Private Security Companies and Their Impact on the Commander's Battlespace
Abstract
Since the creation of the nation state, armed forces for hire have continued to exist in addition to nation state controlled forces. However, the results from contracting armed forces have varied drastically. An infamous example is the British use of Hessian "mercenaries" during the American Revolution, whose tactics in the Hackensack Valley greatly alienated the populace and arguably did more harm than good. Although improper tactics are not limited to contracted forces, several steps are necessary to leverage and coordinate Private Security Companies (PSCs) in order to maximize positive effects (and minimize negative ones) at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels of war in the future. First there is some dispute across the international sector about PSC's official status. International law states that mercenaries are illegal yet the United Nations have largely avoided taking on the question of the legality of PSCs within international law. This is essential to clarify that PSCs acting under contracts of an accepted nation state are not mercenary organizations or classified as mercenaries. Regardless the issue is not to get bogged down on PSCs and their status, but to inform the reader how to maximize the advantages and minimize the disadvantages associated with PSCs across the levels of war. Thus, through addressing specifics of the current situation in Iraq the author will identify advantages and disadvantages and determine how to leverage and maximize the benefits of PSCs acting in a commander's battlespace.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA508703
Entities
People
- Jeffrey N. Rule
Organizations
- Marine Corps University