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Blackwater may be out, but the security business continues to flourish

October 18th, 2007 by Double Tap

The private security business in Iraq and Afghanistan has taken some body blows lately, due primarily to the recent Blackwater controversy. There’s now reports that Blackwater will end up losing all its contracts in Iraq, or at least most of them. And, there is renewed scrutiny from the American public on the use of these types of contractors.

Here’s my take - I really don’t have a problem with the private security business as long as they are held responsible for any excesses. Just like a soldier can be charged with murder for unlawfully killing an Iraqi citizen, so too should these contractors fall under similar legal consequences.

The contract security I worked with in Iraq, EODT Security, never gave us any problems. They were professional, did their jobs properly, and quickly fired any employee who broke the rules - down to those who did even small crimes. So well did they present themselves as an organization at my FOB, one of the guys who deployed with me to Iraq retired after returning to the United States and went immediately back to Iraq to work for EODT Security. If I could have retired then, I would have joined him.

Interestingly enough, I’ve heard that since Blackwater is losing many of its contracts in Iraq, EODT and several other security companies are rushing in to fill the void. The need is still there, so private security forces aren’t going anywhere soon.

Follows is a surprisingly balanced look at private security in Iraq, from National Geographic. Grab some popcorn and check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzRF6jHLZBk

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

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