The Mercs

The Other Army
By DANIEL BERGNER
Published: August 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/magazine/14PRIVATI.html?hp

An excellent piece on the role of private security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan. The real factor in private security success comes in the level of actual military training received by these Employees, who sometimes have up to four times the military training and experience as to their contemporaries in deployed military units. No one knows how many private security personnel have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan--the Article mentions between 160-200; a number which this Author thinks is a little high, but not by much.

Why do they use private security forces? The answer is easy to state, but hard to understand. The Generals use private security as Bodyguards, because they are more successful (competent). American companies operating in these Countries employ these private security agents because they are better than military unit protection (a Squad of private security agents will guard a Convoy, where military doctrine would insist on a Platoon or Company), while it would take the military a week to organize the Convoy route order.

Why do the Private Security Employees hire on? The Money, and little else. American companies operating in Iraq spend about 25% of their total Contracts on security. American Government Agencies and Agents spend almost an equivalent amount on private security. The Article mentions that Employees average $400-700/Day that could go higher; this Author suggests this is only Entry-level, Second Tour veterans probably do $200/Day better.

Why should We be grateful to these Security services?

U.S. Struggling to Get Soldiers Updated Armor
By MICHAEL MOSS
Published: August 14, 2005
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/14/international/middleeast/14armor.html?hp&ex=1124078400&en=c79db06067b55db0&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Typical Defense Snafu. lgl