Private contractors in Iraq

USA Today published a story outlining the lack of accountability for private contractors in Iraq. The story, By Deborah Hastings, Associated Press, titled, "Iraq contractors avoid legal restraints" paints a picture of private contractors shooting at random and answering to no one.

I read this article and could not stop feeling this reporter for some reason or another had a very large problem with the very concept of private security operating within a war zone. This is more than evident throughout the entire story, beginning at the first two paragraphs, which sets the tone for this scathing report.

Taken from the article, "There are now nearly as many private contractors in Iraq as there are U.S. soldiers — and about half of them are private security guards equipped with automatic weapons, body armor, helicopters and bullet-proof trucks."

"They operate with little or no supervision, accountable only to the firms employing them. And as the country has plummeted toward anarchy and civil war, this private army has been accused of indiscriminately firing at American and Iraqi troops, and of shooting to death an unknown number of Iraqi citizens who got too close to their heavily armed convoys."

"Not one has faced charges or prosecution."

The reporter immediately points out that the contractors do not have to answer to anyone:

"They operate in a decidedly gray legal area. Unlike soldiers, they are not bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Under a special provision secured by American-occupying forces, they are exempt from prosecution by Iraqis for crimes committed there."

Let us be frank about this, there would not be one private contractor working in this country if they had to answer to Iraqi law. They are not military personnel; in fact, the majorities are not even America citizens, but hail from all parts of the globe. Thus stated, there is no physical way to in which to hold them accountable to our military code of justice.

The contractors are charged with executive protection, in fact the story points out that they routinely protect high profile individuals. This is a war zone, with IED's a way of life and death, they must take as many precautions as possible, including the use of deadly force, as long as it is not indiscriminate, they are within their rights, either that or Senators, Congressmen and foreign dignitaries would not last an hour.

This is not a walk in the park, it is war and the media constantly overlooks this. The reporter points to a few instances of the improper use of force, these cases should be dealt with on an individual basis, but overall, they are doing their job and it is a job that our military does not have time or resources to do.

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