Why is there sympathy for soldiers but not for contractors?

My understanding is that many of them are ex-military, who are driven to sign up by the same mechanisms that generate the "economic draft". They are from the same demographic, driven by the same motivation, contributing to the same effort and are operating under the same command. Yet, many find that, while it is not ok to slander a soldier, a contractor is fair game. Seems a bit strange to me :shrug:

Ex-soldiers have the option of continuing to be soldiers, or becoming civilians. Becoming a mercenary should never have been an option, and it's one that no ex-soldier worth 2 stinky shits would take.

Someone who repairs the trucks? Are they "mercs"?

Which is a duly earned description for killers for money.

i considered signing on with dyncorp as a police trainer for newly formed police agencies in afghanistan,m iraq, etc.

an important job and not a mercenary one

this was about 8 yrs ago.

100k + tax free / yr and room/board paid for

it sounded like a good idea to me, from a career development, experience expanding and financial angle. then, i got engaged and my (soon to be wife) laid the kibosh on THAT idea damn quick.

That word is "mercenary".

It carries a foul stench.

Or whatever they're calling themselves now
nuff said

military atrocities.

Because they are afraid of being labeled as "unpatriotic" or some other BS.

The same prejudice/weakness that prevents so many here from tolerating any criticism of Obama.

They do not have to play by the same rules. They are motivated by money to kill others.

Mercenaries are in it or money, period. A soldier has some what of a loyalty.

Another question, how are any of them different from a taliban fighter? Or a gang member. They are doing it for money also. They all have little regard for life as long as they get paid to do what they do.

Never have; never will.

They operate outside any rules of military engagement (and they lie when they deny it.)

They are profiteering, lying sacks of shit.

We should have nobody but US soldiers doing all our war tasks--despite the CW, it's cheaper and safer to use all govt workers for such things. The Pentagon got snookered (or is getting kickbacks) for the intense drive to replace our enlisted men/women with contractors you need to pay extra to be there.

that "contractor" = "security contractor". The vast majority of contractors are cooks, cleaners, mechanics, trunk drivers, construction workers, etc.

An advantage to civilians doing the above work is that it fees up the soldiers to be soldiers.

Hence they pile abuse on all those who aren't rather than picking out those who are.

It is okay to criticize anyone including soldiers. The reason why soldiers are generally less prone to being criticized is because they have chosen to serve the country within the system which we have agreed is acceptable. While there are definitely economic motivations to join the military, it is pretty safe to say that soldiers aren't in it to get rich. Contractors however, are there to make vast amounts of money off of war, hence the "mercenary" title and disdain.

I don't think that any living being is above criticism. You can be grateful for the desire and the service and still criticize specific actions and attitudes. As with contractors, the "in it for the money attitude" is always going to dog them.

It's not that hard to understand.