Francs-tireurs

Francs-tireurs is an old term for irregular military forces. They operate outside of the law of war which, back in the olden days, meant if you captured one,


you were free to shoot him (or her) on the spot.

Nowadays, the term for people running around a war zone who are carrying guns and who are not part of a recognized military force is "unlawful enemy combatants."

Which brings me to Blackwater and the other mercenary companies. In that they are running around a war zone, carrying weapons and engaging in military operations, they arguably are our own unlawful combatants. We have tens of thousands of of them operating on our side.

Am I the only one who sees this as a problem?