Afghan security firms delema/disaster
Afghan security firms "hand in glove" with Taliban
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A Senate report has found evidence that many Afghan security personnel paid with US taxpayers' money to guard American bases are hand in glove with the Taliban insurgents hell-bent on killing coalition troops.
Afterwards, it emerged that Mr Pink was holed up in a nearby village with a number of Taliban fighters.
US forces raided the property and a ferocious firefight ensued, resulting in a number of casualties, including civilians.
Mr White II and seven guards employed by ArmorGroup were among those killed.
Having learned its lesson, ArmorGroup decided that Mr White II's men could no longer be trusted, and sacked them.
But AGMA continued to employ them, even hiring brothers of the men killed in the Azizabad raid.
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News Services and US Gov may not be thinking this through.
Everyone seems to be ignoring the law of unintended consequences.
US did that once before, after Russia was defeated in Afghan, US
just dropped the aid which allowed the Taliban to take over.
Are we headed for another catastrophic episode in history?
As a PSA we are posting most of a column from the BBC.
Our comments in CAPS FOR DELINEATION. G
A Senate report has found evidence that many Afghan security personnel paid with US taxpayers' money to guard American bases are hand in glove with the Taliban insurgents hell-bent on killing coalition troops.
THEY WERE MEETING WITH THE TALIBAN MAYBE TO PREVENT ATTACKS, MAYBE.
One disturbing case uncovered by the Armed Services Committee in the western Afghan province of Herat illustrates the deadly double game played by some of these hired guns.
Two Afghan warlords involved were nicknamed by their British employers as Mr White and Mr Pink, after gangsters in the gory Hollywood movie Reservoir Dogs.
The two contractors were appointed in June 2007 by the defence contractor ArmorGroup to provide security at Shindand airbase.
Mafia-style hit
The Senate report links the pair, and their successors, to "murder, kidnapping, bribery and anti-coalition activities" during their 18 months on the payroll.
President Karzai wants private security guards phased out by the end of 2010
One disturbing case uncovered by the Armed Services Committee in the western Afghan province of Herat illustrates the deadly double game played by some of these hired guns.
Two Afghan warlords involved were nicknamed by their British employers as Mr White and Mr Pink, after gangsters in the gory Hollywood movie Reservoir Dogs.
The two contractors were appointed in June 2007 by the defence contractor ArmorGroup to provide security at Shindand airbase.
Mafia-style hit
The Senate report links the pair, and their successors, to "murder, kidnapping, bribery and anti-coalition activities" during their 18 months on the payroll.
President Karzai wants private security guards phased out by the end of 2010
AND WHO WILL THE PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS GO TO WORK FOR,
THE TALIBAN MAYBE?
In December 2007, Mr White was ambushed and shot dead in a bazaar just outside the airbase - by Mr Pink and his men. ALLEGED.
An American contactor said the shooting amounted to a mafia-style hit by Mr Pink to rub out a business rival.
A COMPETITOR ALLEGES? THINK ABOUT THE TRACK RECORD OF AMERICAN SECURITY CONTRACTORS, SEX PARTIES, STEALING ARMS ETC, THIS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE.
In December 2007, Mr White was ambushed and shot dead in a bazaar just outside the airbase - by Mr Pink and his men. ALLEGED.
An American contactor said the shooting amounted to a mafia-style hit by Mr Pink to rub out a business rival.
A COMPETITOR ALLEGES? THINK ABOUT THE TRACK RECORD OF AMERICAN SECURITY CONTRACTORS, SEX PARTIES, STEALING ARMS ETC, THIS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AT FACE VALUE.
THIS WAS A COMPETITOR!
Afterwards, it emerged that Mr Pink was holed up in a nearby village with a number of Taliban fighters.
A MEETING WITH TALIBAN? THE KARZI GOV MEETS WITH TALIBAN ALSO, PEACE TALKS.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN MR PINK WAS TALIBAN.
Despite this, ArmorGroup continued to employ Mr Pink's men for more than a month, the Senate committee found.
The firm finally sacked the men after suspicions were aroused that they were providing intelligence about the Americans to Mr Pink. BY AMERICAN CONTRACTORS? WE DON'T KNOW.
Mr White II
ArmorGroup, meanwhile, turned to the late Mr White's brother, who became known as Mr White II, to fill the vacancy.
