Their Mercenary Calling

Venal, greedy for gain, sordid, soldiers hired for foreign service. All could apply to the growing number of so-called ‘Private Military Companies’ (PMC’s) developing a share in the market in global security contracts.

But what are PMC’s and what do they do?

PMC’s are essentially ‘respectable’ mercenaries. They provide many services traditionally supplied by regular armed forces. Only they do so for private profit. Services such as providing physical protection for aid workers, canine services, weapons systems operators and instructors, alongside other services.

Ex-soldiers often run them. Usually former officers from one or other elite units. Veterans from the SAS and other Special Forces units are highly sought after, especially former officers.

So, is the PMC a new idea? No. Mercenaries have existed for millennia. In fact, the mercenary has been described as ‘The second oldest profession’, prostitution being the oldest. ‘Whores of war’ indeed.

Saxon tribal chiefs could hire Houscarls who would fought to the death, even if their employer was killed. In medieval Europe, the Condottieri and Swiss were available to anyone who could afford their services. The Ronin, Ninja and Shaolin Monks of achieved equal notoriety, as did the Irish ‘Wild Geese’. In South East Asia during the 1960-70’s the Hres and Hmongs in Laos, the Cambodian Nungs and the Vietnamese Montagnards fought on all sides, and often among themselves. And the ‘Congo mercenaries’ were equally notorious. The history of the mercenary soldier is long and bloody.

Today’s PMC’s, however, have taken a much greater role in global realpolitik than their predecessors. During the first Gulf War of 1991, there were approximately 100 service personnel per private contractor present. In Gulf War II, there were about 10 service personnel per private contractor. In fact, private contractors form the second largest contribution to the occupying forces in Iraq at this moment.

Of course, globalisation has spread itself far and wide. It may well be the case that proponents of globalisation will say “Why not see if we can run war at a profit.” Either that or keep quiet and avoid the debate entirely. Opponents will probably claim that soldiering for profit is nothing more than another case of Big Business (literally) making a killing.

PMC’s have been active in many of the major trouble spots. Sandline International, which ceased trading in April 2004, was heavily involved in Sierra Leone, including breaches of the UN arms embargo. This was a major dent in New Labour’s much-heralded (and remarkably short-lived) ‘ethical foreign policy’.