June 5, 2006: The thousands of civilian security personnel in Iraq have equipped themselves with hundreds of armored SUVs and light trucks. These security contractors are frequently used as bodyguards for American and NGO officials, as well as Iraqi big-shots. In addition to armor kits (which some firms now specialize in) for the vehicles, improvised gun turrets are often added as well (mounting one or two 7.62mm machine-guns). All this isn't overkill. Kidnapping gangs or death squads will come after a target in large numbers, so some extra firepower will help the security crew, and whoever they are protecting, get out alive. Many American troops note the similarity between these improvised vehicles and those seen in movies like "Mad Max."