Public-Pirate Partnerships

Alex Tabarrok has written a fascinating history (and economic analysis) of privateering, with some interesting comments at the end about the current crop of military contractors.

Comments

[Edward Teach]

Arrrrrgh!

[JKP]

Also worth looking at on this subject is P.W. Singer, "Corporate Warriors" (2003).

[squarooticus]

Is that the sound a pirate makes when dying? I think you want "Arrrrrrrrrr".

[Dave W.]

One potential problem is when privateer booty drives the war itself.

i doubt the owners of the Comet did much lobbying back in 1812.

However, when Dick Cheney's secret energy task force convinces him to convince us that we need a war against Iraq so privateers can collect the oil there, I consider that as a problem. perhaps the central US foreign policy problem today.

[highnumber]

Brilliant insight, Dave W!

[NoStar]

Oh, Blackwater keep on rollin...

[JackAss]

Where can I get some of this privateer booty that DW is rambling on about?

[Cardinal Francis George]

i don't want any black water either.

seriously, i only have one hip left.

[Dave W.]

Where can I get some of this privateer booty that DW is rambling on about?

Whose message board do you think we are having this discussion on? As Madge used to say: you're soaking in it!

[TallDave]

I got my stolen Iraqi oil in the mail yesterday. Yay! No more trips to the gas station!

Also, I recieved $2.1 million from a very generous Nigerian bank official.

Conspiracy capitalism -- catch the wave!

[Dave W.]

I got my stolen Iraqi oil in the mail yesterday. Yay! No more trips to the gas station!

Be careful -- that stolen oil could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. In fact, I was just at the gas station this morning and I noticed some metal tubes . . . I was getting pretty worried until I realized that Saddam, Uday and Quesay were all dead. Pat Tillman died so that I may live!

[Chucklehead]

I noticed some metal tubes . . .

That was the internet, silly.

[Warren]

Now that you mention it, you can get yellow cake at a lot of gas stations.

[JackAss]

I got yellow cake for my birthday.

[VM]

psst. Jack. that was yellow snow.

[highnumber]

psst. Roving Reporter. Didja hear?
No free beer, not in Berwyn, not tonight.

The Venom Lords are not the best dressed band in Chicago.

[VM]

happyhappyjoyjpy.

good that we don't have plans.

/leaves pebble right there

[SM]

Great essay.
"The Pirates Lafitte" is an excellent read & good for the down-and-dirty details on private-public partnerships.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156032597/reasonmagazinea-20/

[FinFangFoom]

Its interesting that both pirates and ninjas have backgrounds working for states, since they are now mortal enemies.

[Mad Max]

SM,

I presume the address you meant to give was

http://tinyurl.com/2q2o5p

FFF,

Ninjas versus pirates? I haven't seen that movie.

[juris imprudent]

Ninjas versus pirates?

Ha! It's the robots with death-ray eyes you've got to worry about.

Them and mimes.

[SM]

Mad Max - Yup that 's it. Curses !

[J Golden Rockwell]

You gotta be careful what you shoot, too.

A mime is a terrible thing to waste.

[thoreau]

All the Iraq War booty goes to Nick Gillespie, since his publication has been such a loyal supporter of the Iraq War.

[Nobody Important]

Public-Pirate Partnerships
Jesse Walker | April 13, 2007, 1:36pm

[Nobody Important]

Oops. Don't know what happened to my post, which should have been:

"There are Pirates and Emperors, but they're really the same thing..."