The Past Several Months Has Seen Increased Attention and Publicity
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BRITISH AMERICAN SECURITY INFORMATION COUNCIL BASIC RESEARCH REPORT A Fistful of Contractors: The Case for a Pragmatic Assessment of Private Military Companies in Iraq By David Isenberg Research Report 2004.4 September 2004 British-American Security Information Council The British-American Security Information Council is an independent research organization that analyzes international security issues. BASIC works to promote awareness of security issues among the public, policy makers and the media in order to foster informed debate on both sides of the Atlantic. BASIC in the UK is a registered charity no. 1001081. BASIC in the US a non-profit organization constituted under Section 501 (c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Service Code. Published by the British American Security Information Council BASIC Research Report 2004.4 – September 2004 Author David Isenberg has been researching and writing on private military companies for over a decade. His 1997 monograph "Soldiers of Fortune Ltd.: A Profile of Today's Private Sector Corporate Mercenary Firms" and television episode "Conflict Inc." are acknowledged staples in the field. He has written on the subject for the Christian Science Monitor, USA Today magazine, IntellectualCapitol, and Asia Times; lectured at US military schools and overseas on the subject; and been a frequent commentator on numerous radio and television shows on PMC activities. Acknowledgements The writing of this report would not have been possible without the information and comments made on the AMPM list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMPMlist), devoted to the international trade in private military services run by Doug Brooks, founder of the International Peace Operations Association. Also thanks to various PMC employees, who prefer to remain anonymous, who provided information. For helpful suggestions in editing the text I am grateful to Ian Davis, director, and Paul Ingram, senior analyst, of BASIC’s London office. Many of the sources of this information for this report come from nonofficial, public sources such as newspapers, magazines, journals, and books. We cannot vouch for the complete accuracy of all of the cited sources. Responsibility for the report’s contents is that of the author. 2 Table of Contents A Fistful of Contractors:.................................................................................................. 1 The Case for a Pragmatic Assessmentof Private Military Companies in Iraq................. 1 British-American Security Information Council ............................................................. 2 Author...................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary........................................................................................................................ 7 Scope of PMCs in Iraq ........................................................................................................ 7 Issues of concern ................................................................................................................. 8 A drain on the regular armed services? .................................................................................. 8 Control and accountability......................................................................................................... 8 Lessons from Abu Ghraib ................................................................................................... 9 Overview of strengths and failings of PMCs in Iraq ......................................................... 10 Changes that need to be made in the light of experiences in Iraq ..................................... 11 Improved regulatory oversight in the United States.......................................................... 11 Clarification of international law in relation to PMCs ...................................................... 12 Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... 13 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 15 Advantages and operational downsides................................................................................. 16 Purpose and structure of this report....................................................................................... 17 2. PMC Sector: A Marriage between Government and the Private Sector ................................ 19 Growth in U.S. Government demand for PMCs .................................................................. 19 The rise of the ‘Third Wave’ ............................................................................................. 19 Operational Coordination between PMCs............................................................................ 21 3. PMCs in Iraq ............................................................................................................................ 23 U.S. PMCs ................................................................................................................................ 23 Recruiting personnel from around the world......................................................................... 23 Advantages of using PMC personnel .................................................................................... 24 Disadvantages of relying on PMCs ....................................................................................... 24 Insurance ........................................................................................................................... 25 Pay..................................................................................................................................... 25 A drain on the regular armed services? ................................................................................. 26 The key players ..................................................................................................................... 28 Aegis Defence Services (UK) ............................................................................................... 29 AirScan Inc. (US) ................................................................................................................. 30 AKE (UK) ............................................................................................................................. 30 ArmorGroup (UK).................................................................................................................30 Blackwater (US) .................................................................................................................... 31 Control Risks Group (UK) .................................................................................................... 31 Custer Battles (US)................................................................................................................ 32 Dyncorp (US) ........................................................................................................................ 32 Erinys (SA)............................................................................................................................ 33 3 Global Risk Strategies (UK).................................................................................................. 35 Kroll (US).............................................................................................................................. 35 Meteoric Tactical Solutions (SA).......................................................................................... 36 MPRI (US) ............................................................................................................................ 36 Pilgrims Security Ltd. (SEYCHELLES).............................................................................. 36 Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) (US) ......................................................... 36 SSA Marine (UK).................................................................................................................. 37 Steele Foundation (US) ......................................................................................................... 37 Titan (US).............................................................................................................................. 37 Vinnell (US) .......................................................................................................................... 37 Worldwide Language Resources Inc. (US) ........................................................................... 38 4. Issues of concern around PMCs.............................................................................................. 39 Political Connections............................................................................................................. 39 Leadership ......................................................................................................................... 39 Political donations and lobbying ....................................................................................... 40 Control