A defense contractor or a military contractor is a business or individual who contracts with a government to provide goods or services used for national security or warfare. Military contractors include weapons manufacturers or a companies participating in weapons research and warfare simulation.
The term "defense contractor" is sometimes criticized because it implicitly may suggest that a contractor makes weapons that will be used for defensive rather than offensive purposes. Nevertheless, defense contractor is by far the more common usage.
If captured contractors are found to be mercenaries, they are an unlawful combatant and lose the right to prisoner of war status.
Military staff are lured by the fact that entry level positions with the various companies can pay up to $100,000 a year, which is 2-3 times more than what an average special forces soldier is paid.
Could you speak to, since the private contractors are operating outside the Uniform Code of Military Justice, could you speak to what law or rules of engagement do govern their behaviour and whether there has been any study showing that it is cost-effective to have them in Iraq rather than US military personnel.
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