What is the reason why being a mercenary is bad and that they are punished under the Geneva Convention?

Question

I don't understand much about the role of mercenaries as much so can anybody explain why being a mercenary is bad? Fighting a war purely for profit?

Answer 1

FIRST Mercenaries suffer an often unjust negative reputation.....it ignores the fact that most of the military in the world is in reality "mercenary"....stop paying them and most of them will stop

serving

SECOND The negative image of mercenaries is created by liberals long on morals and short on realities.....the oldest "mercenary" army in the world is the Vatican's Swiss Guard who protect the Pope ...... I doubt the Geneva Convention terms and policies would or will ever be applied to them...... making the Geneva Convention hypocritical and subjective



THIRD Mercenaries are both good and bad depending on who is analyzing them..... we paid non-citizen mercenaries fighting for us in the war of 1812..... and many other of our own wars / conflicts...... we are still providing payment and medical care to foreign nationals who supported us in WW II..... were in effect "mercenaries"...... but they were OUR mercenaries......so good guys



MAJ KEV....You should read Protocols I & II to Article 47 of the 1947 Geneva Convention.....they do reference the use of mercenaries

Answer 2

I'll let you do your own research into the role of the mercenary down through the ages.



However, there is nothing in the Geneva Convention about them and any kind of punishment. Why don't you research that document as well and see what it really says.



EDIT: I am not saying that they are not mentioned ... I am saying that there is nothing in there about any sort of punishment. They are described in detail and that they do not enjoy the same sorts of protections as regular military personnel. But there is nothing that says they are illegal or are "punished" in some fashion as the Asker claims.



Further more: it is the 1949 Convention - there was none in '47.



The Hague treaties are something completely different from what the Asker is talking about.



Additionally, there is a UN treaty about mercenaries that penalizes those who use them, but there is no individual punishment for the mercenary himself, but hey ... it's the frackin' UN - who cares?

Answer 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H0WXCyiJ4



This video describes the role of a mercenary. Mercenaries basically do the jobs that the military won't. Liberals run our country. That's why it is considered "bad".

Answer 4

Read the link It is not a short answer.



Edit: Major they were mentioned in the 1899 Hague meetings....just not as mercs.

Answer 5

For one thing you need to be absolutely certain you choose the right side, or else you may lose the only head you have.