Archive for category UAE

Legal News: Reflex Responses Hires Patton Boggs LLP For Lobbying In DC

Nov 18

Posted by Matt in Legal News, Maritime Security, UAE | No Comments

Every once in awhile, I like to flex my ‘Google Fu’ skills and do some digging around. Low and behold, I found an interesting little tidbit about the UAE’s mercenary army called Reflex Responses Management Consultancy LLC or R2 for short.

They just hired the services of Patton Boggs LLP for lobbying in Washington DC in the ‘trade’ department. So my question here is what does R2 plan on selling to the US? Could they offer training services, or maybe even maritime security services to US flagged vessels? Who knows, but I do know that Patton Boggs LLP is no small potatoes law firm/consultancy. They also have a long history and relationship with the UAE.

It is also interesting that all of this lobbying registration happened on 10/20/2011, which was the same time that a consulting firm registered to lobby for Maersk and International Org/Masters/Mates/Pilots. Now what I speculate is that Maersk is seeing the writing on the wall when it comes to having armed guards on boats, and they need some folks in DC to help clear things up.

Maersk is up against a Jones Act based lawsuit filed by crew members involved in the famous Maersk Alabama pirate attack that happened a few years back. They are claiming that Maersk put them needlessly at risk for not providing armed security on the boat. It would make sense that Maersk would lobby DC to alleviate some of the legal concerns about having armed guards on boats.

So how does this connect with the R2 deal?  I don’t know, and maybe it is just coincidence. But it is also interesting that Secretary Clinton put out her memo in support of armed guards on boats a couple of days after these lobbyists registered. hmmmm

The other thing to note is that the UAE is on a blitz of sorts to promote anti-piracy efforts. The article I posted below lists a pretty extensive effort and strategy to tackle the problem. So does R2 play into that anti-piracy strategy?

Even if they are not connected, I think Maersk, the unions, and R2 are all interested in getting armed guards on boats. Either for capturing market share in the maritime security industry, or for liability reasons so they don’t get sued by the unions and crews for not protecting seafarers out there. Worse yet, if unions strike because vessels are not providing security, then that could have a serious impact on commerce. Hence why it behooves the government to do something about this. -Matt

 

Patton Boggs LLP for Reflex Responses Management Consultancy LLC
Issues: Trade (Domestic/Foreign)
Specific issue: Issues related to security consulting and related licensing matters.
Lobbyists: ?Farber, David J ?Garrett, John C ?McHale, Stephen (covered positions: Acting General Counsel, Treasury, Jan-Jun 2001; ActGCTreasury01 ) ?Oresman, Matthew Scott (covered positions: Sen.E.Kennedy,Intern,99;SenateJuducCom,LawClrck,05 )
Link to report here.
—————————————————————
Turner Pollard Strategies for Maersk Inc.
Issues: Defense; Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries; Taxation/Internal Revenue Code; Trade (Domestic/Foreign); Transportation
Specific issue: All issues relating to the U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine, including the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, the establishment of a Marine Highway, Cargo Preferences Statutes, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, the Tonnage Tax, Title XI (the Federal Ship Financing Program), and the protection of U.S. merchant ships from piracy.
Lobbyists: ?Pollard, John J III (covered positions: Staff of Rep Ike Skelton ans HASC ) ?Turner, James T
Link to report here.
—————————————————————-
Turner Pollard Strategies for International Org/Masters/Mates/Pilots
Issues: Defense; Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries; Taxation/Internal Revenue Code; Trade (Domestic/Foreign); Transportation
Specific issue: All issues relating to the U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine, including the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, the establishment of a Marine Highway, Cargo Preference Statutes, the Harbor Maintenance Trust fund, the Tonnage Tax, Title XI (the Federal Ship Financing Program), and the protection of U.S. merchant ships from piracy.
Lobbyists: ?Pollard, John J III (covered positions: Staff of Rep Ike Skelton ans HASC ) ?Turner, James T
Link to report here.

