Talk:Private military company/Archives/2016

Listing of PMC's

Just thought I'd bring this to your attention. Many of the companies listed as being Private Military Contractors are in fact Private Security Contractors. Whilst there arguably may be little difference that we see, the rules of engagement for many of the contractors companies restrict them because they are deemed a Secrity Contractor and not a Military Contractor. This is what allows the US to get away with hiring them, because it is illegal under UN and US law to hire mercenary units. If anyone has feedback for me, if you think I bring up a valid point, then I'd be glad to make as many corrections as I can make. Or, if I'm an idiot, please inform me. Either way, please send me a message to let me know.Johny123t 22:18, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Yes. Or, rather: no.Phase4 23:31, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

"Private security company" is indeed the correct term for these enterprises. I say this article should be completely renamed to Private security company. Alcarillo 15:21, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

I agree that it is an alternative term for these enterprises, and have therefore redirected Private security company to Private military company.Phase4 17:33, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, that's a better solution. Thanks. Alcarillo 17:44, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

My problem with this is two-fold: First off, private security contractors operate under a completely different set of laws and rules of operation than PMCs, being bound, within the US, by federal laws and the laws of the state(s) in which they operate. Secondly, by this definition, my company and hundreds of others that have armed officers, much less special response teams, would be considered PMCs when we are nothing of the sort. We may contract with several oil and energy corporations and carry government contracts, but we operate under the laws of the states in which we operate as well as federal GSA guidelines and regulations. "Private security contractor" is far too broad of a term to be tied to the PMC definition, as we are most definately NOT mercenaries. Remember, Blackwater is NOT a security company at all, but companies like Securitas are. By this overly broad definition, the armed officers at the local mall and quick-stop would be lumped in as mercenaries.--Breandán 05:16, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Breandan, see that's kind of the problem, and to an extent why these contractors are hired. They don't have to follow all these "annoying pesky laws" that regular soldiers have to follow. By labling them as "Security Contractors" the government can circumvent the law which prohibits them from hiring mercenaries. 68.192.204.19 (talk) 23:36, 13 March 2009 (UTC)

Anonymous-I think that the list of companies should be revised because of two reasons. First, it seems incomplete with limited information and secondly, it is proboly impossible to list all PMCs because nobody keeps track of them and there are also hundreds of tiny companies. I think that it would be better to replace it with a list of 'notable/large/well known private military contractors.' I've heard that the book 'A Bloody Business' has an index of some well known PMCs with a paragraph or two about each one.

Also, to kinda support Breandan, Blackwater Security Consulting is the division of Blackwater Worldwide that does the PMC work. So technically Blackwater Worldwide isn't a PMC but one of their divisions is.

Other companies

the http://www.sandline.com/site/index.html has a list of "Other Companies" which could be viewed and if PMCs added to the list.

There is also a copy of an Economist article called "Mercenaries The Baghdad boom" at the same web site: http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/Economist-Baghdad.html

The home page of sandline says:

On 16 April 2004 Sandline International announced the closure of the company's operations.

The general lack of governmental support for Private Military Companies willing to help end armed conflicts in places like Africa, in the absence of effective international intervention, is the reason for this decision. Without such support the ability of Sandline to make a positive difference in countries where there is widespread brutality and genocidal behaviour is materially diminished.

So the web pages may not be around for much longer.Philip Baird Shearer 14:14, 8 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Tactical Air Defense Services **(http://www.tads-usa.com/) (TADS)(SYMBOL-TADF) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.172.118.34 (talk) 19:50, 19 June 2013 (UTC)

Atholl Highlanders

Even if Atholl Highlanders can be considered a private military force, they cannot be considered a private military contractor since they are neither a company nor any other kind of business entity. In other words, they are not a PMC by definition and I suggest the removal of any reference to Atholl Highlanders in the PMC article.

You cannot say that a "force" is not a "contractor" because they are not a company or a business entity. A contractor is someone on a contract, whether an individual, company, society or association. For profit or otherwise. All soldiers are on contracts. Most for profit (though not the Atholl Highlanders). The Atholl Highlanders are not mercenaries simply because they are not an actual military force.115.188.155.200 (talk) 02:58, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

Praetorian Guard

I removed the quoted statement that compared PMCs to the Roman Praetorian Guard. This was a little off the mark, especially considering the foreign-based role of PMCs. Comments? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Skinwalker (talk • contribs)

I would tend to agree, they were a Palace Guard, which is totaly different than a PMC.

I believe that the Varangian Guard would be a far more likely candidate for a Roman-esque historical example to compare a modern PMC to, but in truth the phenomenon of mercenary armies dates back to the beginning of history, and it is the concept of large, state-run standing armies that is the exception throughout history. Thus, any number of historical examples, from the Gallic mercenaries under Hannibal to the Great Companies of medieval and early Renaissance Europe, could be used as a comparison--Breandán 08:44, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

":::If the PG are regarded as mercenaries, then so was the entire Roman army. Which is technically correct. The broadest definition of mercenary is anyone who fights for money, which essentially means the entire armed forces of the world, excluding conscripts.115.188.155.200 (talk) 03:03, 27 December 2015 (UTC)

Raytheon

What exactly is the reasoning that put them on a list of PMCs? Last I knew, they only provided training of a technical sort. 67.241.56.112 (talk) 11:24, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Halliburton

How is Halliburton a private military contractor? In its article it states that it is a petrochemical company dealing with chemical plants & producation and oil refining. I'll wait a day for a response and if none I'll remove it from the list. --Melab±1 ☎ 20:09, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

List could be own article

The list in my opinion focuses to much on the US and should either be a separate article or there should be other countries included in it. Which message template deals with lists in articles that should (the list) probably be its own article or a template that deals with a list that only includes examples from a few countries and should include one's from other articles? --Melab±1 ☎ 20:37, 19 February 2009 (UTC)

AONN

Removing AONN from this list; there is no apparent evidence it exists. If you readd, please cite. Kgorman-ucb (talk) 00:12, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

How Do i inlist Christn777777 (talk) 08:33, 17 November 2016 (UTC)