Re: [FT] New Israel - Re: National Differences (Long)

>>  
>> I can see good reasons for a *mercenary* force. Ever read Not For
>> Glory by Joel Rosenberg? This has a lot to say about a similar
>> situation. There, the planet is not rich and manpower is the only
>> resource. Hence mercenaries are a source of revenue that helps keep
>> the planet alive. As I assume it is lucrative, this may also apply to
>> a New Israel trying to rebuild Old Israel.
>
>Also, even if the resource/revenue situation isn't as bad as in NOT FOR
>GLORY, maintaining a top-of-the-line standing military force is very
>expensive, especially if there is no clearly-defined present threat. 
>Research (a must if you want to be truly independent) is especially
>expensive.
>
>Revenues from selling mercenaries would help off-set some of those
>costs.  Regularly fielding mercenary forces would also guarantee a
large
>reserve of veterans and provide opportunities to field test new tactics
>and equipment.
>

And as you researched military technology and developed your experience
base, you would inevitably create advanced systems that could be sold
for
revenue.  Maybe like the US does today - where it has advanced systems
that
it sells to valued allies and the *really* advanced systems which it
mostly
keeps to itself.  Besides mercenaries, you could create a significant
arms
export industry based on home grown technology and upgrades to others'
tech
- somewhat like present day Israel (and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps if
you
read those books...)