Accession Number:

ADA495382

Title:

Private Security Infrastructure Abroad: Criminal-Terrorist Agendas and the Operational Environment

Descriptive Note:

Monograph

Corporate Author:

JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIV HURLBURT FIELD FL

Personal Author(s):

• Turbiville, Jr, Graham H.

Report Date:

2007-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

67.0

Abstract:

Graham Turbivilles paper on private security organizations within todays operational and security environment is important as we consider the current conflict as viewed through an irregular warfare prism. Within the irregular warfare framework, the population is the center of gravity and, consequently, security for the population is paramount to maintaining the populations loyalty and support. To maintain this security, both government security organizations and private security firms operate within sovereign nations. Worldwide private security organizations, ranging from unarmed security guards to combat-capable paramilitary groups, can act as a force multiplier to enhance security. A critical component of official and nonofficial security regimes is the role of government oversight in ensuring that criminals and terrorists are unable to hijack private security organizations for their own objectives. A major problem is the ability of governments to manage or oversee these security elements, which varies significantly from country to country and region to region. In many countries, government control is almost nonexistent, creating an environment in which private security organizations are ripe for criminal or terrorist manipulation. Consequently, the implications of potential abuse by these wayward security regimes are critical to conceptualizing support to partner nations in the long-term conflict. This issue shows another element of nontraditional or nonstate actors involved in the international security arena and further highlights the added complexity in addressing security challenges in the post 911 operational environment. As the United States and its allies combat terrorist networks, Dr. Turbivilles work clearly shows the importance of managing private security organizations as a key element in mutually building capacity to defeat terrorists.

Descriptors:

• *ASYMMETRIC WARFARE
• *INFILTRATION(PERSONNEL)
• *CORPORATIONS
• *SECURITY PERSONNEL
• *MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND CONTROL
• *SUBVERSION
• *TERRORISM
• *CRIMINAL CORRUPTION
• PARAMILITARY FORCES
• CRIMES
• PUBLIC SAFETY
• LAW ENFORCEMENT
• DECEPTION
• CIVILIAN POPULATION
• GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN)
• TERRORISTS
• ORGANIZATIONS

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Sociology and Law
• Unconventional Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE