Commentary: The State That Signed the Contract Felled a City-One Voice at the Intersection of Public War and Private Profit

Failing to increase the size of active duty U.S. military forces since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has had tragic consequences. In 2008, private contractors outnumber active duty U.S. troops on the ground in the Iraq war, and, despite increasing reports of their brutal conduct, they ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Peters, Wim C. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2007
In: Social justice
Year: 2007, Volume: 34, Issue: 3/4, Pages: 208-223
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
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Keywords:
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
Rumsfeld, Donald, 1932-
Editorials
United States > History, Military > 21st century
War on Terrorism, 2001-2009
Contracting out > United States
Outsourcing of military special operations
Military policy
Privatization > United States
Privatization
Private military companies
Description
Summary:Failing to increase the size of active duty U.S. military forces since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has had tragic consequences. In 2008, private contractors outnumber active duty U.S. troops on the ground in the Iraq war, and, despite increasing reports of their brutal conduct, they are free from systemic or effective control. By contracting out the conduct of the war, state agencies have been allowed to contract out a superior's potential for criminal liability in the event of war crimes being committed by subordinates. Given that the power to start a war lies with the head of state, the head of state should also be accountable for all of war's results.
ISSN:2327-641X