Feral Jundi

Friday, December 18, 2009

Books: One Nation Under Contract, by Allison Stanger–Review by David Isenberg

Filed under: Books — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 6:44 AM

   Another book for the holidays.  Last Christmas it was all about David’s book, and this year, it looks like Allison’s book is the latest thing.  It is not only praised by David, but is mentioned by Friedman in his Op-ed here, and it is also mentioned in the latest CNAS report about contractors here. So basically, this is a book you should probably check out, because these are the types of publications that fuel the conversation at the upper levels of policy making.

   For the record, I have not read this book so I really cannot comment on it.  It is on my list though. I have put the book in the Jundi Gear store, so check that out if you plan on using Amazon to buy anything. Hopefully Allison or David can come on by and comment some more about the book.  I would like to hear how well it is selling, and what the reactions are from the defense think tank crowd. –Matt

Edit: 12/21/2009 – David just sent me a BookTV episode that Allison did about her book.  Check it out here. Also check out here article at Foreign Policy here.

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One Nation Under Contract

Book Review of One Nation Under Contract by Allison Stanger

Missing in Action

Dec 19, 2009

By David Isenberg

Of all the books published about private military and security contractors in recent years, with more coming out all the time, few really understand the phenomenon of outsourcing roles that were formerly the preserve of government.

Either they are academic theses and dissertations rewritten for public consumption, such as Peter Singer’s Corporate Warriors, a rare useful book on the subject; ill-concealed hysterical jeremiads masquerading as dispassionate journalism, such as Jeremy Scahill’s over-the-top fulminations against Blackwater; or breathless “I was there taking fire in the sandbox” memoirs from conflict zones.

Not many authors have paused to consider exactly what is going on. To paraphrase what was said about the US intelligence community after the September 11, 2001, attacks, they don’t connect the dots. Finally someone has.

That someone is Allison Stanger, professor of international politics and economics at Middlebury College in the United States.

(more…)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Podcasts: Federal News Radio Interviews David Isenberg–Examining the Role of the Military Contractor

Filed under: Industry Talk,Podcasts — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 9:08 AM

   David just sent me this and I wanted to get it out there for the readership to enjoy.  I love podcasts, and they are a great way to get your stuff out there.  It is also a treat to hear what David is working on, and to hear his thoughts on the current state of the industry. Check it out. –Matt

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Federal News Radio: Examining the role of the military contractor

November 12, 2009

David Isenberg

Click to hear the interview

 Download mp3

The use of military contractors by the U.S. opens up a whole range of important issues, from the proper ways to wage a war to the cost of hiring contractors.

A new report, Private Military Contractors and Grand U.S. Strategy, examines the role of contractors and the federal government’s growing reliance on them.

David Isenberg is with the International Peace Research Institute of Oslo and tells the Daily Debrief more about his report.

Go to Federal News Radio Website here.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Strategy: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Grand Strategy, By David Isenberg

Filed under: Publications,Strategy — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:56 AM

   Awesome.  This is the kind of conversation we need to have out there, and I applaud David for his work on trying to start that conversation.  And just a hint to the guys over at Small Wars Journal, or anyone else that claims to be students of this war and strategy. There are over 240,000 civilian contractors in this war, with 1,168 killed and over 37,000 injured.  Why there is no mention of PMC’s/contractors and grand strategy in the same sentence, is beyond me. We are very much a part of this war, and we do have an impact on strategy for these wars and future wars. –Matt

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Private Military Contractors and U.S. Grand Strategy

10/15/2009

The debate over whether and how to utilize private military contractors (PMC) often seems like childish name calling, e.g. “You’re a mercenary.” Such rhetoric is silly and prevents people from facing underlying realities.

What nobody wants to discuss is that the U.S. government’s huge and growing reliance on private contractors constitutes an attempt to circumvent or evade public skepticism about the United States’ self-appointed role as global policeman. The U.S. government has assumed the role of guarantor of global stability at a time when the American public is unwilling to provide the resources necessary to support this strategy. Private contractors fill the gap between geopolitical goals and public means.

As the United States relies more heavily upon military contractors it reinforces the tendency to approach global crises in a unilateral, as opposed to multilateral manner. U.S. use of PMCs is inevitable until people grasp the key point: contracting is both part of war and part of maintaining a global military hegemonic presence.

Such a policy is not without problems. As Adam Smith wrote in the Wealth of Nations about his experience of the corporations that were contracted to perform British government services — such as the East India Company, the Halliburton of its day, left him too skeptical to suggest privatization: “These companies… have in the long-run proved, universally, either burdensome or useless.”

ISBN : 978 82 7288 324 8 • Isenberg Private Military Contractors PRIO Report 1-2009.pdf

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Quotes: Wartime Commission Stuff and the Isenberg Analysis

Filed under: Industry Talk,Quotes — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 9:36 AM

MR. THIBAULT: Well, the reason that’s important is, so often in whistleblower cases, there’ll be one or two individuals that bring the whistle and allege wrongdoing, and they’re kind of — the history says sometimes they’re summarily dismissed as disgruntled employees, or about-ready-to-be-fired employees. And in this case, it’s not everyone, but it’s — you know, have you experienced that kind of referral in your past?

MS. BRIAN: That’s a great question. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and there has not been a circumstance that I can point to where such an enormous percentage of individuals have come forward essentially as whistleblowers. It’s — it’s — out of 150 English- speaking guards, we’re speaking to 20 of them. I mean, it’s really quite extraordinary. So it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and it’s a testament to the magnitude of the problem.

*****

    I wanted to post this as a reminder of how significant this case is. Danielle Brian of POGO said 20 AGNA whistleblowers? Amazing. And I am sure those are just the ones that felt strong enough about their case to come forward.  I am sure there are others who have experienced equally abusive circumstances on this contract. This is pathetic, and I cannot believe how poorly managed this contract was.

   Also, I want to give a heads up to the ‘Isenberg Analysis’ over at PMH.  What David Isenberg is doing is going through the commission transcripts with a fine tooth comb, and providing the context and the historical details that would escape most of us in regards to what these guys are saying.  He has been reporting on this industry for a long while, so to hear his perspective is fascinating.  It is also a three part series, and he has already pumped out part 1 and part 2.  Check it out. –Matt

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Industry Talk: PMH Exclusive–David Isenberg Analyzes Gordon Vs. AGNA

Filed under: Industry Talk — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 7:50 AM

    Check it out folks.  David went through the entire suit and commented on each aspect of the thing.  What is key about that, is David’s vast knowledge base about AGNA and AGI and his ability to remember all the cool little details that only add to this stew of information.  Bottom line, I wanted to puke after reading this, and I am so sorry that Gordon and company all had to go through what you went through on this contract. (according to Danielle in the PMH show, there are at least thirty plus guys who have reported problems)

    Those lewd party pictures are stupid, but the actual details of this contract are the real story here. I highly recommend reading through this if you have the time, and learn what not to do on a contract. –Matt

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     In a Private Military Herald exclusive David Isenberg, author of Shadow Force: Private Security Contractors in Iraq dissects James Gordon’s suit against ArmorGroup North America.

 

     Read this important and insightful analysis here.

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