Father of Slain SEAL: Who Made the Decision Not to Save My Son?

[Berzerker]

Everything is political. Hasnt the President politicized the attack that killed Obama? Of course he has. So why isnt it fair if the shoe is on the other foot?

cuz that was our attack, you wouldn't expect Bush to stand on the rubble of the towers with a "mission accomplished" sign behind him

 

[Agent327]

I see alot of assumptions and hearsay in this thread and very little fact.

The president has totally politicized the state department and military.

I would say that is typical of US presidencies- although there is a substantial difference between State Dept. and military, and the second part, while being highly suggestive, isn't particularly substantiated.

 

[Rashiminos]

Woods says that shaking President Obama’s hands at his son’s memorial service was “like shaking hands with a dead fish.”

Or an object with strings that were not being pulled at that precise instant.

This is the most disgraceful thing that has happened in our nation's history.

Those affected the interventions/coups in Nicaragua/Iran would beg to differ.

 

[Agent327]

Let´s not rehash that again...

 

[Hygro]

An important distinction is that a mercenary isn't a member of a government-sponsored military.

So either way, active duty soldiers (foreign or otherwise) fighting on behalf of their governments cannot be considered mercenaries regardless of personal motivations unless one holds a very liberal view of what a mercenary is.

By that definition mercenaries then can only be hired by private actors like corporations. Since governments can hire mercenaries to fight for them, your definition is an odd one.

 

[Rashiminos]

Let´s not rehash that again...

Let's. I want to see cooper squirm as he tries to soften the impact of the US subordinating democratic ideals for geopolitics.

 

[Askthepizzaguy]

Even if it has nothing to do with Libya, why fuel the rumor mill by replacing him not long after this occurred? Surely they could see how this would be interpreted?

Perhaps the military is not run by people who consider the rumor mill before the needs of the military at the moment.

A non-political move, in an era where everyone is politicizing everything. Imagine!

 

[Bugfatty300]

By that definition mercenaries then can only be hired by private actors like corporations. Since governments can hire mercenaries to fight for them, your definition is an odd one.

Just because a government hires them doesn't make them members of said government's military...

Spoiler :

1. A mercenary is any person who:

(a) Is specially recruited locally or abroad in order to fight in an armed conflict;
(b) Is motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by the desire for private gain and, in fact, is promised, by or on behalf of a party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar rank and functions in the armed forces of that party;
(c) Is neither a national of a party to the conflict nor a resident of territory controlled by a party to the conflict;
(d) Is not a member of the armed forces of a party to the conflict; and
(e) Has not been sent by a State which is not a party to the conflict on official duty as a member of its armed forces.

2. A mercenary is also any person who, in any other situation:

(a) Is specially recruited locally or abroad for the purpose of participating in a concerted act of violence aimed at:

(i) Overthrowing a Government or otherwise undermining the constitutional order of a State; or
(ii) Undermining the territorial integrity of a State;

(b) Is motivated to take part therein essentially by the desire for significant private gain and is prompted by the promise or payment of material compensation;
(c) Is neither a national nor a resident of the State against which such an act is directed;
(d) Has not been sent by a State on official duty; and
(e) Is not a member of the armed forces of the State on whose territory the act is undertaken.