Serviam hits the stands...
...and my mailbox! Today our little company received the charter issue of a new magazine, Serviam. Here is their mission statement:
Serviam's mission is to provide accurate and actionable information about private sector solutions to promote global stability. We address users and consumers of private goods and services in the humanitarian relief, national development, security and military sectors; government and private providers of such goods and services; and government entities involved in decisions that determine or influence trends in this growing industry.They serve the global security industry. They are committed to a slew of "old-fashioned values" that include, among the usual pablum of the ultra-right: Stewardship of the investments of shareholders and taxpayers. OK, that's fine and well and expected. Does anyone else recognize the frightening idea inherent in such a phrase? It's in the best interest of this new publication, and this emerging "indsutry" for us to be in endless military conflict.
You may recall an incident involving the magazines editor, J. Michael Waller. Several years ago an article he wrote in Insight Magazine came under fire because of a quote attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. Mr Waller wrote the following:
"Congressmen who willfully take action during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs, and should be arrested, exiled or hanged," that's what President Abraham Lincoln said during the War Between the States.
But, guess what? President Lincoln never said that. FactCheck.org asked Mr Waller about this quote and he responded thus:
The supposed quote in question is not a quote at all, and I never intended it to be construed as one. It was my lead sentence in the article that a copy editor mistakenly turned into a quote by incorrectly inserting quotation marks.
He's obviously not learned much since that debacle. It would seem that he fancies himself a historian. In the charter issue of Serviam he writes, PSCs in America: 400 Years and Counting. PSC, for those not "in the know", are private security contractors. The article traces the importance of PSCs throughout American history, asserting that many American heroes began their service as PSCs, including Captain John Smith, George Washington, Myles Standish, Allan Pinkerton, and others.
I'm not linking to the magazines site, but you can find it easily enough - serviam magazine dot com.
Guess we shouldn't have sold those Velcro brand products to noir eau!
Comments (5)
I don't suppose the infamous Pinkertons make it into that "proud history" do they? You know, paid thugs to protect the interests of the railroads and fight the rising unions?
Good point, Odin. My mistake for including Pinkerton with the others.
Pinkerton should be there. They even named a law after him restricting vigilante militias.
The Anti-Pinkerton Act of 1893 (5 USC 3108) forbade the US Government from using Pinkerton National Detective Agency employees, or similar private police companies. In 1977, the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreted this statute as forbidding the US Government's employing companies offering mercenary, quasi-military forces for hire.
Did you know the Pinkertons still exist? They operate as a subsidiary division of the Swedish security company Securitas AB.
I recommend subscribing to this magazine. Upcoming stories include:
"When Government Can’t Provide.
What can the private sector do?"
"Update on Border Security.
The elements of the new program."
"The Coast Guard and Deepwater.
A look at a troubled program."
"Revolutionizing Intelligence.
How private sector solutions are driving intelligence collection,
analysis and operations."
"The State of the Industry.
An in-depth look at where we are now."
"Global Stability & Defense.
How the industry is meeting—and surpassing— government needs."
These guys are clearly trying to develop an industry in which increased conflict is good for business. This resource should provide insight into strategies and issues that will require careful oversight and attention. I don't know what organization would take up the responsibility of challenging this industry. We might need to create something.