——————————————————–

UAE renews support to all military operations and critical measures aimed at ending piracy off the Coast of Somalia
Nov 18, 2011
The United Arab Emirates renewed its strong support for all military operations and critical measures aimed at improving the process of pursuing and prosecuting those responsible and involved in piracy acts, considering these measures as a strong deterrent for preventing this phenomenon from continuing.
In an intervention made by Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations Ahmed Al-Jarman before the Meeting of the Contact Group on Combating Piracy off the Coast of Somalia on Thursday at the UN Headquarters, he added : “At the same time, the UAE emphasizes that such measures are not sufficient to eliminate totally and permanently these serious acts at sea, and the international community is required to adopt a comprehensive cooperation strategy that ensures the total elimination of this phenomenon, which constitutes a form of organized crime that threatens countries and is subject to international laws”.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , ,

Industry Talk: The UAE Contracts With Erik Prince To Raise An Army–To Deal With Iran!

May 14

Posted by Matt in Industry Talk, Iran, UAE | 12 Comments

So this is what Mr. Prince was up to in the UAE?….and what a project! Lookout French Foreign Legion, here comes the UAE’s first Foreign Legion/PMC hybrid built by Erik Prince. (Vinnell Arabia eat your heart out. lol) There are many things here to talk about, so let’s get started with some of the stuff that jumped out at me.

First, the creation of this force was so that it can be used to deal with Iran, or whatever national interests of the UAE. The Iran angle is smart, because that makes a lot of folks in the west happy. (which could explain why there isn’t much ado from the US about this) It sounds like a blended work force of foreign forces (Americans, South Africans, Colombians, etc.) and Emirates troops, all answering to the laws of the UAE and to the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Part PMC  and part Foreign Legion. But legally, here is a snippet from the contract:

Article 17
Compliance with the Laws, Regulations and Bylaws
The Second Party undertakes to comply with all the laws, regulations and bylaws in force in the State, and all provisions of the Decision of the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces referred to hereinabove shall apply to this Contract, provided that the general legal principles in force in the State concerning contracts and contracting methods of the administration shall apply to any matter regarding which there is no specific provision in the said Decision or in this Contract.

The article below also had a quote from international trade lawyer Susan Kovarovics. I would certainly hope that if this Foreign Legion hybrid is within the best interest of the US, that they would have provided ITARs or similar blessings to Prince or any of the American trainers participating in this.  I kind of look at it like the Vinnell Arabia contract that has been going on for years in Saudi Arabia training the SANG.  But Susan is the expert here:

Susan Kovarovics, an international trade lawyer who advises companies about export controls, said that because Reflex Responses was an Emirati company it might not need State Department authorization for its activities.
But she said that any Americans working on the project might run legal risks if they did not get government approval to participate in training the foreign troops.

The contract is also very interesting in that it has a ‘Performance Bond’, which is a great thing to have in a contract. I have been pushing for similar performance bonds for US contracts, much like our early privateers were bonded before they were given a license. R2 had to put up ‘ten percent of the contract value’ as a bond. My fuzzy math says that is close to 53 million dollars! Quite the incentive to do well, and just imagine a modern military operating with a similar contract mechanism? lol

The amount of money this contract is worth and time period of it is also listed in the contract and stated in the article below. Here it is for anyone that is curious:

Contract Period June 2010 – May 2015
Total Cost $529,166,754.13

If Reflex Responses Management Consultancy LLC or R2 can deliver on this first test battalion, it sounds like the UAE is prepared to expand on the thing. The contract goes up to May of 2015, so a lot can happen between now and then.

Now as far as what they will be used for, who knows?  The article below says that this legion could be used to take a few islands off the coast and keep them out of Iranian hands? That this force could also be a deterrent to deal with Iran, which I think that is the real reason why the US would be ok with such a set up. Here is a quote on some of the possible tasks of this force:

Corporate documents describe the battalion’s possible tasks: intelligence gathering, urban combat, the securing of nuclear and radioactive materials, humanitarian missions and special operations “to destroy enemy personnel and equipment.”
One document describes “crowd-control operations” where the crowd “is not armed with firearms but does pose a risk using improvised weapons (clubs and stones).”
The foreign military force was planned months before the so-called Arab Spring revolts that many experts believe are unlikely to spread to the U.A.E. Iran was a particular concern.

