Strategic airlift is routinely required to operate into and out of airfields where there is a significant threat from MANPADS and other threat systems.
Such threats require extremely advanced Defensive Aids Systems (DAS) which are developed, integrated and deployed using exceptionally specialised knowledge and sensitive data. These are not available to civilian opertors, and nor should they be.
Even were civilian companies able to offer such capabilities, how do we varify system calibration and data bases? How do we ensure aircrew proficiency in their use, not to mention the TTPs required to ensure exposure to threats are minimised. Who pays for upgrades as new threats emerges? Who pays for expendables? Who trains the civvy aircrews? How do they stay current in such systems?
Secondly, said strategic aircraft are also commonly employed for other tasks such as AAR. I don't enviage many civilian companies being willing to operate over hostile territory for extended periods to provide such a service.
Finally, I'd suggest that this...
Being as I pay so much tax you steely eyed killers who live on my tax owe me an answer.
...is a tad arrogant. Perhaps the military personnel who go into harms way on your nation's behalf are owed appropriate defensive measures, rather than transport into and out of theatre by the lowest bidder.
Obviously, if the comment was said in jest, I apologise.
Regards,
MM