ロシア傭兵団の「活躍」

　最近、NewsWeekにも載った「ワグナー」グループの件。

BBC Syria war: Who are Russia's shadowy Wagner mercenaries? 23 Feb 2018

「One shadowy group in particular, called Wagner PMC (Private Military Company), hit the headlines because of a clash on 7 February that resulted in dozens of Russian casualties」

　…記事を読むと、冷戦時代（の娯楽小説）にあったような「傭兵」像が展開していて、ある種、もりあがるものがある：

「The mercenaries can be deployed in especially tough ground fighting alongside Syrian government troops.」

　自分でやりたいとは思わないが。

「In December 2016 the US Treasury said Mr Prigozhin had "extensive business dealings" with the Russian defence ministry and was linked to the construction of a new military base near Ukraine」

　もう、「建築会社の警備員を募集」しちゃいますよね冷戦脳だと。言われる側は：

「Mr Prigozhin shrugged off the US charges, saying "Americans are very impressionable people". "If they want to see the devil, let them see him," he quipped」

　とはいえ、現実に多数のロシア人死者が出ていて、それをロシア側も認める以上、この当人でなくとも誰かは関与しているわけだ：

BBC Russia admits dozens of Russian casualties in Syria battle 20 Feb 2018