Introduction

Abstract

Throughout the campaigns to win the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), the Department of Defense (DoD) and other US government agencies contracted Private Military/Security Companies¹ (PMSCs) to provide several crucial functions (Kidwell, 2005:3–4; Stanger and Williams, 2004:1). These companies were tasked with supporting and augmenting the DoD’s logistical network; providing training and technical assistance; and performing protective and physical security services (Kidwell, 2005:3–4; Stanger and Williams, 2004:1). As the wars in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom²) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom³) progressed, the DoD refocused these critical functions into three broad categories (Chaplain et al., 2008:4–5; Freeland et al., 2008:18–20; Becker et al., 2007:4–6; Singer, 2004a:4–6). These categories consisted of Information Operations (intelligence collection, analysis, and operational planning); Logistics and Reconstruction activities (base support operations, police and military training); and Security Operations (providing convoy security, nonmilitary site security, and personal security personnel) (Becker et al., 2007:4–6; Singer, 2004a:4–6).