Feral Jundi

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Afghanistan: Anti-Corruption Unit Pressure, Plus Coming Elections Equals ‘Crazy Karzai’!!

Filed under: Afghanistan — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 1:48 AM

     Any chance I can use ‘Crazy Karzai’ in the title of anything, is a good thing. lol Now back to the post.

     Here is the assessment. I really think Karzai thinks this is his ‘Ace in the hole’. Meaning he was planning on pulling this stupid decree out of his funny hat as a means to push back against this pressure we are putting on him about his crap government. Because at face value, not only is this decree silly, but it will probably backfire on him in a dangerous way.

     If let’s say he thought he would get some votes out of this populist move, at the end of the day he still has to deal with the Taliban. He will also have to deal with an entire group of unemployed Afghan security contractors who will probably hop on over to the Taliban out of anger–or just do nothing. He might get some of them to join the army or police. It’s hard to say who goes where, but I do know that this is a big gamble for him politically. And what happens when people get more angry because violence increases due to this massive removal of multiple private security operations across the country?

     I also think that this anti-corruption unit is going to go on the offensive during the elections. Karzai’s competition will have plenty of material for firing up the populace and ripping apart the incumbent. This upcoming election is heavy on his mind, and he knows (thanks to Senator Kerry’s shot across the bow’) that we mean business this time. I for one would love to see him voted out of office. Someone needs to hold that office, that both the Afghans and the Coalition forces fighting in that war can believe in…. and possibly die for, in battle.

     Below I found all the most pertinent stories to help you out in making your own assessments. From some Afghan security company’s responses to the whole thing, to the details of this last diplomatic mission which freaked Karzai out and forced his hand on this. So at this point, it is all about politics. –Matt

Afghan plan to shut private security firms may endanger convoys

If Afghanistan dissolves security firms, guards will join Taliban, some predict

Karzai Plays to the Crowd with Threatened Ouster of Afghan Contractors

U.S. sends warning to Afghanistan, and John Kerry delivers the message

——————————————————————

Afghan plan to shut private security firms may endanger convoys

By DION NISSENBAUM AND HASHIM SHUKOOR

August 16, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office abruptly announced plans on Monday to close all the country’s polarizing private security companies by year’s end, a decision that could create more risk for the U.S.-led military along crucial supply routes into Afghanistan.

In an announcement that appeared to catch NATO officials by surprise, Karzai vowed to shutter the lucrative network of private security firms.

“The government of Afghanistan has decided that the security companies have to go,” Karzai spokesman Waheed Omar said.

If the president follows through with the short timeline, the decision could strip NATO supply routes of the private forces, which have provided protection for convoys that come under constant attack.

It would force diplomatic missions, including the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, to find some other way to protect their compounds.

It also could create a volatile new pool of disaffected militants, some of whom already are suspected of having links with the Taliban and of staging attacks on convoys that are passing through their areas.

“Security will get worse,” warned Matiullah Khan, one of the country’s more influential figures in the murky security convoy business. “The police can’t provide security in the provinces, so how can they escort convoys?”

The private security industry, a complex network of registered international companies and unregulated Afghan militias, employs 26,000 people working on U.S. contracts, according to NATO officials. The vast majority of them – about 19,000 – work on military contracts.

The companies have come under fire from almost every front.

Karzai long has argued that the firms act as a parallel security force that undermines the nation’s police and army.

Many Afghans fear convoy security guards, who have been accused of wildly opening fire and killing civilians while protecting their routes.

Last month, contractors with DynCorp International were involved in a fatal car crash in Kabul that sparked violent anti-American protests and raised fears that the isolated demonstration could devolve into widespread rioting.

Some of the firms have been accused of using their familial ties to the Karzai government to secure millions of dollars in NATO contracts. Two of Karzai’s cousins run one major security company. The defense minister’s son runs another.

U.S. officials also have expressed concerns over long-standing allegations that the security firms use NATO funds for the contracts to pay insurgents not to attack the convoys.

Industry Talk: Karzai’s Decree Regarding PSC’s And The Buzz On The Forums

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 12:55 AM

     This is a translation that I wanted to put up just so folks have something to reference. But what is really cool is all the buzz on the forums about this one.  Lots of opinions all over the place.

     The photo below is a mystery.  I have no clue if these guys were PSC’s or not.  But what the photo symbolizes is all the years that good men like them spent putting their lives on the line for Karzai. Do you think he even thanked them for their protective services? –Matt

Edit: 08/23/2010 – Tim wrote up a great post on the subject, and has a better translation of the decree.  Check it out here.

