Russia is officially a third world country.
Could you imagine any first world country engaging a 25K+ strong private mercenary army with the same level of equipment as the regulars?
If that’s not third worldy enough, try and imagine an armed 25K+ force violently marching toward the capital to overthrow their employer in any first world country.
It’s all just so pathetic and horrifying.
In 2006, Blackwater was awarded a contract to protect diplomats for the U.S. embassy in Iraq, the largest American embassy in the world. It is estimated by the Pentagon and company representatives that there are 20,000 to 30,000 armed security contractors working in Iraq, and some estimates are as high as 100,000, though no official figures exist.[111][112] Of the State Department's dependence on private contractors like Blackwater for security purposes, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker told the U.S. Senate: "There is simply no way at all that the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security could ever have enough full-time personnel to staff the security function in Iraq. There is no alternative except through contracts."[113][114]
According to former CIA directory Michael Hayden, Blackwater, among other security contractors, were allowed to perform waterboarding on suspects.[118] Leaks in 2009 suggest CIA - Blackwater contracts to assassinate al-Qaida leaders.[119]
