Security analysts and the Somali government are publicly flirting with the idea of hiring mercenaries to stop the pirates that are terrorizing east Africa. Now, the notorious guns-for-fire at Blackwater are responding to the call, with a resounding arrrr!!!!!Concerns with Blackwater domestic operations notwithstanding, I find a free market solution interesting. As long as there's no problem proving the scalps and ears turned in for the bounty are righteously harvested...and all the controls are in place to prevent abuses and ensure protection of the innocent that that implies.
Without it, what's to stop some enterprising mercenary from shanghaiing a crew, placing them on a stolen vessel, blowing it to hell and then collecting a reward? I mean, it's not like we're dealing with professors of ethics here. And what's the saying, "Dead men tell no tales"...?
[Via David H]