Stratfor has published an article today entitled Security Contractors; A Necessary Evil. It’s an interesting read particularly the sections regarding the scope of the Diplomatic Security Service (DS) mission worldwide. Read the article yourself but the gist of the article is that, things being the way they are, security contractors are a necessary evil. An interesting way to put, but in my opinion, wrong.
It’s clear that DS is stretched thin around the world. Resources, both personnel and budget are not limitless. There’s no ready supply of DS agents available to fill the role of security contractors even if the financial means existed to replace private security contractors. All of those arguments are very valid but where I take issue is the “better the devil you know” response as justification for keeping private security contractors.
The fact that private security contractors have been used extensively by DS in other places ignores the fact that the other countries where private security contractors support DS are not war zones involving the protection of U.S. diplomats. Success in Liberia with private security contractors does not translate to success everywhere else. The Rules of Engagement, the scope of the protective mission, and the operational oversight by DS, are much different in every other country where private security contractors are performing personal security duties than in Iraq. As we have seen with virtually every aspect of the war in Iraq, the cookie cutter model simply does not apply.
Secondly, the implications as a result of misconduct by private security contractors is much more serious in Iraq than anywhere else. Unfortunately DS agents throughout the world will be left feeling like the guy responsible for cleaning up after the elephant act at the circus as a result of private security contractor misconduct. DS agents will be on the firing line when it comes to responding to violent acts around the world inspired by the perceived targeting of unarmed Iraqi civilians by U.S. Embassy security forces. Ironically, DS agents work very hard to foster good relationships with their foreign counterparts and in foreign nations. It would be a shame if DS were perceived to be in the same category as those private security contractors who are engaging in misconduct.
I also have to take issue with the characterization that the U.S. military doesn’t have the “specialized training” required to protect diplomats. Excuse me? The U.S. military has the resources, skill, expertise and infrastructure to conduct all aspects of training required to perform such duties. In the U.S. Army for example, the Military Police Corps has trained for more than 20 years in tactical security skills that could easily be adapted to protecting U.S. diplomats. Every function now performed by private security contractors could be performed by members of the Marine Security Guard (MSG) with minimal train up time. Let’s not kid ourselves, where do you think these private security contractors got their skills? I dare say that there are relatively few former DS agents, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals etc… among the private security contractors. It’s only after someone is brought on with a private security contractor that they attend the requisite Personal Security Detail (PSD) training. When you start looking at the background of some of these private security contractors, relatively few of them had PSD backgrounds to begin with.
The stakes are so high in Iraq that the normal status quo is not the way to go. The U.S., and especially U.S. diplomats, deserve a stable protective force, that is trained, accountable, responsible and with an equity in success of the U.S. mission beyond a business contract. We can not expect the Iraqis, nor any other country in the Middle East, to develop any value for human life, when we permit the individuals responsible for protecting our most visible and active symbol of what the U.S. represents, our diplomats, to operate without impunity. We do not tolerate that of our soldiers serving anywhere in the world. Why should we permit that from private security contractors?
Defense Tech: Security Contractors: A Necessary Evil
Technorati Tags: Executive Protection, bodyguard, U.S Foreign Service Corps, U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Marine Security Guard, U.S. Army, diplomatic security, Blackwater, private security contractors
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March 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Bruce makes good points in this blog and one of them I wish to expand on – just WHO is a private contractor hired by a security firm to work protection in Iraq and so on — let me tell you.
After working for once such firm I found that there is a large subculture of “operators” or “pc’s” as they are called out there. There is one group who is former US Military, special forces types, really good guys who retire out of the military or after more than one tour, that really want to fight for the country and make some very good money doing it. Then there are the middle class group, some ex cops, one or two tour mil guys who have some training and not much else that want to make big bucks (to them) and ship out, and get more than they ever asked for, and lastly there is the “wannabe” Rambo and nut job group that can’t wait to pull a trigger at anyone and take any pay they get. I saw this first hand. The training overall furnished by the security firm is usually a few days of classroom, movies and range time. The first group mentioned are deployed for some 60 – 90 days at a time and almost always do a great job, take the money and leave and buy a nice home in the midwest and maybe do one or more tours and that’s it. The middle group almost always wet their pants at the 1st shooting or IED, shoot at anything that moves and brags about it. They go home, spend the money in Vegas and come back for a few more tours. The last group — which by the way are there now because the othe two groups have seen enough, are rowdy, big mouthed, more than wet their pants OR really like the ‘high’ of IEDs and shooting and have contempt for legitimate control by the US Mil or State DSS agents riding herd on them. Also, the big money is no more and you get what you pay for. In the begining, PC’s got around $850 -$1000 a day. Now you’re lucky to find a firm – who takes a big chunk 1st from Uncle Sam, who pays $250 – $400 a day. I remember, and I kid you not, getting a resume’ from a man who claimed to be Richmond VA cop, attached a picture of himself wearing two shoulder rigs IN HIS UNDERSHORTS! You can imagine what we did with his file!
While there are some very fine people that may still want to do this type of “work”, the pool of qualified folks has all but dried up. Yes, it still is the American Way, to sign on for danger and get well paid for it but you have to wonder why they really do it and why the USG still employes them VS signing on legitimate soldiers and agents who would jump at the chance to start a career and serve America well.
Stay Safe and God Bless!
May 29, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Ancillary says : I absolutely agree with this !
November 12, 2008 at 7:32 am
OK, enough, I have read through many articles now condemning the quality of CPO’s in Iraq. I am ex British Army, I was not ex special forces and they are by no means the only ones able to carry out this type of work professionally. I was lucky to be selected to work as part of many CP Teams during my military career and since leaving so I feel I have earnt my say.
I agree that there are some real idiots working in Iraq/Afghanistan, hostile environments worldwide however during the 5 1/2 years I have spent in Iraq I never read of the employers of these idiots being to blame. Anyone can create a CV/Resume however how many are checked or should I say how quick are recruiters enlisting these people without scrutiny just so a contracts can be fulfilled. It would make a nice change to see a contract awarded to a company who supply exactly what they said they would supply on the tender from day 1. That usually amounts to well trained men, correct vehicles, applicable weapon systems to the role etc etc what happens is a contract is awarded for whatever reason (backhander) and then the idiots are recruited as quickly as possible so as to make the unrealistic start dates given, then rather than weeding the liabilities out of the teams they are kept on because they can be possibly trained and flights are expensive to get rid of one guy and bring another in. I feel for the good guys who genuinely want to do a good job, who want to protect the client with use of brain, skill, forward planning, de briefs etc. I feel for the operators who try to carry out this difficult work in difficult conditions with respect for the host nation being tarnished by the few idiots who just want to pull the trigger and brag to friends at home, oh and grow stupid beards as they think this will help them to blend in!!! take a look in the mirror boys. Whilst pointing your weapons at innocent iraqi people or forcing them off the road, or whilst cue jumping at the airport because you think its your god given right. Do you think your beard length or style will lessen the impact you have on these people other than create more enemies? This industry is a proffession however through bad management it has become a joke and a dangerous one at that. I am one of the many who is disgusted by the few, you know who you are so do us all a favour and go play cowboys and indians at home, you are a disgrace…….
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