Yeah, it’s pretty much a product of the chickenshit world we live in. For the last several decades, the whole world has relied on the US to fight everyones’ wars and provide a security umbrella for civilization against the dark forces. Now the US is reluctant to involve itself in some of the more serious problems, so the Gulf States are contemplating hiring a private security force, assembled by Blackwater founder, Eric prince, to combat piracy off the horn of Africa. From an Associated Press link sent to us by Old Trooper;
Prince’s role revives questions about the use of military contractors. Critics say it could undercut the international community’s effort to train and fund Somali forces to fight al-Qaida-linked Islamist insurgents.
The European Union is training about 2,000 Somali soldiers with U.S. support, and an African Union force of 8,000 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers is propping up the government.
By introducing contractors, “You could see the privatization of war, with very little accountability to the international community,” said E.J. Hogendoorn, a Nairobi-based analyst with the International Crisis Group think tank. “Who are these private companies accountable to and what prevents them from changing clients when it’s convenient for them?”
Yeah, well, since no one can summon the testicular fortitude to dedicate some government force to battling piracy, it’s up to privateers. The UN can debate the topic from now until Eternity, they’ll never have the guts and the UN has a reputation for just screwing up, anyway. I can only imagine the stories about blue-helmeted goons raping underage dolphins and flounder.