The Security-Industrial Complex threatens democracy

There are private armies and security companies currently employed in Iraq. Many of these companies act above the law and are apparently immune to prosecution even in cases of murder or manslaughter. These companies are offered multi-million dollar contracts by the United States Dept of Defence and the United Kingdom government to manage security tasks such as organizing escort teams, protecting important political figures, protecting civilian contractors and reconstruction sites, guarding embassies and Dept of Defence facilities, guarding prisoners in military prisons, and more.
There are several British firms enjoying lucrative contracts in Iraq. Aegis Security has an annual $293 million dollar contract from the Dept of Defence. The Armor Group is another important British player. Both Aegis Security and The Armor Group are embedded into the political establishment; both respectively have ex-defence ministers on their payroll such as conservative party MPs Nicolas Soames and Malcolm Rifkind.
Outside the chaos of Iraq former conservative leader Michael Howard sits on the board of private intelligence company Diligence, which was set up by former CIA and British Intelligence operatives. Ex-First Sea Lord, Admiral Alan West is now special adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, he is also a former adviser to high-tech security and military specialist QinetiQ. Also, the ex- Chairwomen of QinetiQ and former head of the Joint Intelligence committee, Dame Pauline Neville-Jones is now special adviser to conservative party leader David Cameron.
Lord George "Bomber" Robertson works for Englefield Capital which owns GSL- the firm that operates private prisons and immigration detention centres. Many private security firms such as Group Four, Reliance, Serco and others, have enjoyed business successes in the prison and detention sector through the government's exploitation of crime, asylum seekers, immigration and terrorism. And by enjoying the support of government the private security companies have managed to escape significant damage despite allegations of incompetence, racism and assault.
Fear of terrorism, benefit fraud and immigration are being used by New Labour to push forward the unpopular and unrealistic ID Card scheme. Former Home secretary David Blunkett is adviser to Entrust, a Texas firm bidding to become part of the multi-billion dollar ID Card scheme. De La Rue is another bidder and has former diplomat Sir Jeremy Greenstock on their board. Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Barnett runs Atos which also wants involved. The computing giant UNISYS put money into the Labour Fabian Society to promote ID Cards.
These are a few examples of the links between the political establishment and the security-industrial Complex. And how far is public policy being manipulated by powerful corporate interests?
The security-industrial complex like any industry seek profitable business opportunities to satisfy their shareholders. Profits can be found in warfare, fear of crime, fear of terrorism, and social instability.
Whenever a new detention centre or prison is built it is the security-industrial complex which profits. With each new war and occupation the private armies and security firms expand. Whenever there is a new "terror" threat or immigration scare there will be fresh call for ID Cards, with corporate interests leading the call through their political proxies.
The links between the political establishment and the security-industrial complex is so interwined and entangled that our democracy is in danger. The culture of fear, intolerance and war stoked up by the New Labour government feeds and enriches the security-industrial complex, and also threatens our civil liberties and freedoms.

Recommended reading; "War on Terror INC. Profiteering from the Politics of Fear" by Solomon Hughes and published by Verso.

Good websites for more info;

Corporate Watch  http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/

Watching out for government spin; Spinwatch  http://www.spinwatch.org/

Source Watch  http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SourceWatch

Register of MPs interests  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/080311/memi02.htm