From: "John Beamish" 

I checked a couple of dictionaries.  The first definition in both was
(paraphrasing) "somebody working for monetary gains".  The second
in both was "professional soldier in a foreign army."

"Gene McAloon"  wrote in message
news:j74u90dfga2aan5g76thnhtk7ftm7krq15{at}4ax.com...
>
> Because they are not. At most, they might be called auxiliaries.  They
don't do
> any fighting, just guard duty and running certain other non-combat
operations.
>
> The most laughable use to which they are put is guarding Bremer of all
people.
> The military can't spare guards even for him?  Maybe he had to hire his
own.
> Everything else in Iraq is screwed up, why not that too?
>

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