Here's another datapoint on the privatization of warfare. The Russian Duma just passed a bill that would allow the energy monopolies, Gazprom and Transneft, to build their own security forces (with greater powers than that normally afforded security firms). This is particularly interesting given that 1) Russia now uses its energy exports/pipelines as its primary tool of strategic power projection, 2) the government has become a corporatist klepocracy centered around the energy industry. Some interesting quotes:
"A couple of terrorist acts and an ensuing ecological catastrophe would be enough to immediately declare Russia an unreliable partner and supplier of energy." Alexandr Gurov, the Duma deputy that drafted the bill, to Carl Mortished at the UK Times.
"Pandora’s box . . . This law envisages the creation of corporate armies. If we pass this law, we will all become servants of Gazprom and Transneft." Gennadi Gudkov, a Duma deputy who opposed the bill.
We can expect these new armies to quickly expand their operations abroad over the coming years. They may even become exporters of security (although given Russia's recent history, the more likely outcome is that these new private military forces will be used to damage alternative/competitive suppliers and coerce recalcitrant customers). Just another step down the long tail of modern warfare, where every fount of cash flow with a desire to extend and protect it is armed with its own military.
NOTE: NATO, in its quest to remain relevant, is eyeing a role as a provider of security oil companies/oil exporting states (these companies will likely be responsive given that another Shell oil platform was attacked today in Nigeria).