More Thoughts on Private Security Firms

Having read this week's blogs by Caj and Dave A., I will provide my own thoughts on private security firms.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/us/before-shooting-in-iraq-warning-on-blackwater.html?action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article&_r=0

I also read the recent New York Times article that portrays Blackwater as cowboys because of the 2007 Nisour Square incident in Iraq. The article mentions that four of the former Blackwater employees involved are being tried for a second time by the U.S. government after charges were dismissed in 2009 against five guards. The author, James Risen, has written extensively about the State Department over the years, and he tends to sharpshoot the actions taken by the U.S. military and other government agencies. I think the author presents a biased view against Blackwater.

My first point is that it is easy to second guess the guy or unit on the ground after an incident and find fault. I have a fair amount of experience working with State Department, Blackwater, private security firms, and other government agencies. Cooperation and professionalism between the diverse organizations deployed in support of the U.S. government varies based on the quality of the individuals and their leaders. Each organization has its own unique history and culture. The big buzzword is unity of purpose, but each element uses different metrics to quantify mission success.

Second, in the security realm an imminent threat is not always crystal clear. In a semi-permissive or non-permissive environment, both military and armed contractors have the right to defend themselves, their teammates, and their equipment from perceived threats. When in close proximity in urban areas or hostile environments, an operator sometimes has tenths of a second to react to a hostile threat.

I think that some people forget that the First Battle of Fallujah in 2004 was a result of Iraqi insurgents ambushing a convoy that included four Blackwater contractors. The four armed contracts were killed by machine-gun fire and a grenade thrown through the window of their SUVs. A mob then set their bodies ablaze, and their corpses were dragged through the streets before being hung over a brick crossing the Euphrates. Operation Vigilant Resolve was an operation designed to root out extremist elements of Fallujah and bring those responsible for the killing of the four Blackwater contractors. The key takeaway is that Blackwater employees in Iraq and Afghanistan were in harm's way as much and often more than U.S. servicemen who due to their duties rarely left the base.

Dave A. makes a strong argument that private security firms are not always as capable as the U.S. military. However, there are just not enough service personnel to provide security for all U.S. government entities in a combat zone. U.S. military units also are investigated and second guessed for overreacting to perceived enemy threats. A good example for Dave is the March 4, 2007, incident in which a group of U.S. Marine special operators were attacked by small arms fire in Nangahar Province, Afganistan. The Marines returned fire and 10 Afghan civilians were killed. During the investigation, some eyewitnesses interviewed claimed that the Marines responded with excessive force. The Marine company commander was relieved and the unit was expelled from Afghanistan.

I agree with Dave A. that the use of private contractors will continue due to necessity. I am currently a government contractor for Northrop Grumman working for the U.S. Army stateside as an analyst. I want to believe that my action guy days are over. However, as a former special operator I know that both service members and private security contractors are placed in dangerous situations and must react instinctually to hostile threats. While the actions of U.S. service members and private security contractors will continue to be scrutinized, I tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the operator(s) who I believe should err on the side of living.