Institute for National Strategic Studies

at the National Defense University

VIDEO: T.X. Hammes debates at CSIS on Contractors in Conflict Zones

Jan 28, 2011

"The United States Government's Employment of Armed Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan"
CSIS and Defense Industrial Initiatives Group hosted a debate in Lincoln-Douglas format investigating issues surrounding the employment of armed private forces by the United States and whether the lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan might apply to other zones of conflict.

 

Dr. T.X. Hammes recently attended a Lincoln-Douglas format debate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the strategic impact of contractors in conflict zones.  Dr. Hammes recently published a Strategic Forum on this subject entitled "Private Contractors in Conflict Zones: The Good, the Bad, and the Strategic Impact."  Mr. Doug Brooks, President of the International Stability Operations Association (a contractor trade association) was the co-debator.

 

Excerpt from Strategic Forum #260:
"The United States has hired record numbers of contractors to serve in the conflict zones of Iraq and Afghanistan but has not seriously examined their strategic impact. There are clearly advantages to using contractors in conflict zones, but they have three inherent characteristics that have serious negative effects during counterinsurgency operations. We cannot effectively control the quality of the contractors or control their actions, but the population holds us responsible for everything the contractors do, or fail to do.

Contractors compete with the host government for a limited pool of qualified personnel and dramatically change local power structures. Contractors reduce the political capital necessary to commit U.S. forces to war, impact the legitimacy of a counterinsurgency effort, and reduce its perceived morality. These factors attack our nation’s critical vulnerability in an irregular war—the political will of the American people."

 

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  • » VIDEO: T.X. Hammes debates at CSIS on Contractors in Conflict Zones

    • VIDEO: T.X. Hammes debates at CSIS on Contractors in Conflict Zones

    Jan 28, 2011

    "The United States Government's Employment of Armed Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan"
    CSIS and Defense Industrial Initiatives Group hosted a debate in Lincoln-Douglas format investigating issues surrounding the employment of armed private forces by the United States and whether the lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan might apply to other zones of conflict.

     

    Dr. T.X. Hammes recently attended a Lincoln-Douglas format debate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on the strategic impact of contractors in conflict zones.  Dr. Hammes recently published a Strategic Forum on this subject entitled "Private Contractors in Conflict Zones: The Good, the Bad, and the Strategic Impact."  Mr. Doug Brooks, President of the International Stability Operations Association (a contractor trade association) was the co-debator.

     

    Excerpt from Strategic Forum #260:
    "The United States has hired record numbers of contractors to serve in the conflict zones of Iraq and Afghanistan but has not seriously examined their strategic impact. There are clearly advantages to using contractors in conflict zones, but they have three inherent characteristics that have serious negative effects during counterinsurgency operations. We cannot effectively control the quality of the contractors or control their actions, but the population holds us responsible for everything the contractors do, or fail to do.

    Contractors compete with the host government for a limited pool of qualified personnel and dramatically change local power structures. Contractors reduce the political capital necessary to commit U.S. forces to war, impact the legitimacy of a counterinsurgency effort, and reduce its perceived morality. These factors attack our nation’s critical vulnerability in an irregular war—the political will of the American people."

     

    Bookmark and Share
    « Read More News & Events