Iraq: Carnage and despair: Iraq- five years on: The role of private military security contractors

Index Number: MDE 14/008/2008
Date Published: 17 March 2008
Categories: Iraq

In the context of the “war on terror”, the USA and UK are outsourcing key security and military support functions, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, to private companies. Many of these contractors are based in the USA or UK. In addition, the US and UK governments have contracted private military security contractors (PMSCs) from other countries to carry out work in Iraq on their behalf. This document focuses on the responsibilities of the US and UK authorities in this context.