—————————————————————–

Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center, is surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards as he arrives for a groundbreaking ceremony in Parwan, some 34 miles, 55kms north of Kabul, Monday, March 14, 2005. Karzai was surrounded by dozens of US security personnel as he attended a ceremony of groundbreaking for a road linking the Panjshir Valley to Parwan in the district of Bayan. (AP Photo/Shah Marai, Pool)

—————————————————————–

President Karzai’s decree regarding PSCs in Afghanistan:

For tackling corruption and ensuring security of our citizens and prevention of security irregularities as well as exploitation of arms and military equipment and uniforms by the security companies which has caused some tragic incidents, after some thorough and legal review I am approving the annulment of foreign and national security companies within four months as per the following conditions.

The members of security companies who can meet the military recruitment conditions of provided that they meet the conditions they can join the police forces with or without their registered arms or weapons. And the Interior Ministry is obliged to annul it within four months from today.

For foreign companies who are registered with IM, if they agree, then the IM, Def Min and NDS will buy their weapons and the resident visas of the foreign members will be cancelled. If the companies do not agree to sell their arms their resident visas will be cancelled and they can leave the country with their arms.

Those companies who are not registered with IM their arms will be confiscated.

Embassies or diplomatic offices, NGOs who are operating in Kabul and provinces can still use their own security personnel within their premises. They should not be visible outside their premises. The number and conditions for this will be spelled out by the IM. The MOI’s must take charge of the external security of embassies,NGOs in Kabul and other provinces.

It is the MOI’s task to implement this decree.

——————————————————————

(You must sign up to read a few of these forum discussions)

SOCNET Forum discussion here.

Tactical Forum discussion here.

Lightfighter Forum discussion here.

Secure Aspects Forum discussion here.

Close Protection World Forum discussion here.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Industry Talk: Afghan Government Says Four Months To Disband All Private Security Firms

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Matt @ 12:14 PM

About 26,000 armed security contractors work with the U.S. government in Afghanistan, including 19,000 with the U.S. military, Boor said. The majority of military contractors protect convoys, though some also provide base security, said Maj. Joel Harper, a spokesman for NATO forces.

Karzai has said such responsibilities should fall to either enlisted military or police, though it’s unclear how soon Afghan forces would be ready to take on additional jobs.

Boor said private contractors were needed right now to keep development projects and military operations running.

“Since the Afghan army and the Afghan police are not quite at the stages of capability and capacity to provide all the security that is needed, private security companies are filling a gap,” Boor said.

*****

     I think this will have disastrous consequences if the whole thing is torn down in four months. What perplexes me is that Petraeus is talking with Karzai on an almost daily basis according to the general’s latest interviews. Why is no one telling Karzai and company what the reality is on the ground, or how important security contractors are to the war effort? In essence, because there is such a massive requirement for security and training, and the Afghan police and military already have plenty of work to do when it comes to actually fighting or policing, I am just kind of curious how Karzai magically expects this vacuum to be filled? Will he be making all of his military and police into guards and teachers, and have NATO and ISAF do all of his fighting and policing for him?

     But hey, it’s his country and maybe all the companies should just throw down their weapons all at once. lol If Karzai wants to be popular, this is a great way to do it for about one day. Because as soon as all the reconstruction forces refuse to go out and do anything because of a lack of security, the people will slowly start to understand what was the cause of that. There is an aid machine, and it will shut down if you mess with it. And as the Taliban take advantage of this broken aid machine, they will tell the people that Karzai is the cause of their discontent. So he might think this is a good political move right now, but this will backfire on him in the future and lead to him being removed. If not by another politician, it will be by the Taliban.

     Now the correct way for security contractors to be removed is for a conditions based withdrawal, much like with today’s military forces. A July 2011 withdrawal makes no sense, much like a 4 month withdrawal makes no sense with security contractors. There is a right way to do this, and a wrong way, and success is the only way for a withdrawal to happen. Anything else is a date of victory for your enemy.

     Of course there could be other factors at play and this is way too early to really make an accurate assessment. This could be part of the political negotiation process sparked by the anti-corruption teams that have threatened the Karzai inner circle. Or it could be a move to get more recruits for government forces by dissolving Afghan PSC’s. Stay tuned and we will see how this plays out. Hopefully Tim and other Afghan hands can chime in on what he has heard, or what he thinks is really going on. –Matt

——————————————————————

Afghan gov’t: 4 months to disband security firms

August 16, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan — A spokesman for the Afghan president says Hamid Karzai will order all private security companies in the country disbanded within four months.

Spokesman Waheed Omar says the decree is expected later Monday. It will both set the deadline and detail a process through which the companies should cease operations.

Omar spoke at a press conference in the capital and declined to give further details until the decree was released.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.S. military supports the Afghan government’s plan to dissolve private security companies and is tightening oversight of its own armed contractors in the interim, an official said Monday.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called repeatedly for banning private security companies, saying they undermine government security forces. Contractors perform duties ranging from guarding supply convoys to personal security details for diplomats and businessmen.

