Our Private Warriors

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Last week-s brutal murders of contract workers in Fallujah cast harsh light on the military-s increasing dependence on private corporations. There aren-t enough American soldiers to provide food and housing, maintain equipment, train the new Iraqi army or provide security-even for US Administrator Paul Bremer. But concerns about mixing "the profit motive and the fog of war" raise questions about the make-up of this private army. Are they mercenaries or patriots? Are they accountable to the military itself, to Congress, or the Commander in Chief? Warren Olney takes a closer look at these corporate warriors with national security experts from the Brookings Institution, the US Army War College, the nonprofit International Peace Operations Association, and former official at the Office of Management and Budget. Making News: Arrest Warrant Issued for Shiite Cleric In Iraq, coalition officials plan to hunt down a controversial Shiite cleric, who is accused of inspiring deadly violence yesterday in Baghdad and four other cities. They-ll execute a warrant for the arrest of Muqtada al-Sadr issued some months ago. Rod Nordland, Baghdad Bureau chief for Newsweek magazine, says the warrant was originally issued because of al-Sadr's involvement in the assassination of rival cleric Abdel-Majid al-Khoei. Reporter's Notebook: The Blowback against Government Whistle-blowers On Thursday, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice will appear before the independent commission investigating September 11, her sworn, public testimony forced by that of former anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke. Thirty years ago, White House Counsel John Dean's public testimony was central to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Dean-s latest book is Worse than Watergate: the Secret Presidency of George W. Bush.
Last week-s brutal murders of contract workers in Fallujah cast harsh light on the military-s increasing dependence on private corporations. There aren-t enough American soldiers to provide food and housing, maintain equipment, train the new Iraqi army or provide security-even for US Administrator Paul Bremer. But concerns about mixing "the profit motive and the fog of war" raise questions about the make-up of this private army. Are they mercenaries or patriots? Are they accountable to the military itself, to Congress, or the Commander in Chief? Warren Olney takes a closer look at these corporate warriors with national security experts from the Brookings Institution, the US Army War College, the nonprofit International Peace Operations Association, and former official at the Office of Management and Budget.
  • Making News: Arrest Warrant Issued for Shiite Cleric
    In Iraq, coalition officials plan to hunt down a controversial Shiite cleric, who is accused of inspiring deadly violence yesterday in Baghdad and four other cities. They-ll execute a warrant for the arrest of Muqtada al-Sadr issued some months ago. Rod Nordland, Baghdad Bureau chief for Newsweek magazine, says the warrant was originally issued because of al-Sadr's involvement in the assassination of rival cleric Abdel-Majid al-Khoei.
  • Reporter's Notebook: The Blowback against Government Whistle-blowers
    On Thursday, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice will appear before the independent commission investigating September 11, her sworn, public testimony forced by that of former anti-terrorism chief Richard Clarke. Thirty years ago, White House Counsel John Dean's public testimony was central to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Dean-s latest book is Worse than Watergate: the Secret Presidency of George W. Bush.

Secretary of State Powell on (first anniversary) of assassination of Sayyed Abdul Majeed al-Khoei

Coalition Provisional Authority

Military Professional Resources, Inc (MPRI)

Worse than Watergate: the Secret Presidency of George W. Bush

9-11 Commission

National Security Council, Condoleezza Rice

Richard Clarke's Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terrorism

Richard Nixon Library

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney