[Griff]

If you want smaller government, you have to recognize and defeat what grows government. War-making grows government more than any other factor. Obviously, we don't live in a world where oil companies pay their own way when it comes to knocking off governments overseas, so right now mercenaries are not the biggest threat to our way of life. I think there is merit in your argument against letting corporations employ mercenaries and since corporations only exist at the whim of the state, they can be restrained from actions detrimental to the nations safety. However, right now, oil companies have our taxpayers and our army to enforce their merchantilistic desires and that does help prevent a free market from developing in the energy sector, making us slaves to their industry.

Your point about the weakened state of W's Presidency does not hold water if you consider what he can do at the drop of a hat in the name of national security. Even someone with as little popular support as W can invade countries and/or shut down entire industries if he so desires. This weak President has troops all over the world and could if he chose start another war with the barest excuse in Syria or Iran. Fortunately, he doesn't face re-election so he may restrain himself this time.