From what I gather, the U.S. already made giant steps toward what is much too loosely called the “privatization” of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Figures 2 and 3 in the linked article, the “total private agents” somewhat exceeded the “total armed forces” in both wars. Total private agents refers to personnel of private military companies and excludes U.S.-hired mercenaries. These private agents may include forces that the companies themselves field, but what we’re mainly talking about here is a vast range of support services: building and maintaining bases, protecting sites, supplying fuel, food and ammunition, training, intelligence, … Continue reading Erik Prince’s “Privatization” of War Doesn’t Go Far Enough