Feral Jundi

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Logistics: NATO Convoy Security Threatened By Events In Pakistan And PSC Disbanding In Afghanistan

     So now reality sets in.  Crybaby Karzai is now going to set up a state-run trucking protection system to take control of NATO convoy security?  Just one problem–they don’t have a clue on how to do it or where to get the manpower. Because if you take troops from essential war duties, and shuffle them around to fill those jobs that PSCs filled, then now we are negatively impacting strategies that depended on those troops.

     Also, who says that these Afghan soldiers won’t steal from the convoys or get into firefights with insurgents in local populations?  Because these forces will probably react the same way that Afghan PSC’s reacted doing the same job.  They will probably be worse, because they will have to do some serious OJT to catch up to the capability of PSC’s.

     My guess is that we will continue to see PSCs operate on the road to some degree, just because there is another issue here that trumps the politics of Crybaby Karzai.  NATO is highly dependent on these supplies coming in from Pakistan and elswhere, and if Karzai cannot quickly raise this 5,000 man trucking brigade, then I don’t see any other choice but to continue to rely on contractors.

     The other area to look at is the impact that events in Pakistan have on supplies being brought over those mountains.  NATO helicopters killed several Pakistani soldiers in a friendly fire accident during a cross border assault on a fleeing Taliban group, and that event has caused some serious secondary effects.  Specifically, it has caused an uproar in Pakistan and the government there has decided to shut down trucking as pay back. The insurgents are getting into the action as well, and ramping up attacks on these trucks.

    Which brings up the next point and story.  Supposedly, Pakistan is not protecting these trucks.  The trucking companies have been screaming for protection by the government, or the right to self protection with armed security, and the Pakistani government has done neither. Amazing.

     Now take a lack of security and put that together with the government’s blocking of trucks at the border, and you have an opportunity for the enemy. The insurgents are taking advantage of the riff between the US and Pakistan over this latest incident by attacking the symbols of the US–which is these trucks with fuel and supplies on them. These attacks make the insurgents look like the good guys so these attacks have twice the impact on the war effort. It wins over the support of the population, and it disrupts and destroys NATO logistics. –Matt

Afghan wrestles with protecting NATO supply routes

Little security for Nato supply convoys

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NATO Suplies

Pakistani fire fighters try to extinguish burning NATO supply trucks carrying military vehicles and oil following militants attack on the outskirts of Islamabad on June 9, 2010.

Afghan wrestles with protecting NATO supply routes

October 3, 2010

By DION NISSENBAUM

Afghanistan’s top security officials are urging President Hamid Karzai to establish a military-run trucking system to take control of critical NATO supply routes now protected by a ragtag network of unsavory private security firms that is scheduled to be disbanded by year-end.

With the Karzai-imposed deadline looming to close the private convoy-protection companies, Afghanistan officials told McClatchy Newspapers on Sunday that they want to create a state-run military brigade equipped with its own trucks and thousands of soldiers to carry essential NATO supplies around the country.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

Crime: Heists Targeting Truckers On Rise

Filed under: Crime,Law Enforcement — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 4:23 PM

   I think this is to be expected, with the recession as it is.  There is probably an increase in all types of crimes involving theft or robberies.  As to the solution to what is going on here?  Easy, the trucker needs take responsibility of his load, and use some basic tools and methods to secure his truck and precious cargo.  Because to me, it is the sloppy guys who could care less about implementing basic security practices, that are the prime targets of criminals.

   I also think the shipping companies could probably implement security plans for their high value stuff, that suites the value of whatever they are hauling.  If they are transporting millions of dollars of stuff, maybe paying the money for a security escort to ride along with that trucker, might be the ticket.  But like with the Somalia pirates and that shipping industry, I think most companies just prefer to roll the dice and depend upon dumb luck.

    But going back to empowering the trucker, he can do a number of cheap things to secure his stuff.  He got back the truck against a wall, he could have hidden shut offs for the battery, he could have a wireless camera set up on the rig interfaced with his smart phone, he could place a GPS tracker in the rig, you could have a truck alarm system, you could put a big nasty dog in the cab, and finally, the trucker could actually carry a firearm and get a little training and education on laws about personal defense using that gun. Basically, super empowered truckers are the key to countering these types of criminals.  That and a little commonsense. Remember, law enforcement cannot be everywhere and at all times.        From an industry point of view, I really have not heard of much CONUS escort type work.  Of course there is always the armored car driver stuff, or the nuclear transportation work.  You might hear about high end escort type contracts, but that is very few and far between.  As for trucking security, that is a market I haven’t a clue about.  I did find some government funding for security upgrades that companies could apply for here. The American Trucking Associations came out with some basic security guidelines for truckers, and you can read more about that here. –Matt

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Heists Targeting Truckers On Rise

FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Robberies Are “Wreaking Havoc” on U.S. Highways, Endangering Consumers

By JENNIFER LEVITZ

Thieves are swiping tractor-trailers filled with goods, triggering a spike in cargo theft on the nation’s highways.

Over five days last month, an 18-wheeler carrying 710 cartons of consumer electronics was stolen from a Pennsylvania rest stop, a 53-foot-long rig packed with 43,000 pounds of paper was ripped off in Ottawa, Ill., and a 40-foot-long truck filled with reclining armchairs went missing in Atlanta.

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