Here is the part of the article that talks specifically about Iran. Pretty wild, and this kind of operation is certainly offensive in nature if they do it:

Although there was no expectation that the mercenary troops would be used for a stealth attack on Iran, Emirati officials talked of using them for a possible maritime and air assault to reclaim a chain of islands, mostly uninhabited, in the Persian Gulf that are the subject of a dispute between Iran and the U.A.E., the former employees said. Iran has sent military forces to at least one of the islands, Abu Musa, and Emirati officials have long been eager to retake the islands and tap their potential oil reserves.

Finally there is the future of this project, and more importantly, what Prince envisions. This is where the Foreign Legion turns into a hybrid type force.  It would be like Secopex training and providing logistics for the FFL, and offering the training facility to other private or government forces. Here is the quote:

But by last November, the battalion was officially behind schedule. The original goal was for the 800-man force to be ready by March 31; recently, former employees said, the battalion’s size was reduced to about 580 men.
Emirati military officials had promised that if this first battalion was a success, they would pay for an entire brigade of several thousand men. The new contracts would be worth billions, and would help with Mr. Prince’s next big project: a desert training complex for foreign troops patterned after Blackwater’s compound in Moyock, N.C.

So will R2 be opening it’s doors for training to the world, much like how BW operated in the US?   If true, I could see something like this becoming a multi-billion dollar project for Prince and company. Just because it would be located in the middle east and cater to all the OPEC nations.  That is a pretty wealthy neighborhood to cater too, and this will be one to watch in the coming years. Also, if anyone at R2 or Thor Global Enterprises would like to add anything to the discussion, please feel free to do so in the comments or contact me directly. When these two companies actually set up an online website, I will make the edits. At this time, I have not been able to find anything other than a listing at IDEX 2011. (hint–if you guys are having a hard time recruiting enough folks for the project, then at the least you should have a website and recruitment page) -Matt

Edit: I would also like to mention that Eeben Barlow has reacted severely to this article because of the reporter’s false and libellous statements about Executive Outcomes. EO did not ‘stage coups attempts’, and the New York Times should do the right thing and make an edit or publish a separate correction to the article. Hell, if the reporters below would have actually took the time to contact Eeben on his blog or read some of his posts, he has actually stopped coups in the past and has been vehemently opposed to them.

Edit: 05/20/2011 Finally the NYT’s makes a correction. Hopefully an apology is sent as well. Here it is:

NYT Corrections
Published: May 18, 2011
FRONT PAGE
An article on Sunday about the creation of a mercenary battalion in the United Arab Emirates misstated the past work of Executive Outcomes, a former South African mercenary firm whose veterans have been recruited for the new battalion. Executive Outcomes was hired by several African governments during the 1990s to put down rebellions and protect oil and diamond reserves; it did not stage coup attempts. (Some former Executive Outcomes employees participated in a 2004 coup attempt against the government of Equatorial Guinea, several years after the company itself shut down.)

Edit: 5/29/2011- Eeben has posted a reaction to the correction, and you can find that here.

Edit: 6/7/2011- Here is another correction that the NYT’s has had to make. Very interesting.

New York Times
June 7, 2011
Correction
An article on May 15 about efforts to build a battalion of foreign mercenary troops in the
United Arab Emirates referred imprecisely to the role played by Erik Prince, the founder
of the security firm Blackwater Worldwide. He worked to oversee the effort and recruit
troops. But Mr. Prince does not run or own the company Reflex Responses, which has a
contract with the government of the U.A.E. to train and deliver the troops, according to
the company president, Michael Roumi. An article on May 16 repeated the error.

a4s blackwater05151 175097cIndustry Talk: The UAE Contracts With Erik Prince To Raise An Army To Deal With Iran!

A satellite image of the camp in the United Arab Emirates built to train an 800-member military unit.

 

ExhibID 1893 Graphic1Industry Talk: The UAE Contracts With Erik Prince To Raise An Army To Deal With Iran!

