Politics

Considering that Chapter 12 is best known as a chapter of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the authors may have wished for another chapter number. On the other hand, considering the gap between some claims and evidence, perhaps it is appropriate.

For many years those in the private security contracting industry have argued loudly that the people who carry guns in the field are not mercenaries. And they are exactly right, as I have noted many times in the past.

In the Russian Federation, there are no laws specifically regulating the conduct of PMSC abroad. But that is not to say there are no relevant laws.

The Harper's magazine article is "The Warrior Class: A golden age for the freelance soldier," by Charles Glass, follows the career of Tim Spicer, who goes way back in the private military and security contracting world.

Privateers will be motivated by a bounty whether funded by the public coffers or via collections from civil penalties against pirate assets. Issued in tandem with bounties, letters of marque provide an efficient way to confiscate pirate vessels prior to attacks.

So just because you can't do it yourself you assume the contractor you hire does a great job? Now, that is not a criticism of DynCorp. For all anyone knows it might have done a terrific job.

if an actual person working for DynCorp, or any other contractor, received ratings like this on their performance assessment the door would be hitting them in the back as they left the office. Yet DynCorp still gets government contracts.

Has the role of private military and security companies been overlooked since the al-Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001? With everything that has been written and said about the subject, from Afghanistan to Iraq and KBR to Wackenhut Services, it is difficult to think that is the case.

These documents provide information on how the State Department rated its contractors on criteria such as quality, cost control, business relations, timeliness of performance and customer satisfaction.

Private Military Security Contract (PMSC) workers could sort of be considered like Mexican migrant workers. Yes, some people think they shouldn't be doing the work but the real problem is with the people who hire them.

Anyone who has ever used a contractor for anything knows they all have one thing in common, aside from actually doing the job. And that is to do more jobs for you in the future. In short they want your continued business.

As what was Blackwater, then Xe, sails off into the sunset and Academi unfurls its sails, I wish it well. As they say, third time's the charm.