Difference between mercenaries and private security?

[hostileEffect]

I can't seem to find any difference between private security hired or employed by a hotel and say Executive Outcomes or Blackwater USA, but I think I do see a difference between hired soldiers and hitmen.
Any private business with any kind of hired security that isn't connected to a government would be the equiv of a mercenary right?

Anyone clear this up?

[Lethn]

I watched a documentary about these private security folk working on Iraq, the law itself is extremely vague but apparently jobs they actually do are legal but if they defend themselves against any attackers whilst on the job they are in fact considered mercenaries, it's another one of those bullshit things like self-defense laws where you have to use a 'minimum' amount of force to restrain an attacker but there's no actual specification on what that is.

[hostileEffect]

I'm aware that its legal... but that difference is there, if any, between a Blackwater sniper and a hotel security guard, other than their location, pay, etc.

[Lethn]

hmmm not that I know of really, frankly I consider all of them to be the same that includes soldiers and mercenaries, mostly it's just different ideologies or ways they're classed that sets them apart.

I think what your asking is more a personal opinion and personal experience thing really.