R2 Logo

Secret Desert Force Set Up by Blackwater’s Founder
By MARK MAZZETTI and EMILY B. HAGER
May 14, 2011
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Late one night last November, a plane carrying dozens of Colombian men touched down in this glittering seaside capital. Whisked through customs by an Emirati intelligence officer, the group boarded an unmarked bus and drove roughly 20 miles to a windswept military complex in the desert sand.
The Colombians had entered the United Arab Emirates posing as construction workers. In fact, they were soldiers for a secret American-led mercenary army being built by Erik Prince, the billionaire founder of Blackwater Worldwide, with $529 million from the oil-soaked sheikdom.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Maritime Security: UAE Shipping Association Has Reversed Position– Backs The Use Of PSC’s On Vessels

Feb 28

Posted by Matt in Industry Talk, Maritime Security, UAE | No Comments

     “We don’t feel protected by the international navies, so we need to take matters into our own hands,” said Scott Jones, first vice president of the UAESA, the leading industry body in the nation. “There is still no vessel that has armed guards on board that has been taken. It seems to be the only way we can feel relatively certain,” he said.

 paragraph dividerMaritime Security: UAE Shipping Association Has Reversed Position Backs The Use Of PSCs On Vessels

     Boy, chalk up another association that has come to grips with reality. Might I also add that these last couple of months, according to some of my readers that are in the know, has been nuts for maritime security companies. Business is picking up to say the least. Although I cannot say for sure how much of an increase there has been because no one is tracking it.  All I can go by is what I am hearing out there.

     With that said, it makes total sense that this market could be seeing a surge.  And with more boats having armed security giving problems to the pirates, there will be those boats without security that will soon become the targets of greedy and dangerous pirates. It is the law of the jungle, and predators will always seek the weakest and easiest prey. Who knows, and this is all just speculation on this particular niche of private security. (we are seeing pirates attack smaller yachts, and violently, which could be considered ‘weaker prey’)

     Also, as a cautionary tale, I think it is important to note the similar evolution of the PSC industry in today’s current war zones.  In the beginning stages, there are always problems.  I suspect as this thing grows bigger, the problems will show their ugly head and will be dealt with accordingly. Although we can be proactive out there and try to apply Jundism and the lessons learned from war zone contracting to this quickly growing maritime security market. All the skeptical eyes of the world will be on the man or woman on the boats with the guns–do well….

     Pirates will also be studying the armed security of boats out there, and planning ways of defeating it.  Because as the ‘unarmed’ prey diminishes, the hungry predators will start targeting weaker ‘armed’ prey.  So if you are a shipping company that has deemed arming your boat with one Glock pistol, and think that is sufficient for ‘arming’ the vessel, you are severely wrong.

     ‘Know yourself, know your enemy’ as Sun Tzu says. Shipping companies must strive to put in place teams on their vessels that are competent, credible and well armed, that can defeat whatever the latest evolution of pirate weaponry, tactics, and strategies are. -Matt

rule dividerMaritime Security: UAE Shipping Association Has Reversed Position Backs The Use Of PSCs On Vessels

Pirates could face armed seafarers

By Carol Huang

February 28, 2011

The UAE Shipping Association (UAESA) has reversed course to back the use of private security guards aboard commercial vessels as the best way to combat increasingly aggressive Somali pirates.

The U-turn comes as the shipping industry worldwide reconsiders its longtime opposition to carrying weapons at sea. Over the past year, pirate presence has spread across the Indian Ocean. Ransom demands are rising, and hostages are being held captive longer.

Last week, pirates killed four American yachtsmen whom they had taken hostage.

“We don’t feel protected by the international navies, so we need to take matters into our own hands,” said Scott Jones, first vice president of the UAESA, the leading industry body in the nation. “There is still no vessel that has armed guards on board that has been taken. It seems to be the only way we can feel relatively certain,” he said.

That stance would hold for as long as the problem persisted, the organisation said in an announcement earlier this month.

“Until an international solution resolving the governance of Somalia is accomplished, the UAESA will support the stationing of trained professional armed security aboard vessels.”

