APPF Recruiting Security Guards from Afghanistan's Private Security Firms

The leadership of the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) is recruiting Afghans who are currently employed with private security firms in Afghanistan.  In accordance with a decree by President Karzai all private security firms will cease operations soon. The functions and responsibilities of the private security firms will be assumed by the APPF.  Many critics have weighed in on this change and not many believe it is a great idea. The track record of the Afghan government to run almost any program is horrible; with waste, ineffectiveness and inefficiency prevalent.  Security for the NGOs, international organizations, and ISAF will now become more expensive.  There is no confidence in the APPF to provide security at the level that the private security firms did.  And there is the corruption factor - many see the APPF as another avenue for Karzai and his cronies to skim more money off the top.  Read a "sunny" assessment of the APPF program provided to us by NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan in "Afghan Public Protection Force Leadership Engaging with Private Security Guards", NTM-A, February 18, 2012.