Martial law by mercenary is nothing new

Historically, the employment of mercenaries has rarely—if ever—resulted in a positive long-lasting result.
The Wagner Group’s aborted mutiny in Russia is only one in a long line of escapades by privately owned mercenary armies who have been employed by global super powers to extend their martial authority without having to endanger the lives of their own citizenry, writes Scott Taylor.

OTTAWA—With the recent crisis in Russia, wherein the private mercenary army called the Wagner Group mutinied and threatened to topple the regime of President Vladimir Putin, casual observers were shocked at the concept of Russia employing a privately owned military force.

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