Dubai port authorities have implemented “clearance procedures” to allow armed guards, it said.

Since many ports around the world ban weapons, many authorities have had to amend or clarify their policies to allow private security escorts to enter.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Legal News: Charges Dismissed Against Nicholas Moody In UAE Weapons Case!

Dec 14

Posted by Matt in Industry Talk, Iraq, Travel, UAE | No Comments

    Excellent news and thanks to everyone out there that applied the necessary pressure on our US Embassy in the UAE, and for your support in this case. This will certainly be a wonderful holiday gift to Nicholas and his friends and family. -Matt

rule dividerLegal News: Charges Dismissed Against Nicholas Moody In UAE Weapons Case!

Charges dismissed against American in UAE weapons case

December 14, 2010

The charges against an American soldier who had been detained for more than two months in the United Arab Emirates have been dismissed, authorities said.

Cpl. Nicholas Moody, from Nevada, was arrested September 29 during an 18-hour layover in Abu Dhabi while heading back from his job as a private security contractor in Iraq.

Moody was charged with possession of weapons accessories — parts that could accompany a gun, though no firearm itself — which is illegal in the UAE.

Charges against Moody, were dismissed Monday said Melhem Sharrouf, one of Moody’s attorneys.

Moody, who has served in Iraq and then Afghanistan as part of the California and then Nevada National guards, had been released from jail on bail, but it was uncertain when he would be allowed to leave the United Arab Emirates.

Moody’s visa expired while he was in jail and his passport was being held by the government, his attorneys said. He would need to renew his visa before he could leave.

Those who created a support website on Facebook rejoiced about the development in the case. More than 2,500 people have expressed support to the “Help Bring Nick Moody Back Home” site on Facebook.

“NICK’S CASE WAS DISMISSED!!!!!!!!!! The paperwork will take a couple days, then travel arrangements will be made for Nick to come home! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE LOVE, LETTERS, SUPPORT, PRAYERS AND POSITIVE ENERGY!” the site said.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Job Tips: UAE Travel And Shipping Stuff

Dec 3

Posted by Matt in Job Tips, Travel, UAE | No Comments

     What sucks is; just a few months ago I brought most of my gear through Dubai; and I could have been arested. This was because the US Military P.O. would not let me ship most of my gear from APO in Iraq to APO in Afghanistan. It’s BS man,  and it is going to come down to-we have to risk getting arrested just to get our gear to our work place.-FJ Reader

paragraph dividerJob Tips: UAE Travel And Shipping Stuff

    I wanted to get this out there for folks to think about and discuss.  Many contractors pass through the UAE for work, and this country keeps changing their laws and rules without getting the word out to the companies or contractors. All I have to say is that they are doing a poor job of strategic communications, and an excellent job of arresting contractors. (perhaps that is the goal? lol)

    If you look at the DoS travel advisory for the UAE, their treatment of the subject is pretty thin.  Do they not understand that thousands of contractors pass through these airports every year, and most of them are doing the good work of protecting folks and things in the war zones? They are putting their lives on the line for the US and it’s allies in the war, and they continue to be treated as a second class citizens.  At the very least, DoS could be a little more responsive to this issue, and maybe even push back. American citizens are getting arrested because they are not getting the word, or they have poor interpretations of the laws, or they are not aware of any new laws the come up out of the UAE, and the US embassy should be out there doing what they can to prevent this type of thing.

    I also put some blame on the companies for not taking care of their people.  You need to be pressing the embassy and the UAE for exactly what is required, and not just ‘ho hum’ your way through the whole thing. Contractors should be considered your most valuable asset, and by not doing everything you can to educate them with the most up to date laws of other countries, just shows a lack of compassion or responsibility on the company’s part.

    Then of course there is personal responsibility.  Guys have to get educated on this stuff, and that is why I constantly tell folks to do your homework about this industry.  Go to the forums and relevant websites out there, read what everyone is talking about, ask your questions if you haven’t found it in a search, and get educated. It is also important to really listen to your company or what the older guys have to say in this industry, because sometimes they do get it right and they do know what is best for travel on that particular contract. Don’t assume anything and get the facts.

