| Mercenary soldiers have been used by nation | | | | estimated between 50,000 and 60,000 rebels.The |
| states since Biblical times. The Romans used Goth | | | | mercenary's depended on speed, surprise, |
| mercenaries to fight Hannibal and his Carthaginian | | | | coordinated tactics and logistics. The rebels |
| army. The English used Celtic warriors to defend | | | | depended on superior numbers and firepower. |
| them against the Vikings. The British used | | | | The contest was, well, no contest. In a matter of |
| Hessians during the Revolutionary War here in the | | | | days the rebels had been removed from the |
| United States. Mercenaries have enjoyed a very | | | | capital, flushed into the jungle and slaughtered by |
| mixed reputation as long as government entities | | | | concealed fire teams and snipers.The United |
| have utilized this soldier-for-hire service.The most | | | | States had suffered an embarrassing defeat in a |
| successful use of a mercenary army almost | | | | similar situation in Somalia a year before the |
| certainly must be the late 20th century prowess | | | | events in Sierra Leone. The unbelievable success |
| displayed by a company named Executive | | | | of Executive Outcomes was an eye opener to |
| Outcomes. In strife torn countries all over Africa | | | | military planners, governments and humanitarian |
| governments and multi-national corporations hired | | | | groups all over the world. It was an |
| the firm to protect assets such as oil fields and | | | | embarrassment for them. As the mercenary |
| diamond mines while slaughter raged around them. | | | | army secured Sierra Leone, the violence ebbed |
| Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Namibia, | | | | and food and medical care re-entered the |
| Botswana and Angola are only some of the | | | | country. The unpopular truth was that Executive |
| countries that deployed Executive Outcomes. | | | | Outcomes, 300 strong army, had performed a |
| Chevron, DeBeers, Rio Tinto/Zinc and Texaco are | | | | feat that no government could, or would |
| just the tip of the companies that hired the | | | | undertake.Here is where the story takes a sad, |
| company to protect valuable producing assets.The | | | | almost perverted turn. Within 18 months of |
| name Executive Outcomes would seem to | | | | stabilizing the country of Sierra Leone, the |
| indicate that this mercenary army provided more | | | | government, under severe international pressure |
| than just bullets and soldiers for contract hire, and | | | | asked the Executive Outcomes forces to leave. |
| they did. The firm acted as advisors to | | | | They did, and within a few weeks the rebels |
| governments, provided deep background checks | | | | regrouped and infiltrated the cities anew.In |
| on prospective employees, wrote software, | | | | addition, at this time the genocide in Rwanda was |
| provided training at their company owned schools | | | | beginning to receive international news coverage. |
| and controlled over 30 legitimate businesses. | | | | Executive Outcomes presented the CIA, United |
| However, it was as mercenaries that Executive | | | | Nations and the French government a business |
| Outcomes dazzled.The company consisted | | | | plan offering to enter Rwanda and stop the |
| principally of former South African Special Forces, | | | | slaughter. Amazingly, all said no and the issue was |
| sprinkled with a few British, Scot, Irish and | | | | kept Top Secret. No government took action as |
| Americans soldiers of fortune.The speed and | | | | over 800,000 Rwandan's were butchered in a |
| lethality of the Executive Outcomes operations | | | | televised ethnic cleansing.In 1999 the government |
| became legendary, striking fear into their | | | | of South Africa outlawed mercenary activities, |
| opponents and admiration from such interested | | | | effectively putting Executive Outcomes out of |
| parties as the CIA, Hamas, the Israeli Mossad and | | | | action. The embarrassment that the company had |
| Russian KGB. | | | | laid at the doorstep of weak, vacillating |
| Executive Outcomes offered a turnkey service | | | | governments was too much for them to bear. |
| customized to each geopolitical and corporate | | | | Rather than utilize and manage Executive |
| need. If a refinery needed protection from | | | | Outcomes as a tool to minimize and snuff out |
| revolutionaries it was done, and corporate assets | | | | rogues everywhere, the United Nations preferred |
