Tag: The Army

Privatisation

The Army we don’t see: The private soldiers who fight in America’s name – Pearls and Irritations

US CONTRACTOR branch tape and dog tags on woodland camouflage uniform.

The way mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private army have been waging a significant part of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has been well covered in the American media, not least of all because his firm, the Wagner Group, draws most of its men from Russia’s prison system. Wagner offers “freedom” from Putin’s labor camps only to send those released convicts to the front lines of the conflict, often on brutal suicide missions.

Source: The Army we don’t see: The private soldiers who fight in America’s name – Pearls and Irritations

Informed Comment

Call in the Khaki: The Australian Defence Force and COVID-19 – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Australia’s resort to the military in these pandemic times is unexceptional. When found short in their civilian deployments, the authorities in many countries have called upon the armed forces to provide assistance. But the pressing concern when using such personnel, notably in instances where their roles and positions are unclear, can only trouble the purists of accountability. For Morrison, the move is very much in the tradition of mass distraction and excuse. If more things go wrong, blame the medically inexpert Lieutenant General.

Source: Call in the Khaki: The Australian Defence Force and COVID-19 – » The Australian Independent Media Network