# Should We Enlist The MAFIA In The "War on Terror"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 27, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330 "2004-09-27T18:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/21 "2004-09-28T00:44:33Z")
Ummmm, if we gave the Mob global immunity, what would keep them from ramping up all of their criminal activities tenfold? If we gave them immunity limited to anti-terrorism activities, what would be in it for them? A sense of pride having served their country? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/22 "2004-09-28T01:32:09Z")
Give a bunch of thugs a license to kill whoever they wish? That’s the greatest idea I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/23 "2004-09-28T01:34:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, I’d say that’s about as clear and succinct an expression of blind bigotry as anyone is ever likely to find in this forum. Thanks for sharing. I want you to prove otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/24 "2004-09-28T02:24:35Z")
> [@](#): > > **Paul Fitzroy** : Solution: drop a nice neutron bomb on Iran, followed by one on Saudi Arabia. Bulldoze every stinkin’ hovel in Gaza and the West Bank; destroy Hamas and Hezbollah. We’ve just eliminated a whole fifth column of world society which contributes nothing and sucks in the money of everyone else, funding jealous acts of terror against the superior West. No more terror. **Paul** , some of us don’t _want_ to become terrorists ourselves. How is a terrorist who attacks Arab countries and cultures different from a terrorist who attacks Western countries and cultures? ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/25 "2004-09-28T02:32:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I want you to prove otherwise. No, I don’t believe you do. It doesn’t matter anyway. Consider what you would answer if asked the question, “What makes your life so much more valuable than those of hundreds of thousands of innocents?” Since you state these as criteria as to who deserves to live and who deserves to die, what have you personally created that is worth anything to anyone, that no one else on this earth could have created? How have you advanced culture? Seems to me if you can’t answer those questions, you haven’t made a case as to why great masses of people should die to reduce from near zero to slightly closer to zero the chance that you, or anyone you know, might die in a terrorist attack. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/26 "2004-09-28T03:50:44Z")
I still think this thread is a joke. My solution would be to pull out of Iraq and apologize for invading the country for no apparent reason. Restrict if not eliminate all immigration from majority Moslem countries. Explain that we will continue to support Israel but push for a Palestinian state and fund pro-western, democratic dissenters whenever and wherever possible. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/27 "2004-09-28T03:57:40Z")
As I understand it, the Sicilian Mafia is on its last legs (in America, anyway). Russian and Armenian Mafiya would have more useful contacts in the Middle East, but those aren’t people we want to owe a lot of favors to. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/28 "2004-09-28T14:28:25Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > As I understand it, the Sicilian Mafia is on its last legs (in America, anyway). Russian and Armenian Mafiya would have more useful contacts in the Middle East, but those aren’t people we want to owe a lot of favors to. Tell New Yorkers how you think the Mafia’s on its last legs. I think the best reaction you’ll get is :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/29 "2004-09-28T15:42:36Z")
What I’m having trouble seeing is the Mafia’s ability to develop inroads in the Middle East or root out terrorist cells anywhere. By all appearances, the Mafia and the jihadists inhabit two separate worlds. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/30 "2004-09-29T05:25:52Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I still think the Mob could be useful to deter terrorists…and a few extra-judicialkillings might make it difficult to recruit in the USA. Take that blind sheik in NJ (that is running an active terror cell). Nobody seems to know what to do with him (the Egyptians won’t take him back). I say let Rocco and Sal take care of him…if you know what I mean! This must be a whoosh. Are you saying that you can’t get arrested for running an active terror cell in NJ ? ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/31 "2004-09-29T05:58:57Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > No, I don’t believe you do. > It doesn’t matter anyway. Consider what you would answer if asked the question, “What makes your life so much more valuable than those of hundreds of thousands of innocents?” Since you state these as criteria as to who deserves to live and who deserves to die, what have you personally created that is worth anything to anyone, that no one else on this earth could have created? How have you advanced culture? > > Seems to me if you can’t answer those questions, you haven’t made a case as to why great masses of people should die to reduce from near zero to slightly closer to zero the chance that you, or anyone you know, might die in a terrorist attack. His answers are clear enough I thought: - By being Jewish - Because they aren’t Jewish ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/32 "2004-09-29T14:22:20Z")
