The American Spectator : Choir Boys Not Needed

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Choir Boys Not Needed

Civilian security contractors provided essential services in Iraq, in a context that should not be forgotten.

The Justice Department has charged five former Blackwater security contractors with manslaughter in the killing of 17 Iraqis in Baghdad's Nisour Square in September 2007. There is more to the story than that particular event; it relates to the overall use of civilian security contractors.

It was from the murderous environment of post-Saddam Iraq that sprung the plan to assign civilian contract personnel to assist in security operations. Security was an aspiration, not a fact. Shia militia killed Sunni and rival Shia while the Sunni were doing the same in reverse. Al Qaeda in Iraq killed and kidnapped anyone of note they could get to, while numerous criminal enterprises duplicated these actions in pursuit of profit and just plain perverse pleasure. In short, the security situation was near chaotic.

Civilian advisers, diplomats, and high government officials were high value targets. The highest priority was placed on strengthening the protection provided them. It all seemed so logical at the time. The U.S. Government would pick up the bill for creating the security that would allow these non-combatants to proceed with the necessary economic and social reconstruction, political negotiation, and the myriad of other required activities in an after-battle environment.

Enter private civilian contractors: Private security firms offered trained and experienced contract personnel to serve as bodyguards and provide protection to reconstruction projects and other facilities. American and British firms rushed to the fore with ex-special forces members and select Iraqis. This solution held a particular attraction. Civilian security contractors created the impression that a sense of civil normalcy existed rather than the ever presence of martial law.

More importantly, the civilian contractors were singularly focused on their professional security role as opposed to uniformed soldiers who had been just assigned to do a job like so many other jobs in the military. The civilian security personnel were advertised as specifically trained and professionally experienced in personal and physical protection. It was argued that bodyguard teams and facility security were specialties in which military personnel could be trained, but the U.S. and U.K. armies did not have sufficient troop strength to devote to these tasks.

The problem was that these strictly civilian contractors were viewed by local citizens as having an official status. In fact, they had every reason to think so. These private contractors acted in a manner that implied, if not actually stated, they had, at the very least, quasi-governmental authority. In fact, there was no rigid chain of command leading from U.S. officialdom to and through the civilian contract structure. It was a business deal just like all the other defense contracts signed by departments of the U.S. Government with private firms. The firm provided a service; the U.S.G. paid for the service. There was an official contact point, but the private firm and its individual contractors ran their own show.

This last point is now being argued, but more for political reasons than operational. In any case, there is little argument over the fact that civilian security contractors have far greater leeway in their approach to doing their job than regular military personnel. And thus it has been in Iraq. The civilian contractors, American or British, have been quick and deadly in their responses to attack or perceived potential of attack. As a result, they have been feared by Iraqis of all persuasions. But that, after all, was their aim.

A heavy hand is the methodology of the Middle East and elsewhere in the world where violence is the basic tool of politics. The requirement exists when utilizing these non-uniformed security specialists, however, to place them under a command that is even more hard and demanding than they are. Among the basic rules of protection, one of the leading instruments is discrimination. To be able to discriminate between what is and is not a danger is key, if for no other reason than to ensure that other good guys do not end up as collateral damage -- physically or legally!

In a worst case scenario, the men on trial by the Justice Dept. killed seventeen innocent Iraqi civilians in error. Notwithstanding that supposition, the five contractors were operating fully within their mandate to protect their State Department charges in the manner they believed necessary.

Baghdad in 2007 was in the midst of Gen. Petraeus's "surge" and the city was in the throes of partisan warfare. For security contractors the pressure was at its highest. Firing at the first verification of danger was standard operating procedure and the only policy possible in an environment in which every corner, every square, holds a deadly potential. Five hundred twenty foreign contractors of all types have been killed in Iraq since 2003.

Ultimate responsibility for those hired to provide security service lies with the government agency that employed them. Why is this matter being pursued now?

topics:
Blackwater, Iraq War

About the Author

George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (29) | Leave a comment

JT in SC| 9.4.09 @ 10:05AM

Anybody who has ever been in a war zone will tell you that it is utter chaos.... In a split second you can go from abject boredom to shear terror. An ever present reality of warfare throughout history is that innocent people are maimed and killed. It is all part of the sad horror of war.

As a veteran, I fear I had was injuring or killing an innocent person. I did not know or serve with anybody who was filled with a blood-lust to kill anything or anybody that moved into range. While I agree that crimes can occur in war, I believe that if anybody that was in combat is to be tried for any action they undertook.... It must be with the utmost care and strongest desire to get to the truth that guides the investigation and not just a desire to give a bone to the Iraqi gov't and its citizens. Our forces and those who are working to provide security must know that the decision to second guess or Monday morning quarterbacking...their decisions made in the heat of combat will not be done frivilously.

War sucks, it is nasty, dirty, bloody, hard work that leaves scars both physically and mentally on those who serve. I only hope that the investigators and prosecutors of alleged war crimes will try to understand this.

Vikki Larsen| 2.28.10 @ 12:45PM

Yes, war sucks, is messy, nasty, dirty and bloody.
It is also VERY dangerous. A VERY dangerous game in which people die that do and do not deserve to die. But hey, THIS IS A WAR! Not some game of Battleships. There will always be colatorial damage. And as far as the Geneva Convention is concerned, what bullshit! When people are fighting and killing and being killed, THERE ARE NO RULES! How many captives from our side have the Iraqi or rest of the muslimic countries been captured and treated well, like at Gitmo. No, they behead them, drag them through the streets and hang them from bridges, or just send us tapes of their beheading.
You must get to the root of the problem. You can not have wars where there are rules for one side and different ones for the other side, or say, "we can't sink to their level". B.S if we dont sink to their level WE LOOSE!
WAR = NO RULES, They who come out on top are the Winners. Period. And at the rate the Iraqi's, Iranians, Lebonese, Palistinians, Egyptians and Arabs, and the rest of the Islamic world are going. THEY WILL BE THE WINNERS!
Is loosing our way of life worth a few innocents loosing their lives? I say YES!
If you dont' agree, then you are not a true American who believes in our way of life (or how it was before the Republicans and Democrates all got into bed together) WAR IS KILLING, IF IT WEREN'T WE WOULD CALL IT PLAYING!

JT in PA| 9.4.09 @ 12:11PM

As an alum of BW I must say that the men involved in this incident are innocent of any perceived wrong doing. Blobama wants his bone, just like the one he got from Larry Sinclair.

Catherine| 9.4.09 @ 1:39PM

I find this article labored and remarkably unpersuasive. First of all, I truly doubt that the presence of heavily-armed, trigger-happy civilian mercenaries in the streets gave Iraqis the "impression that a sense of civil normalcy existed rather than the ever presence of martial law." The author, in fact, contradicts this ludicrous argument by stating, later in the article, "The civilian contractors, American or British, have been quick and deadly in their responses to attack or perceived potential of attack. As a result, they have been feared by Iraqis of all persuasions." Let me suggest a course for the future: the United States should not take on any military operations, including occupations, which our own armed forces cannot handle. The use of mercenaries is suitable only for failed empires. I don't want to see the USA dependent on "Hessians".

gene hauber| 9.4.09 @ 1:44PM

WHEN, AT LAST, WE ARE RID OF THE OBAMINATION OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION LET'S ALL SIT DOWN AND PROSECUTE THESE ASSHOLES , FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN THRU THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND STATE AND WE'LL FIND OUT HOW MANY US LAWS THEY HAVE BROKEN IN PURSUIT OF THE FORMER ADMIN. AND HOW MANY VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION THEY HAVE MADE IN THE USE OF FORCE AND COERCION, I.E. THE THUG ARMY OF ACORN, AGAINST US CITIZENS.
WE WILL HAVE A BETTER CASE AGAINST THEM THAN THEIRS AGAINST US.....SHOVE IT TO THEM!!!!!!!!!
LET'S DO THAT FOR THE FUN OF IT AND ANY INDICTMENTS WE CAN COME UP WITH WE KEEP AND WE SHOVE THEM RIGHT UP OBAMA AND CO'S ASSES

Richard Baker| 9.4.09 @ 4:24PM

"We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf". George Orwell
The prissy Americans who think that this is all Marquis of Queensberry action truly live in a fantasy world. Ask the Taliban or al-Queda by what Rules of Land Warfare they abide.

Alan Brooks| 9.4.09 @ 7:53PM

what we ought to point out over and over to the Toddards is:
the Red Army's invasion of Afghanistan is what precipitated all this. Al Qaeda was formed because of the Soviet invasion in '78.
the Russian bear has blood on its paws.

Alan Brooks| 9.4.09 @ 7:54PM

let's billthe Kremlin.

Alan Brooks| 9.4.09 @ 7:55PM

let's bill the Kremlin. 1,000,000,000,000,000 rubles

Tommy K| 9.4.09 @ 8:30PM

At least they (the BW folks) will be in good company in the dock with the CIA ops folks .... FOR DOING THE BIDDING OF THEIR COUNTRY!

sam| 9.4.09 @ 11:19PM

Yup,that's right .
Al Qaeda was formed because of the Soviet invasion in '78.
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steve| 9.4.09 @ 11:21PM

I hate war,hope that the investigators and prosecutors of alleged war crimes will try to understand this.
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Frank Drackman| 9.5.09 @ 10:01AM

Hilary's Outraged, Outraged, that Security Guards engage in Womanizing, Drinking, and aren't the most PC people in the world...whats next, revoking "Ricks" liquor license cause there's gambling on the premesis...

Frank

Curtis| 9.5.09 @ 10:13AM

The security contractors didn't do anything they weren't specifically allowed to do by those who hired them, and those who contracted them out.

The State department are hanging men THEY hired, men THEY gave orders to, and men THEY were responsible for. Men who acted in the best faith possible to protect STATE Dep assets.

