The common sense that dare not speak its name

In this case, the name (or term) is "private security forces" though many will shout "mercenaries."

And I'm of course talking my book here, because I'm a shareholder in ArmorGroup International (ARG/LN), a global provider of such services. But as a former emergency relief worker for UNICEF in Sudan wrote in The Wall Street Journal earlier this week:

Standing, privately funded, forces can deploy readily into conflicts without fear of casualties holding up missions. Nor will such forces have to wait for arms and other supplies, the way peacekeepers intended for Darfur have been waiting. Private forces could be multi-ethnic; develop specialized training in peace enforcement; and be subject to quality control standards that are often lacking in many current peacekeeping efforts.

Private forces could also act as a humanitarian force-multiplier. Protected by these forces, NGOs will be able to provide food, water, medical treatment and shelter much more quickly, thereby saving countless more lives. Beyond supplies, providing security to vulnerable civilians can help avert traumas like rape and mutilation that can scar entire societies and make national reconciliation more difficult.

If I was working in a third world hot spot, I wouldn't feel safe being "guarded" by the UN blue helmeted crowd or other "observers." The trouble with such "observers" is that they all-too-often engage in observing, but not protecting. They "observe" you getting your throat slit or gunned down or raped, but won't fight for your life. Or the life of women and children.

And that's the best of the lot. A few years ago UN aid workers were raping children in Congo.

Unless the US flies in the 101st Airborne or Delta Force, or the Brits come in with the SAS, or the 2nd REP of the French Foreign Legion arrives, I'd rather be protected by the likes of ArmorGroup, Aegis or, yes, even the much-hated Blackwater than what currently passes for protection in much of the developing world.

The former will rarely happen. So please, in the name of protecting the lives of the truly innocent, bring on the latter. Professional World Savers and Do Gooders need to understand the world's tragedies don't include security firms operating for profit.