Armed units from the private security firm Blackwater USA opened fire in Baghdad streets twice in two days last week. It triggered a standoff between the security contractors and Iraqi forces, a reminder that the war in Iraq may be remembered mostly in our history books for empowering and building America’s first modern mercenary army. There are an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 armed security contractors working in Iraq, although there are no official figures and some estimates run much higher. Security contractors are not counted as part of the coalition forces. When the number of private mercenary fighters is added to other civilian military ‘contractors’ who carry out logistical support activities such as food preparation, the number rises to about 126,000. ‘We got 126,000 contractors over there, some of them making more than the secretary of defense,’ said House defense appropriations subcommittee Chairman John Murtha (D., Pa.). ‘How in the hell do you justify that?’ The privatization of war hands an incentive to American corporations, many with tremendous political clout, to keep us mired down in Iraq. But even more disturbing is the steady rise of this modern Praetorian Guard. The Praetorian Guard in ancient Rome was […]