Feb 12, 2012
Rick Barton in the News
PCR co-director Rick Barton recently spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s 7:30 report on civilian contracting in Iraq. While some contracting improves efficiency and frees up military personnel for other duties, Mr. Barton noted that outsourcing security operations breaks down the state and coalition monopoly on use of force, which reduces their credibility among the people and diminishes the unity of command. For video of the extended interview, go here.
- scotta's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
On top of all that, you have
On top of all that, you have the classical complaints about the use of military contractors so prominent in Machiavelli's work.
It seems like civilian contractors have replaced the draft as our means of providing additional manpower when we don't get sufficient volunteers. Obviously this strategy is only so scalable (unless we start hiring large forces from less developed countries), but it seems to have been successful in reducing the American publics reactions to casualties.