CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY DAREN BOWYER JUST WAR DOCTRINE

Furthermore, the use of contract staff to support the military in the area, for example, of
Security Sector Reform, allows greater engagement in this activity than would
otherwise, in all likelihood be possible. US-led efforts in Afghanistan, for instance, to
reform the Ministries of Defence and the Interior, and to recruit, train and equip an army
and police force loyal to the government, are extensively underpinned by the use of ex-
military and police officers employed by MPRI and DynCorps
Whilst Münkler’s description fits a common image of certain types of PMCs –
particularly the mercenary forces used in African wars of the 60 and 70s (as well as the
other profit-motivated irregular forces that have been a feature of recent conflict), this
very negative image is inappropriate for a large number of companies operating in the
sector today. This is part of the problem in discussing or seeking to regulate or limit
PMC activity – it is a very broad church. Paul Jackson points out that although the
larger and better known (and better regulated) PMCs operate out of the UK, USA,
France and Israel, the sector has expanded rapidly, especially in the Russia and
Ukraine. 152 Whilst in one sector of the industry there might operate shadowy teams of
ill-regulated mercenaries willing to do anything for the right price, at the other are
globally recognised businesses such as Kellog, Brown and Root (KBR), Halliburton,
AmorCorp and Aegis. The latter boasts both a former UK Chief of the General Staff
and a former UK Chief of the Defence Staff on its board. Of course, being a large
internationally renowned firm is no cast iron guarantee of proper behaviour. Aegis
suffered bad press as a result of allegations – subsequently proved unfounded – of
improper conduct by that its staff allegedly shown in a ‘trophy video’ in Iraq
(something it took swift action to have independently investigated) 153 , and Halliburton
has faced allegations of overcharging 154 . More recently still the US firm Blackwater
faced serious criticism that had significant implications for US policy in Iraq and led it
to its facing a Congressional enquiry 155 . Large, well-known firms clearly have a
business interest in being seen to be operating both within the law and ethically, and but
that will not always guarantee either their corporate behaviour or the conduct of
individual employees.
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