A presidential spokesman said last week a deadline to abolish private security contractors was imminent. In his inauguration speech in November, Karzai said he wanted to close down both foreign and domestic security contractors within two years.

Maritime Security: Attack On Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz Shows Why Armed Security On Ships Is Essential

Filed under: Al Qaeda,Maritime Security — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 1:13 AM

The lesson learned from the terrorist attack on the USS Cole – the bombing in Yemen’s Aden port in 2000 killed 17 sailors on the U.S. Navy destroyer – applied equally to supertankers, cargo vessels or cruise ships, he said: allowing small vessels alongside carries significant risks.

 Murray said companies were for various reasons reluctant to consider employing armed personnel, apparently believing security should be left to navies.

 “We believe that national navies should be reinforced by a protective presence on privately-owned ships for the same reason that banks and other firms that deal with money and money transfer use armed protective personnel who can react immediately during an event and before the local police can intervene,” he said.  

*****

     I don’t know how many other ways I can communicate the urgency here.  Today’s navies cannot be everywhere at once.  They were not able to stop this attack on a Japanese Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz (SoH), and it was pure luck that these booger eaters were not successful.  Look at the photo below?

     Let’s discuss what is at stake here. If 40 percent of the world’s oil transits through the SoH , then why are we not doing everything that is necessary to insure the SoH is not endangered by an attack on shipping like this again? If these guys destroy, or even capture a boat and purposely sink it in the SoH, that would have immense repercussions on the global economy.  A global economy already on edge and in trouble with recession. Because an attack in the SoH, would be an attack that would drive up oil prices and thus drive fuel prices through the roof.

     Now going back to the most effective strategy, and for that matter the most cost effective strategy to deal with this.  A real push by private and public leadership needs to be focused on getting the shipping industry up to speed on protecting itself.  Every boat going through the SoH should be required to have armed security that can adequately defend itself from not just one attack, but from a ‘swarming‘ attack.  Because knowing how Al Qaeda and company operate, they will more than likely attempt this type of attack again in the future and modify the attack for a better chance of success. They are learning and they will apply those lessons.

     As for the cost effectiveness? That comes from standing down Navies and limiting them to a quick reaction capacity for ships that are in trouble, as well as having them continue anti-piracy operations. Keep them on the offense. But in terms of trying to protect all ships everywhere via escort is an impossibility, and far too costly.(although I would still recommend escorting through choke points if possible, much like with the SoH)  Have the shipping industry protect it’s own assets, much like banks or jewelry stores hire security to protect their assets. A super tanker is a costly thing, with an equally valuable payload, yet companies try to go cheap when protecting these two things?  That dynamic needs to change, and having the Navies of the world allow that change to happen takes telling the shipping industry that they need to absorb this cost and take their fair share of the load in this endeavor. Besides, how does a destroyer or aircraft carrier meet the demands of the ‘many and small‘ with today’s enemies? We are talking about guys in small boats, armed with AK’s or explosive cargo?

     The other angle that I keep thinking about is the concept of Qursaans or Jihadist Privateers.  Al Shabab obviously has contacts with some of the best pirates in the world operating off the coast of Somalia.  To tap into this industry and use it for other means would not be a stretch.  A Somali pirate captain, who was the best in his industry, could take down one of these commercial ships in the SoH and then hand it, along with the hostages over to Al Qaeda.  That’s probably if Al Qaeda offered a significant bounty for such a thing. The point being is that Al Qaeda could potentially take control of a ship and either ram it into another ship, sink it in place by blowing it and it’s hostages up, or using it as a weapon against a port (one that deals in oil). The imagination is the only limit.

     Time is also not on our side.  Jihadists know that economic problems throughout the west makes this the most opportune time to attack.  That is why I declare that this is of utmost importance for armed security to be a top priority for today’s shipping, and especially those that are running through the SoH. There should be no more debate about it, no more conflicting expert analysis, no more talk about cost, or legal debates about the right of self defense on the high seas. Because at the end of the day, all of that will be shadowed by the massive economic destruction caused by such an attack or attacks.  How long will ‘wishing’ and ‘hoping’ away reality last?-Matt

Tanker Damage Caused by Attack, Inquiry Finds

Act Now on Terror Threat to Key Oil Routes, Say Experts

—————————————————————–

In this photo released by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), damage is seen on the side of the M. Star supertanker as it arrived at Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Emirates News Agency)

*****

Tanker Damage Caused by Attack, Inquiry Finds

By ROBERT F. WORTH

August 6, 2010

WASHINGTON — Investigators in the United Arab Emirates said Friday that a terrorist attack caused the mysterious damage a Japanese oil tanker suffered last week as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of future attacks in the narrow channel that serves as a passageway for shipping crude oil from the Middle East to the rest of the world.

The damage to the tanker — which an Emirati official said was caused by “homemade explosives” aboard a dinghy — was not considered serious, and there was little immediate impact on oil markets on Friday.

