Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Shores III, Howard Prentiss
Author's Email Address	howardshores@gmail.com
URN	etd-07122008-205319
Title	Filling the Void: Private Security Providers and their Implications for United States Military Operations in Iraq and Beyond
Degree	Master of Science
Department	International Affairs
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Dr. Peter Garretson Committee Chair Dr. Mark Souva Committee Member Dr. Michael Creswell Committee Member
Keywords	Middle East Defense Contractors Private Security Company Private Security Provider Contractors Blackwater Iraq War Iraq
Date of Defense	2008-02-25
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract While the use of private contractors in United States military operations is not a new phenomenon, the expansive use of private security providers in Iraq is unprecedented in modern warfare. Over the course of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq, these private companies have carried out more mission-critical operations than in any previous conflict, all without a comprehensive system in place to supervise and regulate their activities. During this time, these companies and their employees have been involved in a number of well-publicized incidents, drawing a great deal of criticism from numerous observers in the United States and abroad. This thesis examines these companies and their activities in Iraq, as well as the concerns and criticisms that have arisen as a result of their utilization in occupation. Ultimately, this paper attempts to determine the implications of the continued use of these companies in Iraq, as well as in future U.S. military operations.
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