Soldiers of Fortune: The Australian mercenaries selling paramilitary services to warlords and despots abroad.
“If you want to conquer in the 21st century…you use mercenaries, special forces, things to keep war secret and nobody’s better at secret wars than mercenaries.”
– Former private military contractor
In conflict zones around the world, battles are increasingly being fought, not just by armies, but by private military contractors operating as guns for hire.
“Mercenaries allow anybody who can swipe a big pay cheque to wage war. And mercenaries will follow the contract.”
– Former private military contractor
These mercenaries live in a shadowy world away from the public eye where the normal rules of combat don’t apply. Their work usually remains secret unless something goes very wrong.
“This is a world of duplicity and, and false stories and backstabbing. If you’re a mercenary you’re essentially breaking the law in many countries.”
– Author
On Monday Four Corners investigates this murky world and the Australian military men at the heart of it.
“It is exceptionally serious that former Australian military are applying the skills that have been granted to them by our community and our government for potentially criminal, certainly immoral things.”
– Former Australian Defence Force commander
Last year a group of private military contractors made a failed attempt to overthrow a Middle Eastern government. The operation fell through when the warlord they were working for accused the mercenaries of failing to deliver on a contract worth tens of millions of dollars. The team’s hasty escape lifted the lid on a plot worthy of a blockbuster novel.
“This was off the scale. I’ve never come across anything like it before. I’ve dealt with murders, I’ve dealt with criminals, but nothing of this magnitude, nothing involving heavy military hardware being channelled…into a war zone.”
– Crime reporter
In an investigation criss-crossing the globe, Four Corners pieces together the incredible plan to provide military “support” to the warlord in contravention of an international arms embargo and a UN-backed peace process and how it all went wrong.
“Once they landed on shore, these 20 people…they were arrested immediately.”
– Police spokesperson
Those who know first hand what it’s like to work in this murky world warn of the consequences of unleashing mercenaries in dangerous places.
“When you privatise war, anything goes…suddenly laws of supply and demand replace laws of armed conflict. Ideology, patriotism, national security; it’s only as good as you can afford.”
– Former private military contractor
It is replayed on Tuesday 15th September at 10.00am and Wednesday 16th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
