*The privatisation of war

"Private corporations have penetrated western warfare so deeply that they are now the second biggest contributor to coalition forces in Iraq after the Pentagon, a Guardian investigation has established.

While the official coalition figures list the British as the second largest contingent with around 9,900 troops, they are narrowly outnumbered by the 10,000 private mlitary contractors now on the ground. "

*MoD chief refused to sign £800m Hawk order

"The top civil servant responsible for defence spending refused to sign the cheque for an £800m RAF order for Hawk trainer jets until he was ordered to do so by the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, the Guardian can disclose.

Sir Kevin Tebbit, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, did not believe the contract for the aircraft, built by BAE Systems, represented value for money. The rebellion by the civil servant responsible for the £35bn annual defence budget is the most extreme action a Whitehall official can take when he believes a minister's policy decision infringes "propriety" or "the economy, efficiency and effectiveness" of his department. "