Global firepower military ranking 2014

Betonov · 05-01-14, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

In regards to Celts, well...you'd be surprised:

Me and my uncle have a little red-ish beards.
Some Celt blood in me it seems

the_tyrant · 05-01-14, 08:36 AM

Hmm, I wonder how the rankings will shuffle once we start counting PMCs. I mean, historically, the 20th century was a bad one for mercenaries, you didn't see men like John Hawkwood rampaging in Europe, funding their own wars, nor did you see conquistadors invading empires for cash.

Private Military groups in the 20th century were limited to coups and wars in places that most of us can't even point out on a map ("Comoros? where is that?").

But I believe that the balance of power is shifting in favor of the private military corporations soon. 20th century "power", as in the million strong armies, the tens of thousands of tanks, and the fleets of hundreds of ships were only obtainable by nation states.

21st century power however, with a-symmetrical warfare is no longer under sole control of nation states. Look at how the Israelis attacked the Iranian nuclear program with a virus. Historically if you wanted to do that, you needed a million strong army, and a strong fleet, to muscle your way into the country. Now? If I had money, I can hire a team of programmers to program viri all day.

Also, for the longest time, there was this theory that only 2% of the population is comfortable actually killing. You can conscript yourself a million men, but 20 thousand of them would be doing most of the killing anyways. in the 20th century, with large set pieces, trenches, and large tracts of ground to cover, the millions of men were needed. However, in the 21st century, I can imagine small mercenary groups, composed purely of the 2%, being able to take on large nation states with great effect.

Jimbuna · 05-01-14, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

Me and my uncle have a little red-ish beards.
Some Celt blood in me it seems

Well it certainly makes you a ginger ninja

Betonov · 05-01-14, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Well it certainly makes you a ginger ninja

At least I won't stand out in a crowd so close to Scotland

Jimbuna · 05-01-14, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

At least I won't stand out in a crowd so close to Scotland

LOL...you experience a dram or two and you won't be standing anyway

05-01-14, 08:36 AM	#2
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Hmm, I wonder how the rankings will shuffle once we start counting PMCs. I mean, historically, the 20th century was a bad one for mercenaries, you didn't see men like John Hawkwood rampaging in Europe, funding their own wars, nor did you see conquistadors invading empires for cash. Private Military groups in the 20th century were limited to coups and wars in places that most of us can't even point out on a map ("Comoros? where is that?"). But I believe that the balance of power is shifting in favor of the private military corporations soon. 20th century "power", as in the million strong armies, the tens of thousands of tanks, and the fleets of hundreds of ships were only obtainable by nation states. 21st century power however, with a-symmetrical warfare is no longer under sole control of nation states. Look at how the Israelis attacked the Iranian nuclear program with a virus. Historically if you wanted to do that, you needed a million strong army, and a strong fleet, to muscle your way into the country. Now? If I had money, I can hire a team of programmers to program viri all day. Also, for the longest time, there was this theory that only 2% of the population is comfortable actually killing. You can conscript yourself a million men, but 20 thousand of them would be doing most of the killing anyways. in the 20th century, with large set pieces, trenches, and large tracts of ground to cover, the millions of men were needed. However, in the 21st century, I can imagine small mercenary groups, composed purely of the 2%, being able to take on large nation states with great effect. __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us