Private Security Infrastructure Abroad: Criminal-Terrorist Agendas and the Operational Environment
Abstract
Graham Turbiville's paper on private security organizations within today's operational and security environment is important as we consider the current conflict as viewed through an irregular warfare prism. Within the irregular warfare framework, the population is the center of gravity and, consequently, security for the population is paramount to maintaining the population's loyalty and support. To maintain this security, both government security organizations and private security firms operate within sovereign nations. Worldwide private security organizations, ranging from unarmed security guards to "combat-capable" paramilitary groups, can act as a force multiplier to enhance security. A critical component of official and nonofficial security regimes is the role of government oversight in ensuring that criminals and terrorists are unable to hijack private security organizations for their own objectives. A major problem is the ability of governments to manage or oversee these security elements, which varies significantly from country to country and region to region. In many countries, government control is almost nonexistent, creating an environment in which private security organizations are ripe for criminal or terrorist manipulation. Consequently, the implications of potential abuse by these "wayward" security regimes are critical to conceptualizing support to partner nations in the long-term conflict. This issue shows another element of nontraditional or nonstate actors involved in the international security arena and further highlights the added complexity in addressing security challenges in the post 9/11 operational environment. As the United States and its allies combat terrorist networks, Dr. Turbiville's work clearly shows the importance of managing private security organizations as a key element in mutually building capacity to defeat terrorists.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA495382
Entities
People
- Graham H. Turbiville Jr.
Organizations
- Joint Special Operations University