Meanwhile, Northbridge PMC is under investigation

From CorpWatch:

On August 7, 2003, The Financial Times reported the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating the role of the Northbridge Services Group, an Anglo-American private military company (PMC), about its role in the Liberia civil strife on behalf of the rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd), especially a plan to arrest former Liberian President Charles Taylor and take him to the Sierra Leone Ad Hoc Tribunal to answer charges. The investigation raises many cases generally about the role of PMCs in the law of war and related areas.

Both the FBI and UK Customs have investigated whether it had violated UN arms embargoes. The apparently overlapping investigations indicate U.S. and U.K. authorities are concerned about the involvement of PMCs and western mercenaries in Africa's conflicts.

Earlier this year the British Government publicly chastised Northbridge after reports it was hiring several hundred fighters for the Ivory Coast Government. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the deployment by Northbridge would undermine the peace process in Ivory Coast.

...Northbridge and Lurd reportedly had also discussed having Northbridge deploy up to 2,000 men to "enforce" peace in Liberia ahead of the arrival of a UN peacekeeping force. Some of the discussions with Northbridge occurred with T.Q. Harris, the Lurd's California-based negotiator and a former Liberian presidential candidate. Mr. Harris said his opposition group had raised funds to hire Northbridge, but stopped because of the deployment of Nigerian peacekeeping troops.

...Northbridge is one of the largest PMCs and has staffing from organizations such as the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. and British special forces.

The U.K. has expressed concern surrounding mercenaries subsequent to a 1997 scandal in which the U.K. Government was accused of using Sandline International, a British company, to circumvent U.N. arms embargoes. The U.K. Customs uncovered Sandline's operations. The U.N. and national governments have been sensitive about using PMCs proactively due to fear they may not be able to control the outcome. For instance, in 1997 the British Government was embarassed when it was revealed that Sandline International was delivering weapons to Sierra Leone in apparent contravention of a U.N. arms embargo. Although initially denying knowledge, the British Foreign Office was shown to have been aware of the transactions.

...An issue with respect to the use by governments of PMCs in conducting war-like operations is the lack of proper oversight in key areas. For instance, according to a General Accounting Office report in 1998 the Pentagon realized it lacked central oversight of contracts for emergency essential services and no legal basis to compel contractors to perform. It also had no means to enforce contract terms. Other issues are to whom do contractors report to in combat? To whom do they turn to ask questions about sensitive legal issues surrounding the law of war? Who is liable if they are killed or injured? What rights do they have if their personnel are captured by enemy forces? What legal liability do contractors have if they kill or injure civilians, internationally or by accident?

Yes, apparently there are lots of questions. I guess we just find out as we go. Like we do everything else. Like, for instance, what do you do with radioactive waste with a half-life longer than human history?

....do what you want, I guess....you will anyway.