Private armed guard service contractors are being used more and more often as the United States continues to wage the war on terrorism.

In fact, the American military is relying heavily on private for-profit companies such as Blackwater to do some of the work that is usually done by American soldiers.

Blackwater, based in North Carolina, is a private security firm owned and operated by Erik Prince.

Blackwater provides armed guards to the American military, not only to protect government officials, but also to take over some of the duties of American soldiers.

However, it should be said that since Blackwater was involved in the killing of 17 innocent Iraqi civilians in 2007 its license has been revoked by the Iraq government.

This will make any private armed guard service a bit cautious about working for the American military, but it certainly won’t stop the continued privatization of many military jobs to the private sector.

The American military is also using private defense contractors not only to build planes, but also to provide maintenance for aircraft on the battlefield.

And in some cases, these defense contractors have been asked to fly planes through conflict zones.

Other private military contractors are providing bodyguards for the President of Afghanistan while still others are flying reconnaissance planes in Columbia to destroy coca crops.

Private armed guard service contractors are just one of many private sectors that the American government is using in the privatization of the United States military.

INTERVIEW WITH BLACKWATER

ACCOUNTABILITY OF PRIVATE SECURITY

Thousands of armed private security guards are under contract with the U.S. government and private companies. The conduct and behavior of these security guards has been the source of much controversy particularly since the Blackwater killings in 2007.

Private security contractors operate in a gray legal area. If charged with a crime or other wrongdoing these private guards would be prosecuted in their own country. But this gives nations where these private security guards are operating very few legal rights to stand on if and when something illegal happens.

Although the American military has a commission that examines damage claims and then makes payments when their troops are found to be at fault, this policy does not extend to any private armed guard service that has been hired by the American military.

ARMED GUARD SERVICE. PRIVATE SECURITY OR MERCENARIES?

Part of the controversy of using private security firms is that they often act in a dangerous and threatening manner and this can put military personnel in immediate danger. Many private security guards have been accused of firing at civilian vehicles simply because they feel there may be a threat.

Even though the American government is paying for private security they have very little control over what they do. These private contractors are essentially private citizens and so don’t fall under U.S. military legal codes.

What this means is that private security guards are often financially and legally unaccountable to anyone but themselves. In the Blackwater killings the guards that were involved in the shootings are under investigation by the FBI but as of yet none of them have been charged with any crime.

COSTS OF PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTS

Although American security contractors are paid by the U.S. government there is currently no agency in this country that regulates the action of these private contractors. In Iraq alone the American government has spent over $6 billion dollars hiring private security contractors. Estimates by the Government Accountability Office indicate that in 2005 the United States paid about $766 million dollars for private security costs.

Private security firms believe that they are essential to the rebuilding of Iraq. They also believe that they are a cost effective way for the American military to provide security that would otherwise be provided by military personnel.

Previous efforts to rebuild Iraq have now been diverted and billions of dollars are being spent by the American government to create and train a new Iraqi army as well as a new police force. Much of this training will be done by private security firms, which means that once again the American government is privatizing its military operations.

The issue of using private security contractors in place of military personnel isn’t going to go away any time soon as long as the United States military is deployed overseas. The question is. how fair is it for private companies to capitalize on American war efforts?