Reply #3: Machiavelli on Mercenaries: [View All]

[leveymg]

"The mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way."

Machiavelli sites many examples of mercenaries who have turned on their employers. All this began when the Holy Roman Empire lost power in Italy and the popes gained power. Citizens took up arms against the nobles, and the popes encouraged them. Because neither the citizens nor the popes knew how to fight, they hired mercenaries. Soon mercenaries commanded every army in Italy, and this caused the ruin and humiliation of Italy.

Rove is said to be a student of Machiavelli. You'd think he would know better than to encourage the privatiation of the U.S. military and, particularly, the intelligence services.