Is there more money to be made from aiding the US government or terrorists? If we enlist one particular bunch of organized criminals to aid our side wouldn’t that pretty much drive the rest of them over onto the other side? ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/33 "2004-09-29T14:24:55Z")
I believe what the OP is looking for is “Death Squads”. Not organized crime, per se, but rather the sort of wonderful paramilitaries that so many dictatorships use as judge/jury/executioner to deal with/“disappear” inconvenient people (the opposition, intellectuals, rebels, homeless kids, terrorists or whatever). Organized crime is merely a good recruiting ground. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/34 "2004-09-29T16:31:49Z")
> [@MMI](#): > > I believe what the OP is looking for is “Death Squads”. Not organized crime, per se, but rather the sort of wonderful paramilitaries that so many dictatorships use as judge/jury/executioner to deal with/“disappear” inconvenient people (the opposition, intellectuals, rebels, homeless kids, terrorists or whatever). Organized crime is merely a good recruiting ground. I agree completely. The OP has no idea what the Mafia really is. The mafia is a group of organizations that control things like garbage collection, unions, docks, and sometimes things like strip clubs, gambling, and drug dealing. They are basically people that have a strong influence over different blue-collar business sectors through bribes to government officials and the reputation for the threat of violence for non-compliance. They are out to make money and spread their influence over these activities and nothing more. Many of the activities that they are involved in are not even illegal. If you wanted to find someone that has inside knowledge of particular industries and has no qualms about violence or other illegal activities then this might be a good place to start but they are not supermen. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/35 "2004-09-29T17:18:25Z")
> [@sevastopol](#): > > His answers are clear enough I thought: > > - By being Jewish > > - Because they aren’t Jewish Well, he didn’t really say that at all, but considering his famous see-thru posting style, I don’t think anyone could disagree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/36 "2004-10-11T06:00:17Z")
Isn’t proposing/defending/calling for genocide against the SDMB rules? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/37 "2004-10-11T13:14:08Z")
You know what? I swear the people on this board have gotten stupider and more insane over the past few years. Enlist the Mafia to help in the war against terrorists? What are you kidding me? Are we indulging in some fantasy here where a couple of goons named Vinny and Rocco are going to show up in some cave in Pakistan and make the remenants of the Taliban an offer they can’t refuse? Maybe Osama will wake up with a camel head in the bed with him? What makes you think they would help? In spite of their smuggling, gun and drug running, prostituion, illegal gambling, murdering and extortion they are still tru-blue Americans? IMHO, they are more likely to be part of the PROBLEM, not the solution. What makes you think the Mafia would even be any good at it? Many of these terrorists have spent years training to evade police and local law enforcement in countries where the authorities have much less respect for civil rights than we do. They manage to hide from the FBI, the CIA, MI5, Israel’s Mossad and local and regional police at every level. You think they can’t hide from a couple of fat Italian guys with-a bad-a accents? > [@ralph124c](#): > > …it has been proven that existing law enforcement is hopeless againsts these terrorists. No such thing has been proven at all. > [@ralph124c](#): > > So, when a budding young terrorist moves in to a neighborhood, we can have “Rocco” check him out. If he has no explanation, then they blow him away! Look, if I want people’s rights violated, I want it done properly by the government. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/38 "2004-10-11T15:38:17Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > I fail to see how turning the Middle East into a glass parking-lot will help give people warm-and-fuzzy feelings about the U.S. No more people, no more anti-US sentiment? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/39 "2004-10-11T17:46:34Z")
Look, if you’re so fucked up you’re willing to blow yourself up to get at your enemies, Rocco and Vinnie AREN’T gonna scare you. Rocco and Vinnie, who don’t have legions of suicidal followers, would be the ones who should be scared. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330/40 "2004-10-11T21:42:49Z")
> [@Fuji Kitakyusho](#): > > No more people, no more anti-US sentiment? Yes, and I suppose that means nobody in any other countries won’t hate us anymore, either. Why, goodness, you’re right. Problem solved. There aren’t enough :rolleyes: on this board to reply effectively. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-enlist-the-mafia-in-the-war-on-terror/266330.md?page=3)