WP: More Limits Sought for Private Security Teams (in Iraq)

[DeepModem Mom]

More Limits Sought for Private Security Teams

By Mary Pat Flaherty and Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, April 13, 2004; Page A15


With hostilities flaring in Iraq, the U.S.-led authority wants to tighten controls over the surging number of private armed security teams being hired to protect U.S. government agencies and contractors involved in rebuilding.

With an estimated 20,000 private security workers on the ground, the Coalition Provisional Authority is increasingly concerned about the quality of the security teams, the weapons they use and the rules that will govern them after June 30, when the authority transfers political power to an interim Iraqi government....

***

The CPA now restricts the weapons private security teams may use to small arms with ammunition as large as 7.62mm and to some other defensive weapons. A Dec. 31 coalition rule spells out circumstances under which security firms can use deadly force, including self-defense, the defense of people or property specified in their contracts, and the defense of civilians....

***

The CPA's program management office is reviewing bids on a master contract to coordinate security among the 10 largest prime contractors and their subcontractors working on $18.4 billion in U.S.-backed reconstruction as they deploy throughout Iraq. In the meantime, the program management office is "trying to get at least some level of intelligence sanitized from the military that could be given to contractors," said Capt. Bruce A. Cole, spokesman for the program management office in Baghdad....

(According to the article: "Thirteen Democratic senators led by Jack Reed (R.I.), (have asked) the Defense Department to provide a tally of how many private armed non-Iraqi security personnel are in Iraq. In their letter, the senators said that 'security in a hostile fire area is a classic military mission. Delegating this mission to private contractors raises serious questions.'")


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6612-2004Apr12.html

[gottaB]

1. 20,000

I'm curious as to whose estimate that is because it's higher than what I've seen in print before.

[anarchy1999]

2. Oh please, where is the link to the special bullet one of the merc's used?

I did not bookmark it, I do not have easy access, but I know someone here knows what I am talking about and has the link. It was a mercenary bragging about the destructive qualities of a bullet he had used and how it was not an "approved weapon". The article quoted the user of the bullet and how impressed he had been with the destructive qualities of it. (He appeared to love it). It happened in the North, if I am not mistaken.

Step up DU'ers, I know there is someone here that has this reference. It can be used now!

[gottaB]

3. one shot killer

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2426405.php

There were other links, other reprints, but that should do.

[anarchy1999]

5. Thank you!

Just the one. Just the one.

Oh my god, at the end of the article, Blackwater is named. I really do not feel well right now. I read something earlier about Blackwell today and the attack they had to call in reinforcements for. I really do not like this company. I can not help the people that are working for them. This is an evil I can not understand or even care to get close to in order to affect change.

I think my heart is breaking.

[anarchy1999]

4. There will be no more limits on "PRIVATE SECURITY"

Why are we paying these contractors, to hire these desperate mercenaries, to drive trucks and provide security in Iraq from America.

We pay the poor Iraqi's $50-60 a month and we pay our mercenaries and our truck drivers how much? Do you not think for just one moment, if Halliburton had contracted with the local people, with the men that Bremer fired (the 400,00 military), to drive the trucks, to provide the meals, to employ the people, that there would not be a much better and happier Iraq today....

The Iraqi's could have and would have rebuilt their country if our government administration had only give this country half a chance. It was never about stabilizing Iraq. Our US administration has only been in the business of de-stabilizing all of the Mid-East on behalf of "Greater Israel". Most of the Neo-Cons, most of the people in key positions within this administration have only one goal in mind. They also hold dual Citizenships. With the US and with Israel. WHY?

Why after 100 years of strife can we not find peace?

ANSWER IS:

WAR PROFITEERS AND BANKERS. Read up, research, weep and then decide what you want to do.

[leftchick]

6. perhaps these congress people should have asked these questions...

BEFORE they gave that half-witted chimp* his fucking war AND the additional 87 BILLION. WTF?