Private Security Vs. Public Security
Public security can generally be described as the security apparatus of the state, consisting of military, police and intelligence agencies working in concert to protect the rights, lives and property of the citizenry. Private security involves firms that are privately owned and operated, generally consisting of for-profit corporations serving the various security needs of corporate, government and individual clients. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of private security firms to augment, and sometimes replace, traditional public security roles.
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Contemporary Uses of Private Security
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The contemporary state security apparatus is increasingly reliant on private security in order to fulfill its mandate of protecting the life and liberty of citizens. Increasing pressures from globalization and transnational players such as terrorist groups and organized crime have taxed the ability of the state to respond adequately to emerging threats. Additionally, in response to domestic pressure to cut costs and promote efficiency, the U.S. has increasingly turned to private military companies or contractors in order to support key security objectives worldwide.
Private Security and Controversy
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Many of the private military companies that have been used by the United States in its operations overseas have been involved in controversial or outright illegal activity. For example, in 2007, employees of the company formerly known as Blackwater were involved in the killing of innocent civilians in Iraq. The killings have been reported as completely unjustified given that there was no apparent threat against the employees. Also, some of those involved in the incident have testified that weapons were deliberately fired at unarmed people, resulting in what may be ruled as murder. Problems have not been limited to Iraq, however, as recent reports indicate that private security contractors at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan were involved in misconduct.
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Further Controversy
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The use of private security is not limited to official operations, or guarding bases. It was recently revealed that the CIA was looking to contract Blackwater operatives for a secret assassination program targeting senior terrorist leaders. This presents the public with a moral dilemma because of the already controversial practice of covert political assassinations, now possibly being outsourced to a private company with little in the way of accountability to the public.
Cost of Private Vs. Public Security
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The issue of accountability is not the only one associated with private vs. public security. Cost also is involved. Originally, the primary rationale for using private security companies was to save money, yet reports indicate that private contractors are often paid substantially more than government employees for doing virtually the exact same job. Still, within certain areas, such as logistical support, it has been shown that private security firms can offer cost savings and promote greater efficiency in resource consumption.
Benefits of Private Security
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There are obvious benefits to using private security that may help with some foreign policy objectives of the U.S. Private security can sometimes be used when the use of U.S. forces may be seen as overly hostile and in cases where discretion and low visibility are very important. Contractors can also be used when there is simply not enough troops to conduct a particular mission. In Iraq and Afghanistan, for example, there are thousands of troops, yet there are at least as many private security contractors who fulfill duties that otherwise could not get done.
Additionally, there are a great deal more mundane private security roles that are found throughout the United States and the world. For example, private security firms help protect commercial buildings, nuclear facilities, military bases and federal facilities. Without the use of private security in these applications, the size and scope of the public security apparatus would have to be much greater.
Factors to Consider
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While it is often argued that private security firms are both unaccountable and prone to abuse, the records of public security agencies are themselves marred with controversy. Many of the most highly publicized incidents occurring in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as Abu Ghraib, were carried out by official government security forces. Furthermore, many of the charges in terms of waste, abuse and recklessness that are levied against private security firms can also be levied against the government. This would indicate that use of both private and public security must be carefully monitored by the public in order to ensure that the use of force is always measured and appropriate to security needs we face.
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