MetaFilter posts tagged with mercenary

Invitation to a Beheading

zoomorphic — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:38:33 -0800

In the wake of allegations from ex-employees at Blackwater/Xe, founder Erik Prince is now under investigation for murdering federal informants. The federal investigation has strictly concealed the identities of the informants, as one ex-employee reports, "On several occasions after my departure from Mr. Prince's employ, Mr. Prince's management has personally threatened me with death and violence." The allegations from John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 (PDF) include incidents of sex trafficking, egregious treatment of Iraqi civilians (public beheadings, child prostitution, rewarding soldiers with the highest body counts), and dismissing negative mental health evaluations of Blackwater soldiers. Prince, says John Doe #2, allegedly sees himself as "a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe." [Previously]

Legio Patria Nostra

Sticherbeast — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:16:55 -0800

Like most boys, I grew up dreaming of a life filled with action and adventure. Unlike most men, I was able to live out those boyhood dreams during my five years in the French Foreign Legion. Previously.

Ai tei vovo, tei vovo, veico, veico, veico

arruns — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 19:02:15 -0800

The coup d'état of Fiji continues today, having picked up again yesterday after letting the Friday deadline for the step down of PM Qarase pass and taking a couple days to enjoy the rugby and a weekend off. Unlike the violence generated largely by Native Fijian/Indo-Fijian tensions in the three previous coups, this latest act by Commodore Bainimarama appears bloodless thus far. It has again crippled tourism however, and, possibly more damaging, halted their trade in soldiers-for-hire.

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find his snakedumb black-arts maggot, maybe you can hire Jean-Jacques

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 06:35:06 -0800

The many lives of Jean-Jacques de Mesterton: A simple-minded hack for FOX News, a soldier of fortune, or perhaps something much, much more sinister?

Pimp My Killing Machine

prostyle — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:47:15 -0800

Defensor Fortis: A Photo Set. A soldier in Iraq has been posting images of consumer vehicles modified and employed by "Civilian Security Contractors". [via] War has always seemed to instill the creative spirit in its participants, and we also have a detailed history of Military vehicles making a successful transition into the civilian marketplace. With the unprecedented rise in Mercenary Employment, it's hard to tell where the innovation is coming from - the top down, or the bottom up? Our favorite grease monkey seems to have missed out on all the hot welding action, but you can't blame him for not trying. At the very least, it seems they can all agree on something.