Shadow force : private security contractors in Iraq / David Isenberg.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [217]-235) and index.

1. Overview of the Military Issue -- 2. PMCs in Iraq -- 3. The Players -- 4. Control and Accountability -- 5. Control and Accountability at Abu Ghraib -- 6. Control and Accountability Issues -- 7. Conclusions.

"From their limited use in China during World War II to their often-clandestine use in Vietnam, private military contractors (PMCs) have made essential contributions to the successes and failures of the military and United States. Today, with an emphasis on force restructuring mandated by the Pentagon, the role of PMCs, and their impact on policymaking decisions, is at an all time peak. Shadow Force analyzes that impact, focusing specifically on PMCs in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003." "David Isenberg organizes his book thematically, addressing all facets of PMCs in the current conflict. His analysis ranges from identifying who the most influential companies are and how they got to that point, to the issues that the government, military, and contractors themselves face when they take the field. Isenberg dissects PMC responsibilities, the friction that exists between contractors and military commanders, and problems of protocol and accountability, as well as the problems of regulation and control that PMC companies create for domestic politics."--BOOK JACKET.