Private Military Companies, Mercenaries

[Vinu CHETTOOR]

Dear Sirs,
Just out of curiosity....
There are a lot of PMC s operating in troubled regions like Iraq and Afghanistan, employing Armed Security personnel, mainly ex military, for duties like mine clearing, as trainers, convoy protection, embassy/ physical security and executive protection.
There are some people who call them as mercenaries, but I guess that is debatable as even governments and United Nations utilize their services.
My question here is, despite having such vast experience in counter terrorism operations for the last three decades, I haven't heard of a single Indian company operating there and never heard of any of our ex service men getting recruited for such assignments.
What is the reason or this? We all know that there is a lot of money in this business?

Regards,

Vinu CHETTOOR

[nitish pandey]

A good observation. Perhaps our society's socialist aroma is so strong within the force that one doesn't think in such an entrepreneurial manner about "security". They do go into making money as project managers, pilots, account managers, education and private security guards (you know, where you milk the poor anaemic soul and his family in every way to make a big packet for yourself alone).

If my theory is wrong, then the other reason could be we really don't have great generals (or thinkers like generals) who can set up a combat company. You need to have a mix of combat skills + risk taking personality + managerial skills to set up and run a company. We run indian fauj on the following configuration "the juniors can't question me", WIth such a luxury where is the need to be a real leader or manager? Not required. Issue fatwas and they will be followed.

If even my second theory is worng, then the last coudl be that our Registrar of Companies, RoC perhaps does not allow one to incorporate a company with such a MoU, Charter or mandate.

Over to you. Do you want to set up such a company?

Nitish

[wingedream]

Yah, Nitish.you have rounded off very well.I agree with all that you have to add save being apolitical is not strictly a socialist avatar but a liberal democratic fiction.Though you look around and Afghanistan, iraq, Middle East and the Africas have military contractors.Current action thriller reads are full of them.As for me,I do not have the balls for dying for someone or someplace else or make a company with such forward looking ideas.Shall sit and watch though and help in ways that I can, maybe !

But, surely someone should be doing this .That is ,other than being surreptitious arms merchants or pimps at the highest levels.

[Vinu Chetoor]

What I could understand was that the law is cockoid when it comes to mercenary. Mercenaries do not come under the provisions of Geneva convention, if captured and are liable to face the law of the land as a terrorist. However the US apparently has not subscribed to this and hence they are approving the PMC usage through this loophole. We need to see where Indian law stands on this issue.
Any body thinking on the same lines? I am open for options...

[nitish pandey]

If the law is cock eyed then either get it changed or get yourself a US citizenship. Ganging up as ex faujis and setting up forces of India Pvt ltd will only land you in trouble.

[wingedream]

So nitish ! These are life and death matters.International law, Patriotism, sedition and global conspiracies.Big players and implicitly covert.

Best left as a "Body of lies" and the likes of Di Caprio.They make exciting viewing,surely .

[nitish pandey]

I surely want to only view such stuff but then there are people who bring this stuff to life for money and nothing else. Can't stop them. If vinoo is one of them who can put together such desperate/greedy warm bodies then so be it. They shall survive (no pun intended) if there is a need for such services. All i can comment is that perhaps indian law doesn't allow it, perhaps some countries allow it and finally that indian military doesn't generate such leaders who can build such outfits.