Mr White II was the uncle of a high-value Taliban commander, Mullah Sadeq, who was directing roadside bombings in Herat and the neighbouring province of Farah.
In summer of 2008, an ArmorGroup mine-clearing company, AGMA, was awarded a United Nations contract to clear explosives from Herat.
The firm hired Mr White II to provide security, paying him thousands of dollars a month.
It later emerged that he was using some of this money to fund Taliban operations.
Despite this, ArmorGroup continued to employ Mr Pink's men for more than a month, the Senate committee found.
The firm finally sacked the men after suspicions were aroused that they were providing intelligence about the Americans to Mr Pink. BY AMERICAN CONTRACTORS? WE DON'T KNOW.
Mr White II
ArmorGroup, meanwhile, turned to the late Mr White's brother, who became known as Mr White II, to fill the vacancy.
Mr White II was the uncle of a high-value Taliban commander, Mullah Sadeq, who was directing roadside bombings in Herat and the neighbouring province of Farah.
In summer of 2008, an ArmorGroup mine-clearing company, AGMA, was awarded a United Nations contract to clear explosives from Herat.
The firm hired Mr White II to provide security, paying him thousands of dollars a month.
It later emerged that he was using some of this money to fund Taliban operations.
OR PAYING OFF THE TALIBAN TO LEAVE AMERICANS ALONE, AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW.
These police could earn a quarter of what private security guards get paid
In August 2008, US forces received intelligence that Mullah Sadeq and other insurgents were at a compound in the village of Azizabad, not far from Shindand airbase.
The meeting, notes the Senate report, was being held in the home of Mr White II, who was also there, along with a number of colleagues. ONCE AGAIN THEY ASSUMED IT WAS FOR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES.
These police could earn a quarter of what private security guards get paid
In August 2008, US forces received intelligence that Mullah Sadeq and other insurgents were at a compound in the village of Azizabad, not far from Shindand airbase.
The meeting, notes the Senate report, was being held in the home of Mr White II, who was also there, along with a number of colleagues. ONCE AGAIN THEY ASSUMED IT WAS FOR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES.
US forces raided the property and a ferocious firefight ensued, resulting in a number of casualties, including civilians.
Mr White II and seven guards employed by ArmorGroup were among those killed.
Having learned its lesson, ArmorGroup decided that Mr White II's men could no longer be trusted, and sacked them.
But AGMA continued to employ them, even hiring brothers of the men killed in the Azizabad raid.
THEY COULD HAVE LET THE TALIBAN EMPLOY THEM?
Mr White III
The firm also reached agreement with Mr White II's brother to take over as the company's security provider.
Senate Armed Services Committee
AGMA assessed that Mr White III, as he would be known, "was a man we could do business with".
But it was not long before Mr White III's loyalties were being questioned, too.
As roadside bombings in the area began to increase, AGMA began to view Mr White III and his men as a potential threat. UNFOUNDED ASSUMPTION? WE DON'T KNOW.
But the firm still kept them on the payroll until its UN contract wound up in December 2008.
The committee also found how little vetting was carried out on Afghan security firms.
An audit in September 2008 at a base in the eastern province of Nangarhar found one contractor could not even produce a roster of its own employees. COULDN'T PRODUCE DOESN'T MEAN THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE, JUST IT WASN'T TURNED OVER.
And in March the following year, all the Afghan guards at a base in the neighbouring province of Kunar were sacked after it emerged their boss was linked to a terrorist organisation, says the Senate report.
Mr White III
The firm also reached agreement with Mr White II's brother to take over as the company's security provider.
Senate Armed Services Committee
AGMA assessed that Mr White III, as he would be known, "was a man we could do business with".
But it was not long before Mr White III's loyalties were being questioned, too.
As roadside bombings in the area began to increase, AGMA began to view Mr White III and his men as a potential threat. UNFOUNDED ASSUMPTION? WE DON'T KNOW.
But the firm still kept them on the payroll until its UN contract wound up in December 2008.
The committee also found how little vetting was carried out on Afghan security firms.
An audit in September 2008 at a base in the eastern province of Nangarhar found one contractor could not even produce a roster of its own employees. COULDN'T PRODUCE DOESN'T MEAN THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE, JUST IT WASN'T TURNED OVER.
