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[hide][11] But the industry has been expanding for the past 10 years, and is thought to be worth several billion dollars. During the 1990s, PMCs trained militaries in some 42 countries. Analysts estimate that there are as many as 20 legitimate companies in the US, the largest of which claims to do about $ 25 million a year in overseas business.
[12] Smaller organizations, which sometimes provide overseas security, are thought to be more numerous, but are hard to track little more than a company president and a Rolodex full of names.
[13] While some of the companies, particularly those from South Africa and Britain, have been labeled "mercenaries" , and have indeed provided firepower for hire, the US firms have far better reputations, and often work hand-in-hand with the Pentagon. Their ranks include former four-star generals.
[14] In the US, the training services are sometimes paid out of the annual foreign aid bill, doled out to friendly or promising countries that may have unstable governments or militaries, such as Nigeria and Colombia. Other times, companies are hired directly by the host country and approved by the US.
[15] Advocates of PMCs say they are more cost-efficient than traditional military forces, although some critics question that.
[11]但这个产业在过去的10年里一直在扩大，其产值据认为已达几十亿美元。20世纪90年代，私营军事公司曾为约42个国家训练了军队。分析家们估计，美国这类合法公司有20家之多，其中最大的一家称，其一年的诲外业务量约达2500万美元。
[12]一些较小的机构有时也提供海外安全服务，据说这类公司数量更多，但却很难找到一公司小到只有一位公司经理和一个写满名字的花名册。
[13]某些公司一特别是那些南非和英国的公司--名称就叫"雇佣军"，他们确实是受雇佣提供火力支援的；而美国公司的名声要好得多，他们经常与五角大楼联手工作。他们的雇员中还有退役的四星将军。
[14]在美国，训练服务所需经费有时是由每年的援外法案拨款的，主要发放给友好国家或前途光明的国家，这些国家(如尼日利亚和哥伦比亚)的政府或军队可能不够稳定。有时也有经美国批准、由东道国直接雇佣这些公司的情况。
[15]私营军事公司的拥护者说，这类公司比传统的军队更划算，然而一些持批评态度的人士对此表示怀疑。
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