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Articles
2013
How the US Public was Defrauded by the Hidden Cost of the Iraq War (March 11, 2013)
The tenth anniversary of the US-led military intervention in Iraq has been met with a number of retrospective analyses examining various aspects of the war. This article argues that the Bush administration intentionally hid the costs of war by publically underestimating its costs, recording significant expenses outside of the Pentagons annual budget, and relying on private military contractors rather than traditional military forces. While none of these measures actually reduced the monetary costs of war, they obscured expenses and minimized the potential for public concern. Private military contractors were not only costly, but their involvement in numerous infamous incidents may have had a destabilizing effect, exacerbating the conflict and its costs. Ultimately, the Iraq war demonstrates that, despite the reassurances or subterfuge of political leaders, war is an inevitably costly endeavor. (Guardian)
2012
Contractors in War Zones: Not Exactly "Contracting" (October 9, 2012)
As US troops will soon be out of Iraq and Afghanistan, foreign military presence will remain part of the reality of these two countries through private military and security companies. As of today, “there are more contractors than U.S. troops in Afghanistan”. In fact, the Pentagon employs approximately 137,000 private contractors in 20 countries around the world. In this article, David Isenberg presents “how dependent on them the Pentagon has become”. Not only are those mercenaries less accountable and prone to misconduct than regular military forces, but they will perpetuate conflict dynamics outside of the view of Western publics and democratic control. (Time)
The Explosion of Private Militaries and Mercenaries, Post-Iraq (September 25, 2012)
A Humanitarian Perspective on the Privatization of Warfare (September 14, 2012)
Cheap Help from Uganda (May 2012)
By 2008, US private military companies, including Torres, DynCorp, Triple Canopy, Sabre, and SOC, had hired 10,000 Ugandans for work in Iraq. But Ugandans were paid less on average $700 dollars a month, while US workers were paid up to $10,000 dollars a month. Ugandans were often forced to work 15 hours a day under bad conditions with no job security. Many Ugandans couldn’t afford to complain or quit due to inflation back home. Some Ugandan workers referred to their situation as modern slavery. In this article, the author examines how the lack of regulation and oversight of private military companies operating in war-torn areas have led to labor-related abuses of hired third world nationals. (Le Monde Diplomatique)
US Control of Contractors in Iraq is Vital (February 1, 2012)
US diplomatic personnel in Iraq are protected by 5,000 private security contractors. In a 2008 survey, almost half of the US State Department personnel who interacted with private security contractors thought the contractors acted insensitively towards Iraqis and their culture. Contractors threw water bottles and other objects at civilians to clear them off roadways. This article published on The Hill questions the ability of private security contractors to properly protect US diplomats, and calls for US policymakers to increase oversight of PMSCs in Iraq. (The Hill)
US Drones Patrolling Its Skies Provoke Outrage in Iraq (January 29, 2012)
In September, 2011, the US State Department placed an online prospectus calling for private military companies to operate surveillance drones in “high conflict” areas, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iraq. Iraqi officials, however, argue that drone operations disrespect Iraqi sovereignty. Not surprisingly, some Iraqi citizens do not differentiate between surveillance drones and weapon drones, which have destroyed villages in Pakistan and Afghanistan under the pretext of pursuing terrorists. Privatization of surveillance drones to “protect” US diplomats in Iraq would hamper Iraq’s state-building efforts. (NY Times)
Flexing Musicle, Baghdad Detains US Contractors (January 15, 2012)
2011
US Hiring Mercenary Air Force for Iraq Rescues (November 14, 2011)
The US Departure from Iraq is an Illusion (October 25, 2011)
This Guardian opinion piece examines the false notion that the US will leave Iraq in December 2011. While the US military is scheduled to pull out of Iraq in December 2011, it will continue to maintain its influence by keeping US diplomatic stations, US military trainers, NATO forces, and increased drones and targeted assassinations. In anticipation of the military-withdrawal, the US has hired additional private military security companies allowing the US to continue its military presence. The US also is said to operate the principal Iraqi Intelligence service. (Guardian)
Back to Iraq? Only If Invited, Contractor Says (September 29, 2011)
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, President and CEO of Xe Services LLC (formerly Blackwater) Ted Wright announced that he would like to do business in Iraq again, if the Iraqi government would allow it. Blackwater was evicted from Iraq in 2007 when its contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians in a shootout in Baghdad. As the US military begins to pull out of Iraq, the US government will rely more on private security contractors.
