DarrylS

From NEWSMAX an excellent article on the fraud perpetuated in this war, the Pentagon has to pay bonuses of 150K to keep its top spec ops warriors, if they don't they go to Blackwater et al. Someone should have planned for this, but otoh.. guess in the backrooms of 1600 Penn ave someone thought it was a good idea, attaboy...

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/spe.../28/44646.html

The Department of Defense has been drawn into a bidding war with its own contractors to keep special operations troops in uniform -- a competition that has cost taxpayers at least $100 million since it began in 2004.


The Pentagon’s Special Operations Command is paying reenlistment bonuses of up to $150,000 to Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs to keep them from fleeing the military to take high-paying jobs with private security contractors such as Blackwater USA.


“Ideologues in government have pushed outsourcing with fateful results,” author, columnist, and former Army officer Ralph Peters tells Newsmax. “We ended up outsourcing our honor.”


According to The Associated Press, about 1,200 Army and Navy commandos have accepted bonuses in exchange for agreeing to remain in uniform. Only those service members with at least 19 years of service are eligible for the bonuses, which start at $8,000 for those signing up for one extra year. Two additional years in uniform bring $18,000, three years $30,000, five years $75,000 and six years the top bonus of $150,000.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

Harry Boy

What we now need in this country is something new, we need a "Secret Police Force" an organization that the Far Left Wing Liberal Democrat cannot penetrate and destroy with all their Slobbering Whiney Traitorist Bull*****, we need something new because we have something new, we have a "New Enemy" the Cruel Vicious Fanatics In The Muslim Religion, they have no Honor, they have no Rules their one goal is to slaughter as many Americans as they can, you can't fight these bastards with the Far Left Wing Liberal Democrats breathing down your neck screaming about "civil liberties" and all the rest of their crazy Blame America Hate Bush Crap these Sore Losing Rats are more interested in Destroying Bush than they are in protecting their country.

The world is changing and wars are changing if we don't change we are doomed, if our enemy doesn't "fight fair" we shouldn't "fight fair", the Geneva Convention is now a thing of the past, in the war on terror we have to fight fire with fire, we could learn a few things from America's Street Gangs, "when you get him down kick him" fair fighting is a thing of the past.

Little by little the Far Left Wing Democrat is becoming America's Enemy.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

wistahpatsfan

And the line between American soldier and corporate mercenary vanishes before our eyes. Patriotism is a joke to these mercenaries. Holding your government at gunpoint for more money is no better than a pro athlete demanding to be traded or get more $. Maybe the Chinese or Russians will hear about this and recruit our "heroes" to their team by offering more money than Blackwater can.

In a culture obsessed by material gain and judging one's value by their investment portfolio, we shouldn't be surprised that "fighting for your country" is about the equivalent of free agency contracts in the NFL. We're just rooting for laundry. What a post-modern nightmare!

Harry Boy

Exactly and we need every "Killer" we can get that will fight for us, who cares if the Mercenary isn't Patriotic, we aren't hiring them to "Salute The Flag" we are hiring them to kill the bastards that are trying to kill us and our families.

The Muslim Terrorists are far worse than the American Mercenary.

If he brings a knife you bring a gun, your family's lives depend on it.

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Harry Boy (Genius)

In The Absence Of Law And Order Society Will Surely Destroy Itself

Stokes

I'm not sure you want to blame them for being unpatriotic, after all these are bonuses for RE-enlistment, meaning these men have already honorably served their country. Are they now required to keep serving once they have fulfilled their commitment if a better financial offer comes up? Do you in your life have to take a government job instead of a more lucrative offer with a private firm?

ArmyPatsFan

This is nothing new and should not surprise anyone. Spec Ops personnel are the pinnacle of the professional Soldier and have always had large bonuses given to them to keep them serving.

Anyone doubting their patriotism obviously has never served or does not understand what these men have already given up for their country. Sometimes it is time to move on....whether it be Blackwater or whoever.

The military has the same difficult time keeping in medical professionals as well and compensates them quite well to stay in. Way more than I make with bonuses as well.

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"An army is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of bull****."
- General George Patton Jr (...hmm maybe BB)

bmf31c

I think your off base on this one. 19 years is the minimum time in to qualify for this....1 year from retirement. Like Army said this isn't new, Special Operations Command knew in the late 90's that they would not be able to fill their ranks with traditional methods. I know guys that received huge bonuses back then on the same program. It's convenient for the MSM to bring up the money factor because of the ****storm Blackwater has created.
You have to realize the majority of the Blackwater guys are glory hounds to begin with, they wanted to be a Green Beret, SEAL etc for the recognition of the name not the benefit of the mission and the honor of being a quiet professional.
Most of these mercenaries are not career troops, they did 4-8 years in the service and are just glory hounds seeking a name, fame and money.

sdaniels7114

I'm not seeing the big deal. As long as the war continues, we'll need these highly-skilled soldiers to fight it. Who cares if their paycheck says Mr Joe Whoever or Sgt. Joe Whoever. At the end of the day, we''re paying Joe either way.

wistahpatsfan

I'll take your word for it.