ILSM’s Post on the Anti-Pinkerton Law

ILSM is still having problems accessing Angry Bear.

This post is his.

——————————

Mark Thoma had a link to June 16 Washington Post article. The article, a long one describes new contractor provided security in Iraq.

However, I did not find a discussion of the possibly applicable Anti Pinkerton Law.

The law, 5 USC 3108, states:

An individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia.

The issue is, is Blackwater like Pinkerton?

In the context of Iraq quite possibly. The act was made to prevent the US government from hiring Pinkerton paramilitaries and riot police from breaking up labor organization.

Now Iraqi insurgents do not have the honored tradition of US labor, but the law is the law and not conditioned on laborists verus Islamicists.

As a side light are convoy security and bodyguarding US protected officials commercial activities?

If so why not call in the Prince of Hesse?