Private Armies
Private Armies exposes viewers to the activities of private security firms, including the companies personnel, the methods they employ, and the funding they receive. The audience is privy to the training protocols required of private security personnel, including the handling of weapons, driving around in a demolition derby-like vehicle, and so on.
The movie begins in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It’s also a common target for terrorist attacks, as well as the primary location for many private military organizations. The filmmakers donned bullet-proof vests and traveled with a British security company, they received instructions on how to respond to an assault while traveling towards a private military training camp outside of the city. Despite traveling in an armored vehicle, the likelihood of encountering a booby-trap as a result of the Taliban is still real. Now I have a career that I can do outside of the military,” one of their guides explains as the reason for his death-defying career. However, another factor becomes apparent: the average monthly salary of an Executive Officer in the private sector is 3 times that of the formal military – this is a strong influence on the decision to pursue a career in the military.
A member of the United Nations Disarmament Committee explains that the international community, including Europe, the U.S., and Japan, generally funds the private security companies that provide security independently of military organizations. Companies like Armor Group, the leading privately owned military company in London, have experienced significant growth following the 9/11 attacks, employing over 10,000 people in 38 different organizations across the globe. A corporate office that is typically unremarkable, Armor Group functions as a military-style recruitment agency that provides security to countries during times of conflict.
In a rare occurrence, American security firm Blackwater, a subsidiary of the Prince Group, is open to the film’s crew, they have access to the largest training facility in the world, where “door handles are replaced by machine guns”. Contrasting with the previous interview subjects, one Blackwater operative is vocal about the importance of the paycheck, but secondary to that is the belief that the work they do is of great importance. One woman, however, questions if the company can be trusted and whether her son’s death while on a Blackwater mission is being misused in order to promote the company’s reputation.
Explanatory and informative, Private Armies interrogates the purpose of private security firms while leading viewers to question the regulations of these firms and assess the benefits or dangers they may have on the countries they are involved with.