This is an exercise in picking low fruit. The people who should be sitting in the courtroom are higher up the food chain, both at XE and at the State Department.

Solo| 9.5.09 @ 11:19AM

Frank Drakman Wrote:

" Hilary's Outraged, Outraged, that Security Guards engage in Womanizing, Drinking, and aren't the most PC people in the world...whats next, revoking "Ricks" liquor license cause there's gambling on the premesis...

Frank "

Yes....Apparently Hillary has forgotten the "Caligula Slumber Party" that was the Clinton Administration.

Dixie Pixie| 9.5.09 @ 4:28PM

By historic standards as in the Roman Era, European Feudal Era, Napoleonic Era or even the standards of the US Army in the Indian Wars, the behavior of the State Department contractors was not un-usual. To quote a character in the movie “Air America” ....”This is not psychotic behavior. It is just night time”....

The fact the Obama Drones do not understand the psychological pressures common to war zones. Simply put the staff of the Obama government does not understand war, warriors, soldiers or even the most basic concepts and do not care to learn. To the Obama Drones the military is to be civilized to higher standards.

Naturality with the election of a Obama government the US Military and its contractors are now to be held to a standard of behavior common to Ivy League University's. In short War is to be conducted as a Harvard University debate. The prosecution of the wayward contractors is the first step not the last. Expect more prosecutions to follow as the Obama Drones feel the Courts are the best place to correct anything or anyone.

What the Obama Drones can never understand is any enemy will certainly use such standards against the USA. When one side restricts its military with nonsensical rules, that side will certainly lose. The Obama Drones do not care as they would rather lose a war then lose a leftist delusion.

Richard Baker| 9.6.09 @ 1:01PM

Catherine:
If I'm not mistaken, these companies were originally hired by the State Department. If they had wanted uniformed military all they had to do was ASK. Notice that under the Kenyan these organizations are still at work. Bi-partisan useage, eh?

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KarlinPhoenix| 9.7.09 @ 1:20AM

To Catherine(9.4.09 @ 1:39PM):
First of all, the SECURITY CONTRACTORS are NOT MERCENARIES. Different jobs, both.
While your suggested course of action for this country is interesting and innovative, when seen from a classroom, reality is somewhat different. Combat operations are not the same as "SECURITY OPERATIONS".
You probably did not know that the security operators do not have the same "fire-power" availability as the regular Army or Marine Corps. The security operators typically cannot use American .30 caliber machine guns for protecting the State Department and Corps of Engineers or other "nation building" organizations. So, when ambushed or attacked, the little .22 caliber machine guns do very little to stop vehicles that contain IEDs and bad guys.
Of course, the "enemy" (anyone who is attacking you at the moment) is using mortars, rocket propelled grenades (RPG anti-TANK weapons) and RPK & PK .30 caliber machine guns (sometimes .50 caliber machine guns, too). These "heavy" weapons will cause a once nice vehicle to quickly evolve into a burning sieve.
The security contractors are typically using accurate fire from the little guns they carry and are sensitive to shooting non-combatants. The bad guys, on the other hand, conduct the attack/ambush while surrounding themselves with non-combatants and while wearing civilian clothing. When the bad guys are hit, their friends take away any military equipment from the bad guys and what you have left is an "unarmed civilian".
Again, the contract security people are NOT mercenaries. They are trained, former military/police special operations people (typically for State Department Ops). You should probably give the subject more study and get out of that safe classroom and get a smell of the real world.
Karl in Phoenix

Patriot| 9.7.09 @ 3:56AM

Catherine is able to sit her ass down in the comfort of her home because some men chose to risk all for our safety. Catherine is ignorant, arrogant and spoiled: Like most ungrateful Americans, Catherine thinks freedom is free.

Too bad we can't ask those poor folks who died hideous deaths on 9/11 if freedom is free. I think I know what their answer might be.

Catherine makes me ashamed to be an American.

Marge| 9.8.09 @ 2:01AM

Who needs choir boys when you have professional sadists who like to drink vodka out of each others assholes. Honestly, I ask you this.

Patriot Likes Anal| 9.8.09 @ 2:07AM

Patriot;

Most of the folks who died on 9-11 were New York jiggalos. Most were homo, some liked disco, all of them hated farmers.

They would probably puke their eyes out if they knew a shiteating moron like you was trying to use their deaths to try and score a cheap political point.

Anal Marge Liberal| 9.8.09 @ 1:58PM

Marge and Anal are perfect examples of the liberal human excrement haters that exist in the democrap party today.

Too bad we can't figure out a way that only you stinking liberal dipsh!t crying b!tches would get incinerated in the next terrorist attack. Sweet justice.

The stench would be gone, too.

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poptropica | 4.9.10 @ 11:07PM

I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You Poptropica

Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale poptropica

You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. poptropica
When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. poptropica
I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!poptropica

Getting Hercules to Help You

Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. poptropica
Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you.poptropica
. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale

You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out.Poptropica When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. poptropica