    The quote up top was from a reader that was in a sticky situation, and this is a good example of the kind of dilemmas you can get into. In their case, they were traveling from one war zone to the next and their equipment was essential for the job.  They did not have a civilian parcel company at the base to use, and the only means of getting the stuff to their work site was carrying it through checked baggage or sending it APO to APO via military post office. My question here is why is the US military not working with contractors by allowing them to ship APO to APO? And because this contractor had no idea about the new laws or updates to the laws in the UAE, he could have been arrested just like the other guys.

    The other point about this situation was that sometimes at these airports, no one cares and it seems these policies and laws are only enforced by the officers that wish to do their job that day.  Or an officer does their own interpretation of the vague rules, and once they commit to the arrest, of course they are not going to backtrack and admit they were wrong. (unless a higher up that has been pressured diplomatically intervenes-hint, hint to the embassy) Some officers demand a bribe or maybe they have some bias–who knows. But this is the way travel is in some foreign countries and their airports.

     Now looking at all of these scenarios, you would think that companies would provide all the equipment necessary to do the job out there.  The truth is, that they don’t. Most contractors, to include myself, have had the unfortunate experience of being without some essential equipment in war zones, and all because a company made false promises about equipment, or the stuff they had was limited or in poor condition.  As more airports and countries introduce more strict rules on contractor related equipment, and as the enemy continues to conduct system disruption attacks that spawn more idiotic rules in airports, it will be increasingly important for contractors to be aware and/or increasingly depend up the company to provide this stuff. But that would require a company to actually care or cut into their profits to properly outfit their contractors.

    Which brings up another point.  Many companies use contractors because of the tax benefits and the ease of hiring or getting rid of them.  They also like security contractors because we usually have our own ‘tools’, much like a contractor in the building industry. Contractors even write off that equipment on their taxes.  So as more of these airports clamp down on contractors and limit their ability to transport their kit or ‘tools’ to a work site, then companies will be forced to incur more cost and provide those tools for the contractor. That kind of sounds like ‘employee’ country, and not contractor stuff now and companies need to be aware of this stuff. (some companies rent the gear to the independent contractor, as an example)

    Now for another issue with shipping. What is with this dumb rule that came out where guys could not send their ACOG scopes home through military PO’s, because of the ‘gas’ that is in the ACOG? I have heard this from several contractors that tried to ship home their ACOG’s and the military told them they couldn’t do it. Luckily, from what I heard on the forums, folks are able to ship home their ACOG’s through a civilian parcel.

    I remember going through the same hassle with body armor or knives, and in my view, a military PO should do all they can to accommodate and work with contractors so that they can get this done.  In my case, I just sent the stuff home through civilian parcel because I was not allowed to send this stuff. But it was also more expensive and I was lucky that I was on a base that had a civilian parcel office. On some of my other contracts, I just had to give my stuff away to someone else that could use it, and eat the loss. This is repeated many times by contractors in the war zones and I guess you could call this the cost of doing business. -Matt

rule dividerJob Tips: UAE Travel And Shipping Stuff

UAE authorities will confiscate any weapons, weapon parts, ammunition, body armor, handcuffs, and/or other military/police equipment transported to or through a civilian airport. U.S. citizens have been arrested and jailed for transporting such weapons and equipment without the express written authorization of the UAE government, even though airline and U.S. authorities allowed shipment on a U.S.-originating flight. – DoS Travel Advisory here.

UAE’s website with travel section here.

Discussion on Lightfighter.net here and here.

Recent Changes In UAE Law For Travelers And Contractors

 … all US personnel – to avoid violation of Emirati laws by the intentional or accidental transport of any arms or items considered as law enforcement equipment or military gear. UAE airport personnel will x-ray all baggage – checked or carry-on – and cargo shipments, including household goods, both incoming and outgoing.  UAE authorities will confiscate any weapons, weapon parts, ammunition, body armour, handcuffs, sensitive electronics, cryptographic devices, and/or other military/police equipment transported to or through a civilian airport. Persons found to be carrying such items will be arrested and face strict criminal penalties, including imprisonment and large monetary fines…  One such incident involved one bullet, found in the bag of a traveler who had unknowingly left the item in his bag.  This individual was detained by the police and now faces a possible jail sentence and large monetary fine.  In other similar incidents, U.S. defense contractors transiting the U.A.E. with weapons were arrested and are now serving jail sentences of several months.The following is a sampling of the types of items that are illegal in the United Arab Emirates.

