Mercenaries have a bad reputation, but have saved many lives in Africa.
You might want to read Forsyth's the Dogs of War.
Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries (XXXVI)

THESE, in the day when heaven was falling
The hour when earth's foundations fled,
Followed their mercenary calling,
And took their wages, and are dead.

Their shoulders held the sky suspended;
They stood, and earth's foundations stay;
What God abandoned, these defended,
And saved the sum of things for pay.

A.E. Housman

Just so folks are aware and to make sure that the other side of the story gets presented, Nicolaus van der Veer of Northbridge PMC has left a comment about my post. It's worth a look for those who are interested in the debate.

I am looking for a job as a mercenarie?
how to apply

What people fail to recognise is that there are an awful lot of ex-soldiers that have either been discharged from many armed forces, or that have left after being disenchanted by their relative force. Couple that together with a generation that are less responsive to the hardship of warfare. The result is a lack of willing and able soldiers to deal with varying situations. Yes it is true that mercenaries are working for money, but isn't everyone, the difference is that the product of this particular venture is death or injury. No one enjoys the feeling of the taking of a life, however, it is part and parcel of warfare. The UK and US are victims of their own devices, they have systematically reduced their fighting troops of the course of the last 10-15 years, critics of these moves have always said that when troops will be needed the cupboard will be bare. The proof of the pudding is here.

I think where are soldiers fail because of having their hands tied because of political reasons and the news media is always watching the soldiers and reporting everything and I mean everything we have failed here in the United States to take out what we call the evil axis. You do not believe me then where is Sadamm and where is Bin Laden?Now if we hired mercenaries they would be just a memory by now no news coverage on how they died or when and no needless killings of 100's of soldiers and civilians.Mercenaries are trained to do the job and do it right for the little compensation that they get. They do not want medals or purple hearts they are out there trying to make ends meet like everyone else and there should be more of them.We ourselves are to blame in the United States for our failures from Vietnam to the present Iraq and mideast conflicts. It is and it looks like it always will be like a three ring circus. Politicians should not be involved when we are at war. News media and News reporters should not be over there reporting of every little thing that is happening.The soldiers have other things to do without having to babysit them. And now we are letting Hollywood stars over there and have to protect them? What is Iraq a amusement park?

Sorry I did not have enough space to finish my thoughts on this.I want you just to take a look at all the billions of dollars that the United States have given away.We go in and bomb the place and these bombs are not cheap.Uae vehicles.guns,supplies,food and communications and not to forget all the so called intelligence that we have in place in a country.And after it is all said and done we rebuild the country and spend billions of more dollars and place another dictator there so we can do it again in another 10 years!And who is paying for all of this?Me and you and it looks like are grandchildrens children and their grandchildren in taxes thats who.Mercenaries just make sense that is the bottom line and I think they would be great here for Homeland Security better than what we have now in place.They are more undercover and that is why they can get more information then the F.B.I. or the C.I.A. Instead of paying billions does it not make sense to pay a few millions.A elite team of 25 or 30 mercenaries under one commanding officer could disrupt or disable a country with little or no civilian casualties.

Hi
I am an Australian x soldier and have been thinking very seriously about setting up an organisation to help the coalition forces not only in Iraq but around the world combat terrorism. I was thinking of something like GCTSF - Global Counter Terrorist Strike Force. It would be made soley up of pre-serving Soldiers or Police Officers from around the world into 1 organisation to releive the hectic work load the coalation forces are currently experiencing.
I would like to hear what views others have on this matter. Thanks