If your point is that some self-described 'defense contractors' are arms merchants rather than mercenaries, then I agree. 'Defense contractor' is still a euph

If your point is that some self-described 'defense contractors' are arms merchants rather than mercenaries, then I agree. 'Defense contractor' is still a euphemism in that case however. For this matter, Department of Defense is also a euphemism. It used to have the more honest name Department of War until that was changed in the late 1940s.