Mercenaries
have often been despised since they kill others for money rather than because
of their beliefs or values (such as a desire to defend ones homeland or ethnic group). Is it understandable to you that someone from
a poor country would make a decision to work for a foreign army? Is this a career just like any other (with
its own moral ambiguities)?
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Not a labor of love
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I believe that it is, to an extent, understandable that someone from a poor country would decide to work for a foreign army. It can be quite difficult to find good jobs in countries like India where there is intense competition in the job market. Thus, people like the apple farmer or the airline caterer may sometimes be left with no better alternative than to get recruited into a foreign army.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s important though, is the side they choose to work for. From what I have heard, both Russia and Ukraine have foreign recruits fighting for them and getting paid for that. I am quite sure that neither of the sides would refuse anyone who would wish to join their forces unless, of course the person might be a spy. After all, the Russia-Ukraine war takes dozens of people’s lives every day and both sides are in dire need of human power. Yet, based on all the information from the news that has been known to the public, I am of the opinion that only one side makes an understandable choice. From my perspective, choosing to work for Russia is wrong and it puzzles me why some people would voluntarily join their forces.
Furthermore, I am not even surprised that the Indian recruits who were promised non-combatant roles “were trained to use Kalashnikov assault rifles and other weapons before being sent to Ukraine”. I mean, I do not understand what they were expecting. First of all, it is a time of war and I think that it should be in their desire to know how to use weapons to defend themselves even if they are supposed to work in non-combatant roles. The thing is that anything can happen in war and I do not think the other side will care much about whether you are a fighter or a non-fighter if you are working for the other side’s army. Second of all, I think the recruits should have been expecting that Russians would not keep their word. After all, before the invasion, many Russian diplomats and politicians said that Putin did not want to invade Ukraine. Even Putin himself said that the Russian army was near the Ukrainian border purely for training and defensive purposes. But look at where we are at today.
- Oliver T.
Hi Oliver, I do agree with you that becoming a mercenary for a foreign army may be a viable option to some due to poor living conditions and high competition in job market. This includes examples mentioned in the article such as India, Cuba or Pakistan. Furthermore, I too, find it a bit naïve for the recruits to think that applying for a non-combatant job in a war equals being safe. I will not meditate over the question whether they were tricked by the Russian army. From my perspective, they should have allowed for the possibility of being sent to the front.
DeleteOn the other hand, I have to disagree with you when it comes to the perception of morality of their actions. I find it a bit utopian of you to think that common people who join foreign army in order to feed their families would think about the correctness of choosing an army to work for. There are two reasons why I am of this opinion. Firstly, if you were in their shoes, what would be the criteria based on which you would decide which army to work for? If I were them, the pay and risk involved would have priority. Morality would follow. Secondly, you cannot expect everyone to share the same opinion on what is right and wrong. People base their opinions on the information available to them. The same facts can be presented and interpreted in a plethora of ways. This always was and will be misused by those in power. Furthermore, if countries like India, China, Pakistan or Cuba considered Russia’s actions immoral they would have condemned them in the UN voting, their narrative would be different and recruits might act differently.
- Oliver K.