But the news instantly fanned worries about shipping security. If confirmed, the attack would be the first of its kind in the volatile strait, which has long been a focal point for tensions with Iran, just across the water from the Arabian Peninsula.

About 17 million barrels of oil a day pass through the strait, close to 40 percent of the oil shipped by tankers worldwide.

The account of the attack came in a report published Friday by the state-run Emirates news agency WAM, from an Emirati coast guard official.

Earlier this week, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, a militant group with ties to Al Qaeda, claimed it had carried out a suicide attack against the tanker, the M. Star.

American officials on Friday would not confirm that the episode was a terror attack, but one intelligence official said that the damage to the tanker — a large square dent on the hull’s port side — was “from an external explosion.” The official said it remained unclear whether the group taking credit for bombing the tanker was indeed involved.

Lt. John Fage, a spokesman for the Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, said that a team of Navy divers had recently traveled to Fujairah to assess the ship’s damage.

The Japanese government was conducting its own investigation. Japan’s transportation minister, Seiji Maehara, said at a news conference in Tokyo that the government had obtained samples taken from the damaged portion of the tanker and would “conduct analyses for all possible causes, without prejudice.”

The ship, loaded with two million barrels of oil, was heading toward Japan on July 28 when a sudden force shattered windows, ripped off deck railings and blew off a lifeboat, in addition to punching the dent into its black-and-red hull. One crew member was slightly hurt.

(more…)

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Paracargo: GPS-guided Parachutes May Soon Drop Blood, Medical Supplies To Wounded Troops In Afghanistan

Filed under: Afghanistan,Logistics,Medical,Paracargo — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 6:39 PM

     I like this, but I have to think, what took you guys so long to think it up?  I mean they have already been using these types of paracargo systems for years, and just now the military is thinking about using it for medical resupply?

     What really kills me is that they predict they might be up and running with the project by January? I am sorry, but this is ridiculous and so typical of how government operates.  Put the stuff in a box, and drop it out of the airplane like you would with ammo, food, and water. Surround it with as much cushioning as it takes to insure it lands in one piece, but either way, get it done.

     In the smokejumpers, we have been dropping medical paracargo for a long time.  Stuff like oxygen bottles, IV’s and whatever else the mission required. Which is another point to bring up.  If they are going to drop this kind of bundle in any kind of wooded areas, it might be wise to also have a set of tree climbing equipment that you can toss out of the aircraft as well.  Maybe something that you could drop by GPS chute, and then at a certain altitude the tree climbing box is released with a small drogue keeping it straight but still allowing for speed of the bundle.  That way the thing can plow through the trees to the ground.

     Or if the aircraft can do a low pass, they could toss out the thing as well. In the jumpers, this is how we would do it, and those boxes would plow through the trees just so the guys on the ground could get to it for tree climbing operations.   Because getting medical supplies out of a tree requires the right equipment, and you definitely do not want to keep your patient waiting because of a bundle that is hung up.

    The aircraft could also just drop another medical bundle, but if that one gets hung up in the trees or gets lost in a river or destroyed by enemy fire, it will be equally problematic.  So it pays to have some back up tree climbing equipment just to be prepared.  That is how we did it in the smokejumpers. I realize that most of Afghanistan is not that bad tree-wise, but for those areas that guys are operating in where trees are tall enough, it is something to think about.

    Another idea is to use UAV helicopters for the task. If you want to put medical supplies on the ground and with precision, use something like that.  That’s if it is too dangerous or the conditions suck for manned flight into that spot.

     But going back to the time frame for this.  Imagine how many folks have already died, just because this capability was not in place?  I say do a couple of test runs to figure out the right kind of packaging for the load, and start this program immediately. You could get this done in a week or two, and not wait until January of next year.  Lives could be saved because of it. –Matt

——————————————————————-

GPS-guided parachutes may soon drop blood, medical supplies to wounded troops in Afghanistan

By MARK PATTON

August 11, 2010

WIESBADEN, Germany — GPS-guided parachutes soon could be dropping blood supplies to medics on the battlefield, cutting down the time life-saving medical supplies reach wounded troops.

The military already uses the technology to deliver food, water and ammunition to U.S. forces in remote parts of Afghanistan. Now, the Armed Services Blood Program is working with an Army research center to put blood and other medical supplies under the parachutes instead.

If testing goes as planned, the system could be up and running by January.

Troops needing blood on the battlefield usually have to be evacuated and transported to the nearest medical facility. But evacuation is not always possible when units are under fire or if the weather prevents an emergency vehicle from traveling.

That’s when the Global Position System-guided parachutes can be a lifesaver and allow a wounded servicemember to receive blood during the critical period following an injury, said Air Force Maj. David Lincoln, Armed Services Blood Program deputy director for operations.

(more…)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress