Private security firms

Mercenaries a.k.a. "private security contractors" (I'll abbreviate them as PSCs) in the Middle East:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/19/steve_fainaru_on_big_boy_rules
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/30/AR2008113002216.html

Although the first indictment of mercenary misconduct is pending (6 Blackwater Worldwide employees accused of slaughtering 12+ Iraqi civilians in the 2007 Nisour Square incident), the private security industry in the Middle East is thriving. The people from Blackwater may get off the hook as well, since they worked for the State Dept., not DoD. This was probably deliberate, because no laws exist to regulate State Dept. contractors overseas. Plus at the time, the US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement gave private US contractors legal immunity in Iraq (which has now been nullified for 2009-2012), so they didn't face local punishment, and were probably whisked out of the country before anyone in government could respond. While PSCs have committed illegal killings probably every year of the Iraqi occupation, no previous incidents have made it to court due to the ambiguity of jurisdiction and challenges in procuring evidence. But the Nisour case, like the Marines at Haditha, was so blatant and publicized (especially among outraged Iraqis), that some heads have to roll. The accused have turned themselves in to authorities in Utah (one has already reached a plea bargain, probably to testify against others), hoping that they will get a more favorable, conservative-leaning trial than in DC.

We already know that the Bush administration has been the most prolific in terms of hiring private contractors to do government work, even crafting policy. And the Iraq War has been the most privatized war in US history. Part of that is due to the "sleek occupation" approach championed by Rumsfeld and Co., and an unwillingness to implement a military draft to make up the manpower shortfall. PSCs have fought in the Third World for decades, and were even involved in several successful or failed coups d'etat. But Iraq heralded their golden age (industry insiders gleefully refer to the "Iraq bubble"). Similar to the dot-com or housing bubbles, there are now tremendous demands and opportunities for their services. And with the gradual drawdown of US military forces in Iraq planned through 2012, PSCs will happily fill the void. Depending on how you measure, PSCs and non-combat support staff comprise a fighting force even larger than the Iraqi Army. They have their own helicopters, medics, explosives, and turreted armored vehicles (the poorer outfits like Crescent Security just use pickups with scrap metal plating). So really the US taxpayer is funding two armies (with very different priorities as well).

Some regular soldiers accept this with disdain. While they may earn under $30k/year putting their lives on the line for Uncle Sam, PSCs make $7-20k PER MONTH (higher-ups may make $200-300k/year). Plus the death/disability benefits for PSCs are much better than enlisted personnel, though it is unclear how many PSCs have actually been wounded/killed in Iraq because the companies are not required to disclose anything to the public. While PSCs do risk death on the job (and get in firefights on a near-daily basis), it's not like they have to do the grueling, tedious, confrontational work of uniformed soldiers like directing traffic, patrolling neighborhoods, and conducting counterinsurgency missions. PSCs mostly guard VIPs, Green Zone checkpoints, and vehicle convoys (that often come under attack, but again it's hard to estimate the frequency since companies don't release data). So they're paid nearly 10X an enlisted person's salary to do less work. No wonder Army recruiters are having difficulties reaching their quotas.

In addition, uniformed soldiers are bound by military discipline, Geneva Conventions, and the rules of engagement, while PSCs basically operate by the law of the jungle with practically zero oversight. Soldiers took an oath to defend the country (maybe all of them don't faithfully execute their commitments 100% of the time, but at least it's on their mind), while PSCs only have to answer to company management. A US soldier goes through hell to protect fellow Americans, the Constitution, and the interests of our country (yes, that includes access to oil). Bringing dishonor to the uniform is as unpalatable as defeat. They want to win wars cleanly, expediently, and then go home. PSCs have other priorities in mind, such as thrill seeking (seriously). In fact, it may be in the best interests of PSC firms to drag out wars indefinitely, which means a constant guaranteed paycheck. Despite the patriotic propaganda (PSCs are serving their country too... if the price is right), one has to question their loyalties. That is a big reason why it's always a risk to rely on mercenaries, dating back to Roman times. The Iraqis hate PSCs more than any other Westerners in their country. Probably the insurgents do too, which accounts for the higher number of kidnappings and other incidents.

Yet despite all this, many Iraq vets want to become PSCs after their service is completed. Some have trouble adjusting to civilian life (PTSD, etc.). Others were discharged from the military, but are addicted to adrenaline and miss the action. Though for most it's the money. With little education, it might be the highest-paying career they can get, and many military families endure significant financial hardships when a member goes abroad to serve. So they have little choice but return to the suck. Do we really want to leave our national defense and foreign policy objectives in the hands of people who are mostly concerned with profit, thrills, and may be mentally unstable? Again it's unclear, but there are at least 25,000 PSCs in Iraq, and the total could be as high as 50,000. That is larger than an entire military division. Apparently PSCs are paid out of the Iraq Reconstruction fund, not Pentagon coffers. The Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction estimates that they've paid out over $6B to PSCs since 2003, about 12% of the total reconstruction budget meant for roads, schools, utilities. But really they have little clue about the true financial burden of PSCs, not to mention the secondary costs of cleaning up their negative incidents and bad PR with Iraqis.

http://www.propublica.org/article/audit-us-fails-in-tracking-cost-of-iraq-contractors#When:17:30:00Z

PSCs are becoming as ubiquitous as conflict itself. During the Cold War, they were used by the CIA to train militants like the Nicaraguan Contras, or protect pro-US strong men like Augusto Pinochet. Besides Blackwater, other big outfits are DynCorp and AEGIS. Sourcewatch.org lists over 140 private security firms in total, and 77 have been used in Iraq. They are often based in British Commonwealth nations and tend to outsource to Third World conflict zones, where they can hire for less pay. They even operate within our borders: Blackwater USA trigger men were dispatched by DHS to New Orleans during Katrina to "maintain order" (I'd be unruly too if I went without food and water for days). Blackwater is also lobbying Washington to have its men patrol the Mexico border. So for the 500,000+ Americans who have lost their jobs this fall, maybe they should pick up a weapon and join an industry that is growing faster than health care or education. They pay is great and you might even get to kill a Muslim.

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/3/20/blackwater_the_rise_of_the_worlds