Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1258433
PMC/PSC and Poland Rarely are the contemporary, corporate businesses involved in operations that entail pure combat. Most of their business activities pertain to repairs and maintenance of military equip- ment, support of the supply chain, providing security services, and training itself. The scope of activities in this sector is being constantly expanded. The businesses expand their expertise in new areas. We could have witnessed a 500% increase in the involvement of businesses as such in the operations undertaken by the United States, just between the first Gulf War (1991) and the peacekeeping operations in former Yugoslavia (1995 - 1999). Actions undertaken by one of the PMC/PMF entities dealing with providing reconstruction support in Iraq can be listed as a successful example of contributions made in the area of esta- blishment of a security system locally. Teams of 8 (specialists/ engineers), and drivers and comms specialists were the ele- ments involved here. They did not carry arms openly, moving in a manner that did not attract unnecessary attention. As a result of the approach adopted, around 300 civil engineering projects have been completed in the most dangerous areas in Iraq, with zero losses and no collateral damage. At the same time, the mi- litary and the PMCs employing the aggressive power projection were being shot at daily, which led to losses in personnel and assets. One of the advantages that entities as such exhibit is their market-focused profile. This, in turn, makes it possible to establish continuity of operations and to depart from the po- litical landscape. They are highly flexible, dynamic, and can act rapidly. They could be used to accomplish the state's strategic objective when supporting foreign peacekeeping operations or are involved in independent humanitarian undertakings of their own (convoy protection, EOD, security). Currently activities as such are not being conducted in Poland. Companies providing training services are the closest to PMCs in their activities. However, the activities they undertake are limited to recruitment in Poland and the execution of the training. Further phases are entrusted with businesses from the UK or Israel. Recruitment at the businesses that deal with the provision of security services at the African national park is a relatively new element here. The situation is amplified by the sheer number of training centers, easy access to firearms (when compared to the other EU coun- tries), and the ability to conduct firearms training. Lack of an ana- logous offer in Poland, for the soldiers and officers that retire, is another contributing factor here. As a result of the above, the potential gathered in a large group of people leaving the service and trained by the state (who are also relatively young and fit) is, for the Polish national interest, going to a waste. literature: 1. Browning R., Cesarstwo Bizantyjskie, [The Byzantine Empire], translated by G. Żurek, Warsaw, 1997, p. 214. 2. Failler A., Chronologie et composition dans l'histoire de Georges Pachymérès (Livres VII–XIII), Revue des Études Byzantines 48 (1990), pp. 5–87. 3. Machiavelli N., Prince, translated by Anna Klimkiewicz, Kraków 2005, Chapter XII. 4. Ortiz C., Overseas Trade in Early Modernity and the Emergence of Embryonic Private Military Companies [In:] Private Military and Security Companies, Chances, Problems, Pitfalls and Prospects, eds. Jager T., Kummel G., GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden 2007. 5. Hoare M., Congo Mercenary, Partners in Publishing, Durban 2019. 6. Hoare M., The Road to Kalamata: a Congo mercenary's personal memoir, Partners in Publishing, Durban 2019. 7. Gan-Ganowicz R., Kondotierzy [Condottieros], Wydawnictwo Prohibita, Warsaw 2013. 8. Kramer D., Does History Repeat Itself? A Comparative Analysis of Private Military Entities, 2007. 9. In-Q-Tel in 1999. In-Q-Tel - the venture capitalist branch of the CIA - was created „to tap the best minds in the technology sector and spur the development of products the CIA desperately needs and doesn't have the time or expertise to develop itself', Tamże. 10. Eeben Barlow's autobiography: Executive Outcomes – Against all Odds in: Wayback Machine. [http://www.galago.co.za/CAT1 _ 025.htm]. Accessed: December 29th, 2007. 11. Sierra Leone, 1990–2002, [In:] Acig.org. [http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer _ 462.shtml]. Accessed: August 7th, 2012. 12. Singer, P.W., Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry (Updated ed.). New York 2003, Cornell University Press, s. 106. 13. Kinsey Ch., Corporate soldiers, and international security, Routledge, New York 2006. 14. Kramer D., Does History Repeat Itself? A Comparative Analysis of Private Military Entities, VS Verlag fUr Sozialwissenschaften, Netherlands 2003. ANALYSIS