Not the Worst Idea Ever Posted by Michael Cohen

It pains me to disagree with Shawn Brimley on much of anything, but to his argument against using contractors to train the Iraqi military I have to make an exception. Military training is one of those areas where private contractors have traditionally done a pretty solid job and earned high marks. For example, military contractors are currently training the new Liberian military and police forces.

Indeed as a state function that is not "inherently governmental" there is a certain logic in  outsourcing military training to the private sector, particularly if they do it more effectively. Better to focus the military on those tasks they are not only better equipped to handle, but also that are "inherently governmental" and incapable of being outsourced to the private sector.

To be blunt, our military has a very narrow and effective skill set; waging war. And I would argue they do it quite well. Training other nation's armies is not what our military does best and I'm not sure I see the logic in asking them to do it when there are others in the private sector who have stronger skill sets and better capabilities. Now of course there needs to be proper oversight (a sorely lacking area in this administration) but certainly that is a hurdle that can be overcome in . . . say a Democratic Administration.

There are many reasons to be critical of the use of contractors in the Iraq War, but frankly much of the burden belongs on the Pentagon and State Department for not thinking through the implications of their use on the battlefield.  Throwing the baby out with the bathwater and not using contractors when they are able to play a positive role doesn't make much sense to me.

Comments

[Don Bacon]

You would argue they (our military) do it (waging war) quite well? Well, argue away. I'd love to hear about some military successes or even a victory or two. I can't recall any, myself, considering that the US military is currently in two (2) genuine five year plus interminable quagmires. Or did you buy the "Mission Accomplished" charade?

[MIchael Cohen]

Ok, the first Gulf War and the Iraq war - you want to argue about post-conflict stabilization I'm right there with you, but when it comes to winning actual fighting wars, they're pretty damn good.

[Mike M.]

I've been pretty vehement in disagreeing with Michael Cohen about contractors but I realize as I've read multiple pieces by him on the subject that he's not defending Blackwater in combat. He might go a little far in advocating the use of mercenaries in humanitarian hot spots, but mostly I think he's talking about the proper use of military contractors: security, bodyguarding, training and noncombat logisitical support. I think I can support that.

[mark]

Accountability? PMCs? just isn't every going to happen, not now, not ever. I think that is actually one of the things that the Pentagon finds most attractive about using PMC's. Not being subject to the pesky UCMJ or really any law, they can be a little... well, actually a lot rougher and tougher especially as interrogators, but that's another story. I have friends both Army and Marines who are doing MiTT. They train and then they fight along side the Iraqis. That will knock the fig leaf right off our little charade that PMCs aren't engaged in offencive actions. If this idea catches on it's "back to the future", Executive Outcomes all over again. Might even speed up the day that some Iraqi two star becomes the next Saddam. A Saddam who knows who's buttering his corporate bread and while acting the murderous thug will play ball with U.S. oil companies.

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He might go a little far in advocating the use of mercenaries in humanitarian hot spots, but mostly I think he's talking about the proper use of military contractors: security, bodyguarding, training and noncombat logisitical support. I think I can support that.
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