Showing posts with label security-contractors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label security-contractors. Show all posts

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Contractors in War Zones

If you have spent any time in a war zone then you have run across them . . . or perhaps . . . you are one of them. We are talking about contractors in a war zone. Sometimes as you walk around the compound or large FOB you see them. The contractor or actually . . . lots of them. And you wonder what do all these contractors do? Do they really make all the outlandish and sinful money that everyone says? Many times - based on their demeanor and dress - you tend to categorize the contractors into tidy little groups. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. Read one humorous article about how to neatly arrange the contractors in a war zone based on dress and demeanor in "The 6 Types of Contractors You Encounter Overseas", Task & Purpose, September 28, 2016.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Book - "Future of Blackwater and Guns for Hire"

Linda Robinson reviews a book entitled The Future of Blackwater and Other Guns for Hire by Anne Hagedorn. The book is in two parts. The first provides background information on the rise of the private security firms on the battlefield (spending a little too much time on the few instances of wayward behavior). The second part of the book delves into the operational need and financial benefits of using contractors. Read the book review here.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

600 Security Contractors Needed for KAF

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has posted a Request for Information (RFI) to determine " . . . the availability and adequacy of potential sources prior to determining an acquisition and contract strategy to procure Private Security Company (PSC) services . . ." for Kandahar Airfield (KAF). Only expatriates from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia or New Zealand can participate. You can view the RFI at this link.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Paper - Are Contractors a Threat to the Military?

A recent paper published in Parameters contemplates the role of contractors in a war zone and the adverse effects the use of contractors has on the military. In what seems to be a paper aimed at discrediting the role of contractors (security and otherwise) the author advances the argument that the military can do the job just as well as contractors and at no greater cost if properly resourced (don't draw down the force too much). In addition he questions the legality of the use of contractors by pointing to isolated events like Nisoor Square (Iraq) - (there is no mention of the massacre in Panjwai district, Afghanistan by a U.S. Soldier). He also states that the professionalism of the military is at stake (at least I think that is what he is getting at) because the contractors are competing with the military. Hmmmm. You can read his paper "Military Professionalism & Private Military Contractors", Parameters, 44 (2) Summer 2014, by Scott L. Efflandt, pages 49-60.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

APPF, Private Security Contractors, and Congressman McKeon's Bill in Congress

Congressman McKeon has introduced a bill in Congress that would severely restrict the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.  His bill would require U.S. bases in Afghanistan to be protected by U.S. troops - instead of Afghans from the newly established Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) or private security contractors (Afghan security guards).  Read the bill text here.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

$41 Million Spent by Canada on Security Contractors and Warlords

Canadian officials are digging into the records to research how much money went to security contractors (and warlords) in Afghanistan.  Read more in "Defence department hunts for record of payments to Kandahar warlord", The Star, February 7, 2011.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Security Companies Hired by Canadian Military for Afghanistan Under Question

"OTTAWA — Canada spent more than $41 million on hired guns in Afghanistan over four years, much of it going to security companies slammed by the U.S. Senate for having warlords on the payroll. Both the Defence and Foreign Affairs departments have employed 11 security contractors in Kabul and Kandahar since 2006, but have kept quiet about the details. Now documents tabled in Parliament at the request of the New Democrats provide the first comprehensive picture of the use of private contractors, which have been accused of adding to the chaos in Afghanistan."
Read the rest of the article in "Canada's hired guns in Afghanistan slammed in U.S. report", CTV Ottawa, February 6, 2011.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

More News about Private Spies in Afghanistan

The ongoing saga about a private spy network of ex-CIA agents and former Special Forces operatives working in Afghanistan continues.  See "Spying for Profit", Allgov.com, January 25, 2011.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Private Security Firms Still on Chopping Block in Afghanistan

