Private Military Contractors in Iraq

Given the latest news and hearings, these might be of some interest. Several House Oversight Committee reports were released in the last couple of days.

“Blackwater USA: Private Military Contractor Activity in Iraq and Afghanistan” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing, October 2, 2007 [not much there yet but more will be added after the hearing]
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1509

“Additional Information about Blackwater USA.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Memorandum from the Majority Staff –. October 1, 2007
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20071001121609.pdf

“Private Military Contractors in Iraq: An Examination of Blackwater’s Actions in Fallujah.” House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Majority Staff report. Sept 2007
http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070927104643.pdf

“War Profiteering and Other Contractor Crimes Committed Overseas.” House. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. June 19, 2007
http://judiciary.house.gov/oversight.aspx?ID=338

“Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors “ House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing – Feb 7, 2007 [includes links to the video of the hearing, witness statements, and more]
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1165

Various letters to and from the Committee, the State Dept and Blackwater
http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1497

CPA Memorandum 17 – Registration Requirements for Private Security Companies (PSC) with Annexes including Annex A- Rules for the Use of Force by Contractors in Iraq and Annex B – Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies Operating Iraq
http://www.iraqcoalition.org/regulations/20040626_CPAMEMO_17_Registration_Requirements_for_Private_Security_Companies_with_Annexes.pdf

“Abuses in Private Security and Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq: Ensuring Accountability, Protecting Whistleblowers.” Senate Democratic Party Committee Hearing. September 21, 2007. [includes statements and links to the video of the hearing]
http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-hearing.cfm?A=40

Selected other sources:

“The Private Military Firms: Historical Evolution and Industry Analysis.” NPS thesis. June 2007.
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/07Jun_Alabarda_MBA.pdf

“Analysis of Security Contractors in Deployed Environments.” NPS Thesis. December 2006
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/06Dec_Herron_MBA.pdf

“A Critical Analysis of the Coordination, Command and Control of Contractors in Iraq.” NPS Thesis. December 2006
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/06Dec_Butkus_MBA.pdf

“Outsourcing Small Wars: Expanding the Role of Private Military Companies in U.S. Military Operations.” NPS Thesis. September 2005.
http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion-image.exe/05Sep_Jorgensen.pdf

“Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Needed to Improve Use of Private Security Providers.” GAO July 2005
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05737.pdf

“Private Security Contractors in Iraq: Background, Legal Status, and Other Issues” CRS report updated July 11, 2007
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32419.pdf

DCAF Backgrounder “Private Military Companies” April 2004
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/security/security_pdf/2006_DCAF.pdf

“The Private Military Industry and Iraq: What Have We Learned and Where to Next?” DCAF Policy Paper. Nov 2004
http://www.dcaf.ch/_docs/pp04_private-military.pdf

“Phasing Out Private Security Contractors in Iraq” USAWC Strategic Leadership Course paper. March 2006
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/ksil520.pdf

“Private Security Contractors on the Battlefield.” USAWC Strategy Research Project. March 2006
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/ksil320.pdf

“Operational Implications of Private Military Companies in the Global War on Terror. Army Command and General Staff College, 2005
http://stinet.dtic.mil/dticrev/PDFs/ADA436294.pdf

“Public War, Private Fight? The United States and Private Military Companies” Global War on Terrorism Occasional Paper no. 12. Fort Leavenworth Combat Studies Institute. 2005
http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/kidwell.pdf