The list is NOT all inclusive, but does include the following:

• Weapons of any type, to include guns of any type, including simulators, assembled or disassembled, in carry-on or checked baggage.

• Ammunition or pyrotechnics of any type to include spent brass or casings.

• Body armor, including ballistic vests and military/police helmets.

• Police or law enforcement paraphernalia, including; handcuffs, flexi-cuffs, night vision goggles, gun holsters, pepper spray etc.

• Military-style electronics and cryptographic devices.The smallest quantity of any of the above mentioned items can result in detention and prosecution, to include a possible jail sentence, in the United Arab Emirates.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Call To Action: Support The Release Of Security Contractor Nicholas Moody From UAE Detention

Nov 20

Posted by Matt in Call To Action, Industry Talk, Iraq, Legal News, UAE | 9 Comments

     This is another one of those deals where the legal system of another country has completely gone overboard with the application of their laws on foreign citizens. How many thousands of contractors have transited through their airport over the course of this war, all spending money in their shops or even staying at local hotels, and this is how you treat them? Last I checked, the UAE and the US were still friendly towards one another, and this is how they treat a citizen of the US?

     Nicholas Moody served his country in the National Guard during the war, and he was serving his country again as a security contractor, and this is no way to treat a veteran like this. Especially imprisoning the guy over something as stupid as carrying a weapons cleaning kit and a forward grip, or whatever minor parts he needed to do his job. The US Embassy in the UAE should be all over this one.

     Now if he had an RPG or AK 47 in his bag, I might see the logic with the UAE detaining him. But for something as petty and as stupid as this, and for over seven weeks? Shame on the UAE.  Commonsense should dictate here, and I highly recommend everyone to friend request the Facebook Page for freeing Nicholas Moody and write the US Embassy in the UAE, and do what you can to support his release. -Matt

rule dividerCall To Action: Support The Release Of Security Contractor Nicholas Moody From UAE Detention

Nicholas+Moody+2Call To Action: Support The Release Of Security Contractor Nicholas Moody From UAE Detention

Security contractor from Nevada locked up in UAE for 7 weeks

By Greg Botelho

A security contractor from Nevada has been locked up for seven weeks in the United Arab Emirates, his mother said Thursday, as his family seeks answers about what landed him in prison and how long he’ll remain there.

Having served in Iraq and then Afghanistan as part of the California and then Nevada National Guards, Nicholas Moody, 23, was working for a private security contractor when he stopped over in Abu Dhabi, his mother Lorina Moody told CNN. He was arrested on September 29, during an 18-hour layover while heading back from Iraq, for carrying firearms accessories — parts that could accompany a gun, though no firearm itself — which is illegal in the United Arab Emirates, his mother said.

“Our son is the type of individual who would not have willingly broken the law,” said Moody, of Susanville, California. “Now, we’re caught in a situation where we don’t [know] where to turn to. We don’t really have any way of knowing what’s going to happen to him.”

The U.S. State Department confirmed that Nicholas Moody has been detained, saying that U.S. consular officers visited him on September 30, October 6 and November 10.

“During those visits, he conveyed he was being treated fairly,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the case.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

PMC 2.0: The Middle East Declares War Against BlackBerry Smart Phones

Aug 3

Posted by Matt in Afghanistan, Kuwait, PMC 2.0, Technology, UAE | No Comments

     The  author of “City of Gold” a history of Dubai, Jim Krane said, “The U.A.E. has never been a place that offered much in the way of electronic privacy. “The government makes no secret that it monitors electronic communication, including text messages, phone calls and e-mail. The revelation that secure BlackBerry data is frustratingly out of the government’s reach only confirms this.” 