The Afghan government is still trying to limit the number of private security companies operating in Afghanistan.  The official stance is that the Afghan security forces should be performing these duties and that the private security outfits are many times just local militias.  Unfortunately, the Afghan police are just not trained for the job, are corrupt, and will not do an adequate job of protecting the coalition bases and aid projects that require security.  Read more in "Afghan officials discuss private security firms", Forbes.com, January 6, 2011.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Security Contractors Cite Corrupt Afghan Police as Constant Problem

Security contractors working in Afghanistan are concerned about the corruption of the Afghan National Police (ANP).  Read more in "Security contractor: Afghan police running amok", MSNBC World Blog, December 15, 2010.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

DynCorp Wins Contract Training Afghan National Police (ANP) - Despite an Unsuccessful Past in Afghanistan

DynCorp, a large contracting firm providing police and military contractors and instructors worldwide, has again won a lucrative contract training the Afghan National Police (ANP).  The ANP is a corrupt and untrained force and DynCorp is partially responsible for its failure. Yet DynCorp seems to have won the contract.  Is this just another case of the lowest bidder winning out?  Hmmmmmmm.  Read the rest of the article in "Mercs Win Billion Dollar Afghan Cop Deal. Again.", Wired.com Danger Room, December 21, 2010.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Story Behind Ban on Security Contractors in Afghanistan

Matthieu Aikins has wrote a piece on the background of the dispute between Karzai and the west concerning private contracting security firms.  While Karzai takes the public line that security contractors are in violation of Afghan law and counter to the interests of Afghan citizens he is maneuvering himself and his cronies for political control and monetary gain by allowing only those security firms he can control to work in Afghanistan.  Read more in "The Real Story Behind the Ban on Contractors", Foreign Policy, December 23, 2010.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Afghan Aid Groups May Depart Due to Security Firm Decision by Karzai

President Karzai has determined that foreign private security firms must depart Afghanistan.  Unfortunately this will affect the amount of aid that is administered in Afghanistan as the international aid groups are hesitant to depend upon Afghan security forces.  Read more in "Afghan Aid Groups Plan to Leave Over Karzai Decree", The Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2010.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Group Seeks Help on Afghan Ban on Private Security Contractors

"Private contractors supporting multimillion-dollar development projects in Afghanistan are seeking an exemption from the Afghan government's controversial ban on the use of security contractors to guard key infrastructure projects.  On Monday, the Professional Services Council, an Arlington, Va., trade association, sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that she advocate for the full exemption of private development firms and nongovernmental organizations from the prohibition on hiring private security. PSC represents many of the private development firms in Afghanistan that the U.S. Agency for International Development has hired."
Read the rest of the article in "Group seeks exemption to Afghan private security ban", Government Executive, November 10, 2010.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Western Aid Money Diverted to Taliban for "Security"

A lot of money is pouring into Afghanistan for construction and aid.  Some of this money is extorted from construction firms by the Taliban - a protection racket of sorts.  Read more in "Afghans pay off Taliban with American money", MSNBC, October 13, 2010.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

NATO Allies Pressing Karzai for Private Security Operational Freedom

Western nations are still resisting Karzai's plan to shut down private security companies providing security services to western aid organizations.  At stake are extensive aid projects and billions of dollars of aid as many of the NGOs will refuse to operate without western security firms providing protection.  Read more in "NATO allies ask Karzai to allow private security for aid programs", The Washington Post, October 13, 2010.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

U.S. Security Contractor Money Went to Warlords and Taliban

A Senate report is highly critical of the management of the money that the U.S. military exercises control over for the payment of security services in Afghanistan.  The Senate report states that much of the money ends up in the hands or warlords, strongmen, and in some cases the Taliban.  Read more in "Senate report: Mismanaged U.S. contractor money aids enemy in Afghanistan", The Washington Post, October 8, 2010.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Private Security Firms to Close Under Afghan Pressure

Afghanistan is taking steps to close down several security firms operating in Afghanistan.  It is hard to say why these firms have been singled out for closing.  A large number of foreign and domestic security firms remain operating in the country - at least 50 or more.  Read more about this topic at the link below:

"Afghanistan closing private security firms", Boston Globe, October 4, 2010.