Giovanni.

This is coolbert:

Thanks to Joseph Heller and the tip from DEC at the Jungle Trader blog.

 "Frankly, I'd like to see the government get out of war altogether and leave the whole field to private industry." - - First Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder 

Be careful what you wish for. You may get it and YOU MAY TOO NOT LIKE IT!!

Professional free enterprise military private industry as practiced in the past. The way of war as conducted by the mercenary of the period between the end of the Crusades and the advent of the Black Powder era.

The condottieri! Professional men-at-arms, hired mercenaries, soldiers of fortune and businessmen one and the same of varying nationalities fighting without allegiance but rather for those THAT PAY!!

"Condottieri . . . were the mercenary soldier leaders (or warlords) of the professional, military free companies contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance."

Those Italian city-states either unwilling or unable to field an army from their own internal resources relying upon the foreign element to do the fighting if and when war erupted. The paladin the gun for hire [actually mostly using a sword]. Condottieri still using "the grand armoured knight and medieval weapons and tactics" at least for several hundred years until the advent of "pikemen and musketeers".

BUT BEWARE the condottieri the hired gun turning on the master in that split second capricious as stated in the wiki entry!!

"Once aware of their military power monopoly in Italy, the condottieri bands became notorious for their capriciousness, and soon dictated terms to their ostensible employers."

Perhaps that most famous hired gun of the era the Englishman John Hawkwood! So far from home but at ease with the mercenary life a private free enterprise for profit military career most successful!! And I would have to assume hardly a man to trifle with!

"Sir John Hawkwood (died 1394) was an English mercenary or condottiero who was active in 14th century Italy . . . Hawkwood served first the Pope and then various factions in Italy for over 30 years."

Blackwater, Sandline, Executive Outcomes all modern manifestations of the condottierri? Such military adventure has a future? That venerable tradition of mercenary is enjoying a comeback of John Hawkwood would be proud? Milo look out!!

coolbert.