Many U.S. based companies in Iraq employ their own armed security force. Is this the same as a mercenary force

Question

I ran out of room for a question mark. These are companies contracted out by the U.S. government, separate from the military that are motivated by profits. There is nothing wrong with making money, but they do seem to employ quasi military forces. Blackwater would be one such company.

Answer 1

The definition of a mercenary is a soldier who is not part of a government force, like army or police. Yes, these people would also be considered mercenaries.

After thinking about it, I don't have a problem with a private company hiring private security for its people as long as they are subject to both US & the host country's laws. I have a huge problem with the US Government doing so. I was absolutely shocked to learn the FBI agents who are supposed to be investigating Blackwater were assigned security from Blackwater.

I understand there are less than 3000 security people hired by the US Govt to guard Embassy & other govt personnel. Those contracts should be terminated as soon as the military can regroup enough to handle the job. If it takes over a week, someone is stalling.

Answer 2

Umm, yep. particular forces will continually have a place in any conflict, through fact, in all honesty, the wide-unfold soldier does not comprehend crap. For any undertaking that includes asking questions in the previous taking photographs, or taking photographs without getting shot, particular forces are in many circumstances used. additionally, through fact the government can in hassle-free terms deliver over a great number of respected militia troops, there will be weapons for employ... yet are they actually mercenaries any further than the mall protection look after is a mercenary? I advise he gets employed to hold a gun around too. have you ever stopped and asked your self what the government could genuinely stand to earnings by employing prolonging the conflict in Iraq? gas costs are not going on plenty, rankings are not going up plenty, and the monetary gadget isn't convalescing all that nicely...

Answer 3

they are different form mercenaries. Mercenaries are soldiers, paid to fight. These guys you speak of are security. They only participate in a battle if they are being attacked.

But these are of the highest caliber of security professionals you will fined. They are not all in Iraq just for money. Most of these people are x special forces and special operations. I happen to no 3 of them. I cant speak for all of them, but the 3 i know are superbly trained by the u.s. navy seals and are of the highest caliber of character, morality and skills.

Critics of black water in particular tend to have little knowledge of warfare and experience in the over all theater. Black water has never lost a single client they were body guarding, and even came to the rescue last week when a convoy with a gov VIP was attacked.

Civilians getting killed is not enough proof to consider them "cowboys". After all we do fight an enemy that hides among Innocent. Take a rifle form a dead enemy combatant, an you would think it was an innocent pedestrian.

On top of that you never no who is giving these accounts of private contractors killing innocent people.

Answer 4

Some people say tomato some say tomato. Blackwater and other companies provide security to protect the interests of contractors in foreign countries. The best security comes from ex-military. The current laws in the US are not clear as to the restrictions on companies like Blackwater. If you want to use the definition of mercenary then companies like Blackwater are mercenaries.

Answer 5

They have a lot of money invested in these enterprises, and the security guards are just one way they protect their investments. These same companies also employ armed security guards at their facilities here in the United States too. Also, I'm sure that their facilities both in the U.S. and abroad must, by contract, meet certain security requirements.

Answer 6

The companies are out to exploit the present conditions in Iraq knowing quite well the security problems and yes they do employ such as Blackwater to protect their own and their motivations is to make money so they pay to be protected the Us army is not there to protect those exploiters .~~

Answer 7

first i don't know a company that is not motivated by making a profit second these are government contracts not independent people.

Answer 8

In some sense. But they are more security forces then mercenaries as they only fire when fired upon.

Answer 9

These are not mercenaries.

Mercenaries are an agressive force.

Security is a defensive force.

Blackwater was and is a legitimate security force.

Answer 10

The official line would be no it is not, but the reality is yes they are mercenaries, pure and simple.