Private Security Contractors on the Battlefield: Cat Herding and Reconstruction

摘要

Wednesday morning, March 31, 2004, began like most others, at least until the reports of smoking vehicles, an angry mob, and charred bodies being hanged from the 'Brooklyn Bridge' in downtown Fallujah in the Al Anbar province of Iraq began pouring in. Closer observation revealed that four Americans had been murdered and, subsequently, mutilated in the streets to a cheering crowd. This was confusing to the Marines within the 1st Marine Division command center, as no units were reported to be within the city. Further investigation revealed that four private security contractors conducting a convoy escort had entered the city with no forewarning or coordination with the Marines. Thus began the first battle of Fallujah, largely in response to the death of four contractors. The current relationship between military forces and private security contractors (PSCs) must be improved to ensure adequate force protection and unity of effort in the reconstruction of Iraq.