Blackwater, the private security firm, has been running amok in Iraq since Bush declared "Mission Accomplished". There has been no oversight, and it seemed like the Blackwater guards were above any laws.
However, last week the Iraqis and the Americans signed an agreement which removed the Blackwater guards' immunity. These five guards are the first to have charges brought against them - and I would fully expect there to be more to come.
However, I would just like to take a few minutes to just let it sink in...
GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY RESPONSIBILITY IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!
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Issues relating to PMCs (Private Military Companies - more affectionately known as "mercenaries") are often very touchy due to critical differences between such establishments and internally-rooted standing armies. Last figure noted that currently in Iraq, 1 out of 10 military personnel present and participating in the Iraq War are mercenaries. Governments and established national militaries often employ the services of PMCs to acts as disposable (yet expensive) pawns to provide extra support to the existing military present without sacrificing extra energy or divisional strength by using their own forces. However, there is a notable lack of definition in regards to Rules of Engagement pertaining to PMC presence in combat situations; for example, if they are captured by oppositional forces, rules of conduct are unclear as to the status of their treatment and condition in most cases. The line has also been blurred in regards to the actions of PMCs against oppostional forces (or those affected by the collateral - intentional or not - of combat). This has led to much controversy relating to Blackwater International, the most prominent PMC currently present in Iraq, servicing itself to the United States. PMCs are indeed a critical aspect of any military campaign (be it domestic or international) - however, there needs to been clearly defined establishment of combative etiquette, reflecting and pertaining to that of PMCs in relation to national militaries; basically put, the rules of engagement that pertain to actual militaries should also apply to PMCs as well - bringing upon them the same conditions.
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