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Privatisation of War in Iraq

a_unique_person

Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning
a_unique_person
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http://www.theage.com.au/news/World...e-posted-online/2007/01/26/1169594471753.html

An Iraqi insurgent group has claimed responsibility for downing a US helicopter in central Baghdad killing five Americans, and has posted footage of the alleged wreckage and two of the bodies on an Islamic website.
The 74 second clip carried the logo of the 1920 Revolution Brigades, a known Sunni militant group.
....The helicopter, owned by the US security firm Blackwater USA, was shot down three days ago in a dangerous Sunni neighbourhood in central Baghdad enroute to help a US Embassy ground convoy that had come under fire.
....

The Ansar al-Sunnah Army also posted an ID card it claimed was of a man who was on the helicopter. The card bore the name of Arthur Laguna, later identified by his mother as among those killed. Laguna was a 52-year-old pilot for Blackwater, which provides security for State Department officials in Iraq, trains military units from around the world, and works for corporate clients.
The crash of Blackwater's small surveillance helicopter was the second in a week associated with the US war effort in Iraq.
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What is going on here? The private security firms have been mentioned before, in relation to various events. However, it appears they have an active part in operations, from this story. Just how much money is being spent on these companies, what is their level of incorporation into US operations?
 
One concern is that these firms may cherry-pick the best potential recruits for the armed services. Other than simple pride, why would elite soldiers join the green berets or special forces if they can get better pay and working conditions in private security firms?
 
Puppycow said:
One concern is that these firms may cherry-pick the best potential recruits for the armed services. Other than simple pride, why would elite soldiers join the green berets or special forces if they can get better pay and working conditions in private security firms?
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  • Training
  • Benefits
  • Loyalty to unit
  • Obligation to country
  • Sense of tradition
  • The ability to travel to exotic places, meet interesting people and kill them.
 
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I think that "sense of tradition" and "loyalty to unit" are the only ones that really apply. The rest you can get through these firms, can't you? In particular "benefits" are much better in the private sector.
 
a_unique_person said:
What is going on here? The private security firms have been mentioned before, in relation to various events. However, it appears they have an active part in operations, from this story. Just how much money is being spent on these companies, what is their level of incorporation into US operations?
Click to expand...
Are your tax dollars being spent on this? The outsourcing trend in the US defense establishment is a decades long trend. The intent is to reduce the manpower bill so fewer people end up in the force, with the burden/overhead of manpower costs, and a lower career force who will have pensions paid out over a long term. Thus, expendable "contract" labor is hired out for a variety of functions, which ensures that various contractors make a percentage, which their district Congressmen have assured them they will get.

Allegedly, this cuts costs. Perhaps in the long term, and in the personnel infrastructure accounts, but in the short term, it is more expensive.

More smoke and mirrors in acquisition reform.

DR
 
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Puppycow said:
I think that "sense of tradition" and "loyalty to unit" are the only ones that really apply. The rest you can get through these firms, can't you? In particular "benefits" are much better in the private sector.
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Try calling for fires in the private sector, or getting an airstrike onto a target.

DR
 
Cylinder said:
  • Training
  • Benefits
  • Loyalty to unit
  • Obligation to country
  • Sense of tradition
  • The ability to travel to exotic places, meet interesting people and kill them.
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me. Just change "interesting people" to "hot women" and "kill" to "screw" and I'm in.
 
At his confirmation hearing, David Petraeus spoke about needing extra troops to provide additional security for those already there. He openly stated that his own, personal security would be provided by a private company hired to lessen the demands on the military.

Upon hearing this, one senator (and I don't think that he was among the new ones) sounded incredulous that this was going on. This was a surprise to him?
 
Puppycow said:
One concern is that these firms may cherry-pick the best potential recruits for the armed services. Other than simple pride, why would elite soldiers join the green berets or special forces if they can get better pay and working conditions in private security firms?
Click to expand...

Most PMCs recruit only people who have already served in the military. They dont run "boot camp" basic training for teenagers. To be recognized as an "elite soldier" usually means serving in an "elite" unit. Becoming a private security contractor with one of the major firms in Iraq is usually only a career option for those who have already served their country as "elite soldiers".

Blackwater (founded by a former SEAL), recruits primarily among retirees from the US special operations community.
 
Darth Rotor said:
Try calling for fires in the private sector, or getting an airstrike onto a target.

DR
Click to expand...


Well, here's a short clip of 8 Blackwater guys, 4 US MPs and a Marine gunnner defending the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters in Najaf and calling in Apaches. It looks as though the working relationships between the regulars and the private contractors can be pretty close.
 
NPR has run a number of segments on this situation. In some cases, US military personel will come in and set up a communications operation or something similar, using military equipment. When the facility is up and running, "contractors" will be brought in to run the thing, at pay scales far higher than the military.

Individuals attempting to do reconstruction work are normally escorted by private security personel.
 
Carnivore said:
Well, here's a short clip of 8 Blackwater guys, 4 US MPs and a Marine gunnner defending the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters in Najaf and calling in Apaches. It looks as though the working relationships between the regulars and the private contractors can be pretty close.
Click to expand...
Interesting clip, thanks.

DR
 
a_unique_person said:
In the Vietnam war, according to Bright Shining Lie, John Paul Vann was acting as an officer, calling in strikes or anything else, even though he was not a part of the American armed forces.
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You do recall who he was working for, right?

DR
 
SezMe said:
The mercenaries are the second largest force in Iraq - much larger than the British contingent.
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That's an interesting statement. Last I checked, the UK had about 7,000 in country.

Who are you referring to as "mercenaries." Truck drivers? Security guards? Construction and electrical contractors?

I know there are a lot of armed contractors running around, but I'd be interested to see where you got the breakdown on size of the armed contingent. With about 100,000 contractors doing a whole host of things -- mess hall, base support, logistice support, convoy guard, jail stuff -- I wonder if there is a breakdown by task and function that would shed light on this.

ETA: Ah, the GAO says its about 48,000.

The LA Times 25 Jan 2007 / Jeremy Scahill said:
Already, private contractors constitute the second-largest "force" in Iraq. At last count, there were about 100,000 contractors in Iraq, of which 48,000 work as private soldiers, according to a Government Accountability Office report. These soldiers have operated with almost no oversight or effective legal constraints and are an undeclared expansion of the scope of the occupation. Many of these contractors make up to $1,000 a day, far more than active-duty soldiers. What's more, these forces are politically expedient, as contractor deaths go uncounted in the official toll.
Click to expand...

DR
 
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You might be interested in these groups, AUP.

Frankly, I'd like to see them employed more often - they obviously think "outside the box," and aren't restrained by frivilous tactics of inept politicians.

http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/dogs_of_peace.html

http://www.mpri.com/index.html

I think the stigma of "mercenary" is a thing of the past as many of these personnel are dedicated to preserving a western form of justice and as well as democracy.
 
Mephisto said:
You might be interested in these groups, AUP.

Frankly, I'd like to see them employed more often - they obviously think "outside the box," and aren't restrained by frivilous tactics of inept politicians.

http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/dogs_of_peace.html

http://www.mpri.com/index.html

I think the stigma of "mercenary" is a thing of the past as many of these personnel are dedicated to preserving a western form of justice and as well as democracy.
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Great links Meph. Thanks.

DR
 
Darth Rotor said:
Great links Meph. Thanks.

DR
Click to expand...

No sweat, GI! BTW, there was an excellent documentary on Executive Outcome on the History Channel Intenational recently. It might be on again.

P.S. Here's a listing that might be right up your alley;

2683 Staff Officer for Strategic Policy :)

What's in the bag, Dad?
 
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