The Gulf Cooperation Council, stymied in efforts to hire and train Gulf Arab soldiers, is considering a proposal to use mercernaries to bolster its regional force. The discussion took place during a recent meeting by GCC military commanders in Manama. The meeting was the ninth by military chiefs to implement plans to expand Peninsula Shield, the regional force of Gulf Arab states. The alliance has been hampered in meeting a mid-2003 deadline to expand Peninsula Shield from the current 6,000 to 20,000 soldiers. Officials cite a shortage of locally-trained soldiers as well as fears by most member states to send their soldiers to GCC headquarters in Saudi Arabia, regarded as a rival to its smaller Gulf Arab neighbors. GCC secretary-general Abdul Rahman Al Attiyya said Gulf Arab commanders discussed whether foreigners could be recruited into the regional force. Gulf Arab states have a significant number of expatriates in their militaries. These include soldiers from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and mercernaries from Britain and the former Soviet Union.
That's pretty interesting. If the local young fellows aren't willing to defend their countries, that's a good indication that in a generation or so somebody else will be in charge. The fact that military service is beneath the dignity of so many young Americans worries me for the same reason this situation should be worrying the Emirates. |