Although a growing body of literature has recently emerged on the topic of the United States’ use of armed contractors in Iraq, quantifiable data to evaluate the consequences of using these personnel so extensively have heretofore been in short supply. Our...
More
Although a growing body of literature has recently emerged on the topic of the United States’ use of armed contractors in Iraq, quantifiable data to evaluate the consequences of using these personnel so extensively have heretofore been in short supply. Our study aims to contribute to filling that gap. Our primary research questions were : What are the costs and benefits of armed private security contractors to the U.S. mission in Iraq, and how have these contractors impacted U.S. military operations in this theater ? In assessing this question, the unique contributions of this study are its specific focus on armed private security contractors—as opposed to the much larger category of unarmed reconstruction, logistical, and base operations support contractors—and its use of two systematic surveys, one of U.S. military personnel and one of State Department personnel.
Less