*****

     This is definitely some PMC 2.0 news, just because many contractors carry BlackBerry smart phones, and many companies have management teams that depend upon this phone.  So imagine all these guys having to give up those phones just to do business in the middle east?

     One interesting tidbit with all of this is that these countries really don’t have a problem with iPhones, just because they can easily monitor the traffic on those devices. That is good and bad for contractors that have iPhones.  It kind of confirms what the best phone is for privacy–the BlackBerry.  Although there are still ways to make iPhones secure, it’s just with this crackdown on ‘CrackBerry’s', it seems that the BlackBerry is the winner.

      Below, I posted three articles.  The last one is from 2005, but still a good one on how PIN messaging works for BlackBerry phones. The other articles detail what fears the various middle eastern countries have in regards to the BlackBerry. Interesting stuff. -Matt

—————————————————————–

UAE crackdown on BlackBerry services to extend to foreign visitors

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — The United Arab Emirates’ crackdown on BlackBerry services will extend to foreign visitors, putting the government’s concerns over the smartphones in direct conflict with the country’s ambitions to be a business and tourism haven.

The UAE’s telecommunications regulator said Monday that travelers to the city-state of Dubai and the important oil industry center of Abu Dhabi will — like 500,000 local subscribers — have to do without BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web services starting Oct. 11, even when they carry phones issued in other countries. The handsets themselves will still be allowed for phone calls.

UAE authorities say the move is based on security concerns because BlackBerry transmissions are automatically routed to company computers abroad, where it is difficult for local authorities to monitor for illegal activity or abuse.

Critics of the crackdown say it is also a way for the country’s conservative government to further control content it deems politically or morally objectionable.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Jobs: Security Guard, UAE-Dubai

Mar 10

Posted by Matt in Dubai, Jobs, UAE | 1 Comment

   Interesting headhunter company.  This graphic below pretty much spells it out on who they are working for, and this would be a good company to put in your career section bookmarks or RSS reader (they do have a RSS feed). The job itself is in Dubai–should I say anything more? Have fun trying to save your money there. lol

   I am not the POC or recruiter, and please follow the link below if you would like to apply for this job.  Good luck. -Matt

——————————————————————

strategic relationshipsJobs: Security Guard, UAE Dubai

Guards Location: UAE – Dubai 

Job Code: 23

Description: Guards

Responsible for safeguarding facilities, conducting patrols, and escorting visitors as necessary.  Full benefits and compensation depending on experience and qualifications.  All individuals must be a U.S. citizens with former U.S. military or law enforcement experience, who have been honorably discharged.  All must be capable of passing a physical fitness test, health exam, background investigation, and periodic drug test.  In addition, all applicants must have a current, valid passport with at least six months remaining until renewal.  To be considered for this position, please fill out the application on this website and attach your resume with contact information.

Apply here.

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Industry Talk: AGNA Awarded $8m for Bahrain and UAE Security Guard Services

Sep 30

Posted by Matt in Bahrain, Industry Talk, UAE | No Comments

     More AGNA news.  I am not the recruiter for this contract(s) and please do not send me a resume in reference to this story.

     I hope AGNA realizes, along with their owners, that we are all watching and we are all demanding excellence out of your management.  Your performance in Afghanistan was dismal and because you did not care about what was going on with that contract, all of us paid a price.  And whomever is the COR on this contract, please do your job and make sure this contract is carried out properly. That means getting out from behind your desk, actually checking on operations, and getting some shared reality about what is happening.  Then you can actually make an assessment as to how things are going.  Most of all, be a man (or woman) and have the courage to do things right when it comes to evaluating the performance of this company.  It’s not hard and all it takes is self-discipline and attention to detail to be effective.

     Or you guys can be ‘marshmallow eaters‘, and take the easy way out on managing these contracts. Thanks to Bill over at Dangerzonejobs for getting this one out there. -Matt

——————————————————————

United States DoD contracts for September 29, 2009

Armor Group North America Inc., McLean, Va., is being awarded an $8,073,841 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N33191-07-D-1357) to exercise option 2 for provision of security guard services at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , ,