Soldiers of Misfortune? Blackwater USA, Private Military Security Contractors (PMSCs), Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Counterinsurgency (COIN) Campaigns, DynCorp, Zapata, Kroll

Nonfiction, History, Military
Cover of the book Soldiers of Misfortune? Blackwater USA, Private Military Security Contractors (PMSCs), Iraq War, Afghanistan War, Counterinsurgency (COIN) Campaigns, DynCorp, Zapata, Kroll by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781311447586
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: May 19, 2014
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781311447586
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: May 19, 2014
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

The long counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have made two facts abundantly clear about military contractors: 1) The U.S. Army has become dependent upon them; and, 2) They frequently create problems for, and sometimes actually interfere with, accomplishing the mission. In order to free up Soldiers for their core task of fighting and winning the nation's wars, the U.S. Government began in the 1980s to hire private companies to provide services previously handled by the military itself. Contractors gradually took over building bases, running mess halls, and doing laundry for U.S. troops at home and abroad. Providing such logistics support allowed a smaller land force to do as much as a large one had previously done. Logistics contractors also provided a surge capacity. They could be hired for a mission and let go once the mission was completed. The military also found it expedient to outsource maintenance of new high-tech weapons systems rather than assume the cost of developing and maintaining its own support capability.

Other than occasional cases of waste, fraud, and abuse, logistics and technical support contractors caused no serious problems and, indeed, were a valuable force multiplier. That situation changed dramatically with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. To bolster its military mission in the face of a growing insurgency, the George W. Bush administration deployed a small army of armed security personnel employed by private military security contractors (PMSCs). PMSCs provided personnel security details, convoy escorts, and facilities guards for the Departments of Defense and State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and a host of other agencies and departments. Operating in a legal vacuum, these contractors were armed like Soldiers but dressed like civilians. In carrying out their jobs, they often acted in a heavy-handed manner toward Iraqi civilians and got involved in several escalation-of-force incidents. The Army had similar problems with contractors in Afghanistan. These problems called into question the wisdom of using PMSCs in contingency operations.

This monograph examines the role of security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. From analysis of these two missions, it draws broad lessons from which it derives concrete recommendations to improve the conduct of further missions. Rather than do away with PMSCs altogether, the author recommends limiting their roles, providing better oversight of their activities, and improving legal accountability for their wrong doing. This monograph will be of interest to Soldiers and policymakers engaged in the difficult task of planning and conducting contingency operations.

Topics and subjects covered: Private military security contractors, PMSCs, iraq war, afghanistan war, counterinsurgency (COIN), Iraq green zone, Armor group, custer battles, Triple Canopy, DynCorp, Zapata, Kroll.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The long counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have made two facts abundantly clear about military contractors: 1) The U.S. Army has become dependent upon them; and, 2) They frequently create problems for, and sometimes actually interfere with, accomplishing the mission. In order to free up Soldiers for their core task of fighting and winning the nation's wars, the U.S. Government began in the 1980s to hire private companies to provide services previously handled by the military itself. Contractors gradually took over building bases, running mess halls, and doing laundry for U.S. troops at home and abroad. Providing such logistics support allowed a smaller land force to do as much as a large one had previously done. Logistics contractors also provided a surge capacity. They could be hired for a mission and let go once the mission was completed. The military also found it expedient to outsource maintenance of new high-tech weapons systems rather than assume the cost of developing and maintaining its own support capability.

Other than occasional cases of waste, fraud, and abuse, logistics and technical support contractors caused no serious problems and, indeed, were a valuable force multiplier. That situation changed dramatically with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. To bolster its military mission in the face of a growing insurgency, the George W. Bush administration deployed a small army of armed security personnel employed by private military security contractors (PMSCs). PMSCs provided personnel security details, convoy escorts, and facilities guards for the Departments of Defense and State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and a host of other agencies and departments. Operating in a legal vacuum, these contractors were armed like Soldiers but dressed like civilians. In carrying out their jobs, they often acted in a heavy-handed manner toward Iraqi civilians and got involved in several escalation-of-force incidents. The Army had similar problems with contractors in Afghanistan. These problems called into question the wisdom of using PMSCs in contingency operations.

This monograph examines the role of security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. From analysis of these two missions, it draws broad lessons from which it derives concrete recommendations to improve the conduct of further missions. Rather than do away with PMSCs altogether, the author recommends limiting their roles, providing better oversight of their activities, and improving legal accountability for their wrong doing. This monograph will be of interest to Soldiers and policymakers engaged in the difficult task of planning and conducting contingency operations.

Topics and subjects covered: Private military security contractors, PMSCs, iraq war, afghanistan war, counterinsurgency (COIN), Iraq green zone, Armor group, custer battles, Triple Canopy, DynCorp, Zapata, Kroll.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book The Swarm, the Cloud, and the Importance of Getting There First: What's at Stake in the Remote Aviation Culture Debate, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Air-Mindedness, Manned-Remote Fusion by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Impact of Pro-Government Militias on State and Human Security: A Comparative Analysis of the Afghan Local Police in Kunduz Province, and the Janjaweed in Sudan - Militia Histories by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Adult Cancer Sourcebook: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) - Clinical Data for Patients, Families, and Physicians by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Essential Guide to Harriet Tubman: Underground Railroad, Civil War Intelligence and Spying, Leadership, Life of Slavery, Servant Leader, Spirituality, Women in the Civil War, Minority Women Officers by Progressive Management
Cover of the book National Emergency Medical Services Education Standards: Paramedic Instructional Guidelines by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Human Factor: Biomedicine in the Manned Space Program to 1980 - Unique Insights into Biological and Life Science Research from Mercury, Gemini and Apollo through Skylab (NASA SP-4213) by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Commanders' Responsibilities in the Operations Process during the 1864 Red River Expedition: Defeat of Union General Nathaniel Banks Between Louisiana and Little Rock, Arkansas in American Civil War by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century U.S. Military Documents: Who’s Who of U.S. Army Military Intelligence - Biographies of Major Figures including Famous People and Celebrities from Alsop to Weinberger by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Essential Guide to Modern North Korea: Federal Research Country Study with Comprehensive Information and Analysis - Political, Economic, Social, National Security, Nuclear Program, Cult of Kim Family by Progressive Management
Cover of the book U.S. Army Medical Correspondence Course: Therapeutics III - Respiratory System, Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems, Cardiac Drugs, Vasodilators, Urogenital, Antihypertensive Agents by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Eclipse Project (NASA SP-2000-4523) - Experiments with Unique Rocket Launch Technique Using Rope Aerotow, F-106A, QF-106A, Gordon Fullerton, Tethered Flights by Progressive Management
Cover of the book With the 1st Marine Division in Desert Shield and Desert Storm: U.S. Marines in the Persian Gulf, 1990-1991 - Khafji, Weapons Systems, Combat Engineer Breaching Equipment, Training with Saudi Army by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2011 Complete Guide to Egypt: Mubarak, Government and Politics, NDP, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Human Rights, History, Economy, American Response to Protest Crisis - Authoritative Coverage by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Small Geothermal Energy Systems and Geothermal Heat Pumps: Guide for the Do-it-Yourselfer (DIY), Ground Source Heat Pumps, Information Survival Kit for Heat Pump Owners, Energy Program Successes by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Prolonged Wars: A Post-Nuclear Challenge - Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, El Salvador, Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Liberia, Angola, Namibia, Nicaragua by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy