Guest endymion Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 Before the FBI or the CIA or the DHS, when there was a dangerous fugitive on the loose we would send in a posse. For the most dangerous fugitives, like Bonnie & Clyde or Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, we sent mercenary bounty hunters to track them down and either kill or capture them. Usually kill.Why are there no private mercenaries in Pakistan trying to kill Osama bin Laden for the 20 million dollar reward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pod Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 I would imagine they are out there, but like anything it's "off the radar". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JMT Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 i think they are there. remember Jonathan Idema? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest endymion Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 i think they are there. remember Jonathan Idema?Ahh, interesting, thanks. I had never heard of him but Wikipedia had. Very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V. Barbarino Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 The problem is this, what can one do with 20 million in Pakistan or any middle eastnern country? Buy a new camel?Maybe would should also let them know, you can bring 25 people from your family to the US like they usually do.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan2772 Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest endymion Posted October 23 Report Share Posted October 23 The problem is this, what can one do with 20 million in Pakistan or any middle eastnern country? Buy a new camel?I was asking about American bounty hunters, not Pakistanis. Where is the modern Tom Horn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest xmuzik Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Two words: Neutrality Acts.The Wikipedia article barely touches on some of the more interesting aspects of the Acts. Looking at past prosecutions, it's obvious that if the government (or a particularly influential part thereof) likes what you're doing, then you won't be prosecuted, even if you're waging a private war on some sovereign nation ("plausible deniability").If, however, the State Department or some member of the Cabinet finds your paramilitary activities bothersome, expect to find yourself facing serious federal charges. Of course, administrations change, and soldiers of fortune can find themselves suddenly out of favor, even if their cause is just.Compare and contrast: William Walker; Lafayett Escadrille; the Flying Tigers; Alpha 66; Executive Outcomes; Keith Idema; DynCorp International. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pod Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Almost read that last one as Dynacord. However, I read in Wiki on Dog that he wants to go after Osama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Almost read that last one as Dynacord.I almost typed it that way, too.Two more resources in case anyone's curious:The Pinkertons of the 21st CenturyPrivate Military Firm Pitches Its Services in Darfur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cosmigonon Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Executive Outcomes. Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Executive Outcomes. Interesting.I see someone's paying attention.One more article:Blackwater USA says it can supply forces for conflicts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cosmigonon Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Executive Outcomes. Interesting.I see someone's paying attention.One more article:Blackwater USA says it can supply forces for conflictsI learned about them on History Channel (my favorite) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest swirlundergrounder Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 There's a $50 Million bounty on Osama Bin Laden. I'm sure there are some peeps looking for him.http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/24/binladen.reward/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 I learned about them on History Channel (my favorite)The History Channel rocks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cosmigonon Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 I learned about them on History Channel (my favorite)The History Channel rocks!Is all I ever watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cutchemist Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 I first heard of this stuff from "Deadwood" the HBO series...then had to learn more... 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 This discussion intersects with a few other Junkie Chat topics:John Mattes, the investigative reporter who was assaulted on camera a while back, was once a public defender in Miami. He was involved in at least one high-profile Neutrality Act case in the late 80s.That particular case was also investigated by a senate committee looking into possible Contra drug smuggling.The committee was headed by John Kerry.At the time, Vice President Bush was supposedly in charge of the "War on Drugs."Jeb Bush was connected with a plan to treat wounded Contra soldiers through a Miami HMO - and subsidize the operation with Medicare funds.And they all drove Ford Mustangs.Sorry - I haven't had my coffee yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jamu Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 I can imagine that there are a couple of factors as to why American Bounty Hunters don't go right into Pakistan and look for Osama. Probably first being that they don't know the language, second the culture, third the religon (which is deeply rooted in the culture which is why I mention it), fourth know the territory and its people, and finally who they could trust to even get them there in deep Northern Pakistan. I am also sure that being as well armed as Al Queada is doesn't help, nor the fact that they were trained by our CIA during the cold war. Unless I had a muslim background and knew the language, there would be better more successful bounties to look for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saintjohn Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Very good points - which why the best private military contractors tend to be former special operations guys, not shopping mall security guards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest endymion Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 St John, thanks for all of the input. I've been reading about the Neutrality Acts and all kinds of other stuff that I was unaware of that you're bringing up. That blog post about Blackwater being the new Pinktertons was really interesting and relevant, thanks.I was curious about why private security firms can't go in and address the forgotten issue of the guy who attacked us, because as the Blackwater guys like to say: there's a void that private industry could fill. The military is failing to kill or capture Osama bin Laden or al Zawahiri. The free-market, neoconservative solution to that problem would seem to be ... private industry. Right?And Jamu, when the Iranians took a bunch of American computer executives from EDS hostage in 1979, American business man Ross Perot hired a mercenary team to go and rescue them. They suceeded. It can be done.I still don't quite see a good reason why there is not currently an active, free-market competition to capture Osama bin Laden. We have selectively chosen not to enforce parts of the neutrality acts before, I don't see what's the big deal. The US military isn't doing it, there is a 'void' to be filled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jamu Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Oh I am not saying that it couldn't be done. What I am saying is that its not going to be your typical redneck gun ho guy. Its going to have to be people with some background that specalize in doing work within that area or ethnic group. I doubt you'll see much successful from a guy with red hair and a southern accent having much success in Pakistan just IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest endymion Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Definitely true. Perot hired qualified mercenaries, not random Soldier of Fortune magazine readers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V. Barbarino Posted October 24 Report Share Posted October 24 Guys, parks of pakistan have been off limits for decades to foreigners, it's not like a US city, it's the back country and they are also at war with Indian in that area. The Gov has no control over those areas. Dog looks for guys in modern countries. It can't be that hard to find a meth head on an Island. It's like looking for your contact lens on the slopes of Killington.A great analogy is that movie Shoot to Kill.... That Eric Rudolph guy was found 15 miles from his house, how many years did it take us to catch him???I personaly would like to get his #2 first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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