And in March the following year, all the Afghan guards at a base in the neighbouring province of Kunar were sacked after it emerged their boss was linked to a terrorist organisation, says the Senate report.
AGAIN IT EMERGED? WE ARE LEFT TO WONDER WHAT THE EVIDENCE WAS?
WHO DID THEY GO TO WORK FOR? TALIBAN?
Other private security personnel, meanwhile, were found to have barely any experience or weapons training.
One guard said he had not fired a gun since the 1980s.
Other private security personnel, meanwhile, were found to have barely any experience or weapons training.
One guard said he had not fired a gun since the 1980s.
ONE GUARD OUT OF 26,000?
As of May this year, there were 26,000 private security personnel in Afghanistan, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The vast bulk of the private guards are Afghans.
As of May this year, there were 26,000 private security personnel in Afghanistan, according to the Senate Armed Services Committee. The vast bulk of the private guards are Afghans.
WILL THESE 26,000 GUARDS GO TO WORK FOR THE TALIBAN TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES?
Nine out 10 of them were employed as contractors or subcontractors to the US government.
President Hamid Karzai has declared that private security firms should be phased out by the end of this year, with the aim of integrating them with the Afghan police and army. AT 1/4 THE PAY, LIKE THAT IS GOING TO GET
Nine out 10 of them were employed as contractors or subcontractors to the US government.
President Hamid Karzai has declared that private security firms should be phased out by the end of this year, with the aim of integrating them with the Afghan police and army. AT 1/4 THE PAY, LIKE THAT IS GOING TO GET
BETTER GUARDS?
But the committee found that members of the security forces were quitting for better-paid jobs in private security.
Afghan guards working for ArmourGroup in Herat were paid $275 (£170) a month, not including expenses, says the report.
This was four times more than the $70 monthly pay of an Afghan police patrolman, as of February 2008.
But the committee found that members of the security forces were quitting for better-paid jobs in private security.
Afghan guards working for ArmourGroup in Herat were paid $275 (£170) a month, not including expenses, says the report.
This was four times more than the $70 monthly pay of an Afghan police patrolman, as of February 2008.
THE TALIBAN PAYS ABOUT $300 PER MON USD, DOES THAT SOUND LIKE AN EFFECTIVE PARADIGM?
The Senate committee noted that "the safety of our troops and the success of our mission require immediate and aggressive steps" to remedy the problem posed by Afghan private security firms.
The Senate committee noted that "the safety of our troops and the success of our mission require immediate and aggressive steps" to remedy the problem posed by Afghan private security firms.
DUMP THE FORMER WARLORDS, LOOSE ANY CONTROL OVER THEM AND WILL THEY TURN TO
CRIME AND THE TALIBAN? WHERE ELSE CAN THEY TURN TOO?
With US President Barack Obama aiming to begin a US withdrawal from Afghanistan by July 2011, the report indicates much work remains to ensure Afghan security forces are ready to take over.
With US President Barack Obama aiming to begin a US withdrawal from Afghanistan by July 2011, the report indicates much work remains to ensure Afghan security forces are ready to take over.
YES INDEED. G
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This belies the problem with the ISI and Afghan security.
ISI influence remains in Afghan and Paki security guard control.
The recent border crossing closing in Paki did have 120,000 trucks and
tankers going thru there monthly, without any major incidents.
Paki closed the border and 1,200 tankers have been destroyed.
This probably was ISI sanctioned action.
Can the US aford to dump the Afghan security guard forces
and let the Taliban pick them up?
THIS NEEDS TO EXPLORED CAREFULLY.
THE LAW OF UNTENDED Consequences HANGS
HEAVILY OVER THE HEAD OF THE US ON THIS
ISSUE.
ARE THEY GOING TO ADD 26,000 TROOP
SURGE TO THE TAIBAN?
FIRING ALL THE SECURITY GUARDS?
US needs to find a way of enveloping the security
guards, dumping them will be a disaster and cause
many more American deaths.
I find it problematic the report didn't mention
how many Afghan Guards have been killed
protecting Americans.
Gerald
Anthropologist
ISI officially supporting Afghan insurgents.
.
posted by gerald at
10/09/2010 01:26:00 AM
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