| contracted for protection to the company were | | | | to serve up sanctimonious blather while a country |
| never lost. If a town or city needed liberation, this | | | | was raped, pillaged and murdered.I wish we lived |
| would be accomplished with unbridled speed, | | | | in a perfect world, or a sane one. We don't. I wish |
| tactics and firepower.The company's most | | | | there were no need for a mercenary army to |
| famous, and public, success was in Sierra Leone. | | | | exist anywhere. Executive Outcomes proved, |
| A brutal civil war had turned the country into an | | | | however, that such a force, when utilized by the |
| otherworldly zone of death, inhumane slaughter, | | | | good guys would be a force for good.Executive |
| rape, torture and hate. Young boys were armed | | | | Outcomes is the military equivalent of an |
| to the teeth and took immense pleasure in killing | | | | organization like the consulting firm McKinsey & |
| children, the disabled, puppies and each | | | | Co. The Executive Outcomes disruptive innovation |
| other.Sierra Leone has one of the world's largest | | | | was to negotiate contracts with governments and |
| deposits of diamonds and the rebels were | | | | international organizations, provide swift, clear |
| constantly attacking the mines. The Sierra Leone | | | | decisive outcomes, minimize loss of life, stabilizing |
| government and the United Nations, feared that if | | | | territory and providing an opportunity for peace. |
| the rebels seized control of the diamond mines | | | | The company should have been lauded, not |
| they would be able to use conflict diamonds to | | | | derided by cowardly, insipid bureaucrats and |
| further fund their madness. The rules of | | | | politicians. The company was a classic example of |
| engagement and the fees paid to Executive | | | | an entrepreneurial success, solving problems and |
| Outcomes were never publicly revealed. It was | | | | providing needed benefits.Geoff Ficke has been a |
| also never announced, but widely believed that | | | | serial entrepreneur for almost 50 years. As a |
| the company was hired and paid by the United | | | | small boy, earning his spending money doing odd |
| Nations.The United Nations had placed four | | | | jobs in the neighborhood, he learned the value of |
| thousand peacekeeping troops in Sierra Leone. | | | | selling himself, offering service and value for |
| They had suffered a number of embarrassing | | | | money.After putting himself through the |
| losses, and predictably were unable to stop, or | | | | University of Kentucky (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, |
| even slightly slow the rebels. The decision to | | | | 1969) and serving in the United States Marine |
| engage Executive Outcomes was a painful one | | | | Corp, Mr. Ficke commenced a career in the |
| for the international community. Diplomacy would | | | | cosmetic industry. After rising to National Sales |
| never work. Starvation was rampant. The | | | | Manager for Vidal Sassoon Hair Care at age 28, |
| potential for the fighting to spread to Nigeria and | | | | he then launched a number of ventures, including |
| other countries was imminent. The thought that a | | | | Rubigo Cosmetics, Parfums Pierre Wulff Paris, Le |
| private-company could settle the situation, and | | | | Bain Couture and Fashion Fragrance.Mr. Ficke and |
| quickly, was a bitter pill for the diplomatic | | | | his consulting firm, Duquesa Marketing, Inc. ( has |
| community.Executive Outcomes assembled a | | | | assisted businesses large and small, domestic and |
| team of 300 professional mercenaries. If they | | | | international, entrepreneurs, inventors and |
| were a baseball team, the equivalent would have | | | | students in new product development, capital |
| been a team of 300 Albert Pujols or Mickey | | | | formation, licensing, marketing, sales and business |
| Mantles. These guys were good, the best fighters | | | | plans and successful implementation of his |
| in the world. Each had extensive experience in | | | | customized strategies. He is a Senior Fellow at the |
| multiple nasty wars, from Angola to East Timor, | | | | Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Business |
| and many more. They faced a rebel army | | | | School, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. |
| consisting of an undisciplined, but brutal force | | | | |