-Republic... Duncan's The History of Rome podcast is very good overall and very much worth a listen.
      - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
        Thank you! I have always had a strange fascination with Sulla–as a man, a politician and a general. Appreciate the book and podcast references.
ahoy 8y ago
Privatization of US military function isn't what this article is about. (it's mentioned, but it's not the main narrative)

He was against the privatization of certain US military and intelligence functions, but I'm not aware of him being against foreign states hiring US military or intelligence contractors for similar functions.

Balgair 8y ago
Privatization of military functions was a key reason for the downfall of the Roman Republic. Troops became loyal to generals, not to the Republic herself, as the general became the paymaster/generator of funds. The echos are getting louder.
- gnulinux 8y ago
  It's not clear to me why Roman Empire would be relevant in this case. Society, economy, politics, military, culture, technology, wars, the life of soldiers... a lot of things were different back then.
  - Balgair 8y ago
    Roman Republic, not the Empire. There are always lessons in history, even accounting for the differences between an agrarian and digital society. Private militaries have proven to be rather fickle when it comes to rights v. might.
    - dragonwriter 8y ago
      > Roman Republic, not the Empire. The fall of the former and rise of the latter seems to be the issue being raised, so either equally applies.
- JumpCrisscross 8y ago
  > The echos are getting louder These mercenaries are closer to Crassus hiring legions to fight a foreign war moreso than Caesar or Sulla marching on Rome. American firepower is predominantly state owned and loyal to its civilian leadership. These mercenaries are a liability because they make America look bad, not because they pose even an intermediate threat to American military power.
  - Balgair 8y ago
    True! A good look into this further is Mike Duncan's The Storm before the Storm that leads into the Sulla era: https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Before-Beginning-Roman-Republic/dp/1610397215 https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Before-Beginning-Roman-Republic... Duncan's The History of Rome podcast is very good overall and very much worth a listen.
    - JumpCrisscross 8y ago
      Thank you! I have always had a strange fascination with Sulla–as a man, a politician and a general. Appreciate the book and podcast references.

ahoy 8y ago

Privatization of US military function isn't what this article is about. (it's mentioned, but it's not the main narrative)