Why exactly is it crazy? Be specific. Companies like Trident Group are hired by the CIA all the time. You think they are sailing around tooting Popeye's whistle? These guys were not drug users. They were not cavorting with prostitutes. What was the actual evidence there according to the video? The prostitutes (who were not shown, nor identified, nor likely to be reliable), a video of them outside the bar (where is that video and exactly how can they be identified when it was taken at night and since when do shithole bars in the Seychelles use video?), a random popo who claims they were found with a needle in their arm (did he come across the bodies?) So with just a few random allegations, former SEAL's have been painted as whore mongering drug addicts. Not ONE actual piece of evidence. Give me a phucking break. SOF guys are not fearless. They have learned to master their fears....big difference. One of the ways they do that is by not making careless mistakes with their lives. And if you believe they are "all that", then believe they are also loyal to a fault. These were family men....what makes you think they couldn't be faithful?
You are right. So you have to ask, why would they take on this kind of job? Well, when you have been a government trained killer and you come "home", what kind of job can you get while still providing for your family? You don't fit in socially, you can't have casual conversation with other people because nobody knows nor could they understand what you have done or felt or been through. A square peg in a round hole. These "security" jobs pay a ton of money. Risky, yes but again, how many other options do they have?
No doubt these guys understood the risk. Question now is one of justice for them and their families; if nothing else to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones. People think these guys are invincible but they are human too and prone to the same temptations as the rest of us, and probably more so since they are exposed to violence on a scale that we only imagine.
And yet that changes nothing of what I said. But I would disagree just a wee bit. The risk is different as a contractor. Understanding it doesn't make it any less fortunate.
i agree with what you said throughout this thread, just adding perspective to what you said. I don't mean to sound cold about these guys but this story, right now, is a mountain of speculation. I am merely trying to inject a tiny bit of truth. It is not an easy decision to join the military but when one does, an obvious level of risk assessment is made that drives ones decision into what it is they want to do. There are plenty of options and some...many choose the front. That choice includes what it is one want's to do once they separate. Many choose the front (for whatever reason) knowing all they are after is college money. There is a lot that goes into ones choice and there is always going to be a level of inherent risk involved with their decision, regardless of their chosen profession. Same goes for those who accept a position with private contractors after their service. With a whole new level of considerations, risk assessment is made from a greater level of experience. They choose their professions with a great understanding of risk versus reward, whatever that reward may be. There are many cases where the choice was not made based on their limitations rather, a choice made by their comfort with what they do. I feel horrible for the families of these guys. Nothing that comes from this will be good and certain nothing, will ever bring their loved ones back. They too, understand the risk and that is a common truth for both, families of service members as well as families of hired guns. That said, I agree with you in that I lack as much trust in the Government (any Government) as you do. If your assumption is correct, it is a great possibility no one will ever know that to be the truth.
Because there is nothing, not one shred of evidence that the CIA was involved or some sort of government conspiracy. Perhaps your fear and loathing of the government is biasing your judgement. If the CIA murdered these guys, they would have just disappeared. Well, you really don't know that, do you? Soldiers have been known to take drugs and cavort with prostitutes. You know this is true. They closed down the bars at 3AM and left with two women. They returned to their own ship before 6AM. The men were found in their own quarters on board their own ship by their crewmates. All of that is actually evidence. Video is not advanced technology anymore, it is everywhere. The Seychelles have a police force. They interviewed witnesses. The "shithole bar" is an upscale Casino. You are aware they the Seychilles is a resort destination, are you not? What there is no evidence of is a CIA plot and a government cover-up. Look, these guys may be murder victims but they may also be OD's. You don't know any more than I do. The truth is all going to come out eventually. The Coast Guard and the FBI are investigating. Give it time. They are human beings. They make mistakes like everyone else. You can't just ignore that. The friggin' Secret Services has had three high-profile scandals in three years and they were still on active service. What makes you think that they couldn't be unfaithful? Family men foul up like this all of the time. SOF operators are special soldiers, but they are not above the temptations and weaknesses common to all people. I hope it doesn't turn out to be a simple OD. But I think the chances of that are far greater than a secret CIA operation with a government cover-up.
They have many options. Why don't you ask Shane? He had the opportunity to work for big bucks as a private security contractor overseas when he left the army, but he chose instead to stay home and raise his family and he took another job.
You are right Red it isn't simple and there are options. I think one issue is there isn't enough done to consel and train seperating veterans especially those in the combat arms to adapt to civilian society. There are some who only can become merc of one sort...there are many who ca re integrate but many more could do better with a better support structure. It is a failing we have had for our veterans of combat especially forever. They deserve better.
No amigo. That's Shane's personal business and I'm sure he made the decisions he needed to. And because I haven't made all this shit up out of my own crazy imagination. Feelin me? Sources. Thank you. Yes. I was focused in more on SpecOps guys and there is less support for them than just about any vet and yet they probably need it most. I did say government trained killers. They are. They left America with the best training available and likely almost all of them with ideals about protecting freedom and serving their country. And then they begin to understand what their country is asking of them and it isn't always right or righteous. Sometimes innocents get hurt or killed.....by Americans. Some non-innocents get removed as well. Some Americans come home with a "number", maybe in the hundreds. Think about that, red. So what does a man do who has spent years removing targets and can't really talk about it? What goes on the resume? When others are standing around the water cooler discussing their career, what does the GTK say? "Blood really squirts out the head if you hit it just right"? How many people can understand or are really ready to hear what they went through? Some family members don't want to know. Vet counseling services are completely unprepared. They don't want to hear the truth either. They dispense meds and move on to the next. So yes, plenty of them join companies like Trident because their resume is welcome, they are amongst others in the same boat, it's a lot of money, and they can stay away from home and the painful looks of friends and family who don't know how to help or accept what happened.
