Here's another example of dysfunction in our societal discussion about the future of security: rather than an informed/constructive debate on the future of private military contractors in warfare (a big topic that WILL NOT go away), we end up demonizing Blackwater with hyper-ventilation from Scahill, Singer (Salon) and the New York Times. If anything, Blackwater's current problems have everything to do with its (ill advised) super-macho image and anger over an unpopular/unsuccessful war. In truth, it's simply a security company with an excellent reputation for keeping its high value clients alive and a record of violent incidents in a dangerous war zone on par with the US military's experience. Were we expecting something different?
No, the real issues lie much deeper than this. It has to do with unease with the underlying shift from "defense" to "security."
UPDATE: I've struggled with this journal entry. The reason is that it's clear that private military forces will be a major part of the global security equation, like it or not. The decline of the nation-sate ensures it. As a consequence, the real thrust of our collective efforts should be on methods to manage its emergence.UPDATE2: Here's a YouTube video of a Blackwater helo extricating the wounded Polish Ambassador in Baghdad yesterday.