Letters to the Editor
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Mercenaries are politically cheap...initially
the military is a highly sensitive and politicized institution. You have to kowtow to them, praise them, laud them, indoctrinate them into why they need to risk their lives by fighting your latest enemy, and punish those that dare to impugn them (moveon.org). You also have to deal with their families back home and they get pretty vocal when things start to go wrong etc...
There are no such connotations or restrictions surrounding mercenaries, you know they fight for money,if you sign on the dotted line, you can do away with all that political and tiresome 'we love the military, don't dare criticize the military' stuff, you don't have to put on a sincere face and hold back tears as you mention the sacrifice of mercenaries, or meet with their families.
They're cheap until a tipping point is reached and the truth of their cost in all senses of the word is revealed...after that they're nothing but trouble.