Australia’s Use of Private Security Firms in Iraq (August 10, 2011)
US Blocks Oversight of Its Mercenary Army in Iraq (July 22, 2011)
The US State department is looking to deploy more than 5,100 private military security personnel in Iraq from January 2012. The private personnel will supposedly act as an armed “security” force for 12,000 US State department staff members. This article describes them as “a mercenary army the size of a heavy combat brigade.” The US State department is not disclosing details, however, and is obstructing requests for information made by the independent government watchdog (the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)). The US State department has hired private security for its diplomats in war zones for more than a decade. Poor control of them caused one of the biggest debacles of the Iraq war. (Wired)
Occupying Iraq, State Department-Style (June 7, 2011)
In October 2011, full responsibility for the US’ presence in Iraq will be transferred from the US military to the Department of State. The US embassy in Iraq is the largest embassy in the world but the Department of State has requested that its budget for 2012 almost triple in size (to $6.3billion) and expects to double its presence to 17,000 personnel. This number includes mercenaries and support roles, with only a few hundred traditional diplomats. Thus, Iraq will continue to be run by a heavily militarized US State Department -- unless Congress refuses to pay for it. This is unlikely to be received well in a changing and increasingly politicized Middle East. (Tom Dispatch)
2010
Use of Contractors Added to War’s Chaos in Iraq (October 23, 2010)
Panel Examines Contractor Drawdown in Iraq (March 29, 2010)
A congressional committee questioned military leaders and KBR, one of the Pentagon's biggest defense companies with contracts totaling $38 billion, about how they plan to reduce the number of private contractor employees in Iraq to no more than 75,000 by August 2010. A recent Pentagon Inspector General report found that KBR contractors were billing the US government for "12 hours of truck maintenance work, but in reality only working an average of 1.3 hours". Congress wants assurance that contractors "don't have unnecessary staff hanging around without work, but still drawing pay."Army Awards Lucrative Iraq Contract to KBR (March 3, 2010)
2009
Blackwater Said to Pursue Bribes to Iraq After 17 Died (November 10, 2009)
US Court Dismisses Iraqi Contractor Torture Case (September 11, 2009)
A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit against two US defense contractors accused of torturing Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib prison. This ruling upholds the 1992 US Supreme Court decision that private military and security companies have immunity because they are government contractors. (Reuters)Sometimes It’s Not Your War, But You Sacrifice Anyway (August 17, 2009)
Injured War Zone Contractors Fight to Get Care from AIG and Other Insurers (April 16, 2009)
Blackwater: We Will Leave Iraq if US Orders it (January 30, 2009)
2008
State Department: Drop Blackwater in Iraq (December 17, 2008)
Blackwater Operatives Indicted for Slaughter of Iraqi Civilians (December 9, 2008)
A Whitewash for Blackwater? (December 9, 2008)
Military Contractor in Iraq Holds Foreign Workers in Warehouses (December 2, 2008)
Blackwater Busted? Six Guards May Be Charged in Iraq Massacre (November 15, 2008)
Blackwater Bodyguards Promised Immunity (October 29, 2007)
It All Makes Sense Now - Blackwater and the ICC (October 1, 2007)
One Fifth of Iraq Funding Paid to Contractors (August 14, 2008)
Iraq Case Sheds Light on Secret Contractors (July 17, 2008)
US contractor MVM Inc. is responsible for the personal security of US intelligence agencies in Iraq. A former MVM employee accused the firm of covering up a 2004 incident in which MVM employees opened fired on Iraqi civilians. The Iraqi parliament remains adamant that contractors like MVM and Blackwater must be held accountable for crimes committed against Iraqi citizens. (Wall Street Journal)Iraq Hints at Delay in US Security Deal (July 3, 2008)
Neither US officials, nor Iraq's foreign minister, believe that the two countries will reach a full security agreement this year. The negotiations are deadlocked over issues like Iraqi control over US military operations and the right of US soldiers to detain Iraqi suspects. But the two countries have agreed to lift immunity for security companies, like Blackwater USA, subjecting them to prosecution under Iraqi law. The security companies have a history of using excessive force when protecting foreign clients, which became a political issue in 2007, as Blackwater shot 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.Blackwater's Employment Investigated (March 11, 2008)
Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department are reexamining the murder of seventeen civilians in Baghdad by the private security firm, Blackwater. Security personnel outnumber US troops in Iraq and remain immune from Iraqi law. House oversight committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman is calling for increased scrutiny of Blackwater, which violates domestic law by classifying their contractors as independents and thereby skirting millions of dollars in taxes.2007
The Top 100 Private Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan (November 20, 2007)
State Department Suspends Iraq Audit of DynCorp (October 23, 2007)
America's Own Unlawful Combatants? (October 15, 2007)
Guards Kill Two Women in Iraq (October 10, 2007)
House OKs Bill to Prosecute Contractors (October 4, 2007)
It All Makes Sense Now, Blackwater and the ICC (October 1, 2007)
Security Firm Faces Criminal Charges in Iraq (September 23, 2007)
The Iraqi interior ministry is investigating a total of seven incidents involving the actions of private security firm Blackwater USA. Both the Iraqi and US governments are investigating the shooting of numerous Iraqi civilians in the Nisour area of Baghdad. The other six episodes being investigated involve the deaths of 10 Iraqis and 15 wounded in incidents during 2007. Iraqi officials say they will consider all seven incidents to determine the practical and legal consequences for Blackwater and other security firms operating in Iraq.Iraq to End Contractor 'Immunity' (September 25, 2007)
Iraqi Premier Says Blackwater Shootings Challenge His Nation's Sovereignty (September 24, 2007)
Security Firm Faces Criminal Charges in Iraq (September 23, 2007)
The Iraqi interior ministry is investigating a total of seven incidents involving the actions of private security firm Blackwater USA. Both the Iraqi and US governments are investigating the shooting of numerous Iraqi civilians in the Nisour area of Baghdad. The other six episodes being investigated involve the deaths of 10 Iraqis and 15 wounded in incidents during 2007. Iraqi officials say they will consider all seven incidents to determine the practical and legal consequences for Blackwater and other security firms operating in Iraq.US Pays Millions In Cost Overruns For Security in Iraq (August 12, 2007)
A Very Private War (August 1, 2007)
"What happens here today, stays here today" describes the attitude of some 48,000 employees of private military or mercenary firms working in Iraq. While private military firms take advantage of the billions of dollars in contracts offered by the US government, crimes committed in Iraq by employees of these firms have gone unpunished. Recent reports of civilian killings and violent incidents involving contractors of a US based mercenary firm, Blackwater highlight the lack of democratic control in the privatization of war.Silent Surge in Contractor "Armies" (July 18, 2007)
The number of civilian contractors providing key services for US forces in Iraq has risen "faster than the Pentagon's ability to track them."? According to some estimates, as many as 180,000 private contractors operate in Iraq - often with little oversight. In light of the rapid privatization of the Iraq war, some observers warn of a sinister new dimension of the "military-industrial complex."UN on the Offensive Against Iraq Mercenaries (July 13, 2007)
The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination visited Chile to investigate private Chilean security companies. These companies, which recruit former soldiers and send them to Iraq as mercenaries, have been charged with human right abuses, illegal association, possession of explosives and unauthorized use of army weaponry. Chile has not yet signed the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, approved by the UN General Assembly in 1989, but it has stated that it will sign and ratify the treaty by the end of 2007.Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues (July 11, 2007)
The US uses private security contractors in Iraq to provide security services for individuals, nonmilitary convoys and to train Iraqi police and the military. Information on the costs of the contracts and the background and training of the contractors is not made public by the US military. In this report, the Congressional Research Serviceanalyzes concerns in Congress about the accountability and transparency of security contracts. The report stresses the need for clarification on the legal status of private companies and their employees as a number of contractors are implicated in violent incidents in Iraq.US Is Fighting a Contractor War (June 21, 2007)
Making a Killing: America's Private Army and the Business of War (March 25, 2007)
'Mercenaries' to Fill Iraq Troop Gap (February 25, 2007)
Our Mercenaries in Iraq (January 25, 2007)
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