Topic: David Isenberg

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- By legal definition, security contractors are not mercenaries, but the dividing line is porous: There is nothing to say today's contractor was not a mercenary in the past. And even if he was not, he could be in the future.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- One of the most common criticisms about private security contractors is that there are insufficient rules governing their actions.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- It was not that long ago that seemingly just about everyone was suspicious of private security contractors working in Iraq, and not just liberals or opponents of the war. But that was then and this is now. New reports show that oversight and accountability over contractors are much improved.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. reliance on private contractors in Iraq is even greater than previously thought, according to a study released last week by the Congressional Budget Office.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Say whatever you want about Blackwater Worldwide -- and hardly a day goes by when something isn't being said about it -- it does not put all its eggs in one basket. Long before the company's recent announcement that it would seek to de-emphasize its personal security work in the future, it had created a diversified corporate structure. To use military terminology, it is a combined arms operation.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion piece on July 29 calling for the use of private security contractors to help transform the 9,000 or so African Union soldiers in Darfur into a more effective U.N. peacekeeping force. The op-ed, titled "Mercenaries for Darfur," suggested using personnel from Blackwater Worldwide.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The recent rescue of three U.S. private military contractors, held for more than five years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, highlights one of the perils of the industry -- they don't get the same legal protections as regular military combatants.

WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- For a moment there it looked like we might not have Blackwater to kick around anymore.

WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- Much of the discussion about the rights and wrongs of private military and security contractors in Iraq is framed either as a capabilities question -- can U.S. forces operate without them? -- or a values question -- should private contractors have such a big role?

WASHINGTON, July 11 (UPI) -- Last week the media reported security contractors working in Iraq no longer will receive immunity from prosecution in that nation under a deal being brokered by Iraqi and U.S. officials.