‘Lost’, From LMS Defense-The Comics
Artwork by Righteous Duke
Friday, October 16, 2009
War Art: ’Lost’, From LMS Defense-The Comics
Comments Off on War Art: ’Lost’, From LMS Defense-The Comics
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Jobs: Disaster Response Team Member, Texas
Work is work guys, and AGNA is putting together some stuff. Who knows, this contract might be incredibly ‘well managed’, and I would hope after the Kabul fiasco, they would have their stuff squared away by now.
Or not. Just be prepared to run away if they crack open a bottle of Vodka at any company parties. (I had to say it-hee hee) –Matt
—————————————————————–
Disaster Response Team Member
Job ID: 2009-1966
Location: US- Texas
Category: Security Services – Fixed Site
Type: Temporary (TMP)
More information about this job:
Overview:
ArmorGroup North America is seeking qualified security professionals to assist with a number of commercial contracts we hold throughout the Gulf Coast region. The candidate must be able to travel on short notice and able to work in austere conditions for up to 30 days at a time.
Responsibilities:
Entry/Exit access control
Asset protection
General security duties related to disaster response
Qualifications:
Must be a U.S. Citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
Proficiency in English (Written or Spoken)
Current or prior security experience, 3 years, this includes police and military
Pass Urine Drug Screening and show proof of negative results
State and local law enforcement officers must provide training certificate and proof of current employment
Experience with Entry/Exit Access
Comfortable with Roving Patrol up to 12 hours per day across long distances.
Familiarity with securing facilities and/or vehicles at a fixed location.
Physically capable of standing a 12-hour post
TEXAS:
Must hold a current Level III or Level IV Security Officer Commission* issued by Texas Depart of Public Safety.
*”Security officer commission” means an authorization issued by the commission that entitles a security officer to carry a firearm.
Comments Off on Jobs: Disaster Response Team Member, Texas
Military News: U.S. Troop Funds Diverted to Pet Projects
Thanks to Doug for passing on this story. If this doesn’t make your blood boil, I don’t know what would. –Matt
—————————————————————–
U.S. troop funds diverted to pet projects
October 15, 2009
Shaun Waterman THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis.
Among the 778 such projects, known as earmarks, packed into the bill: $25 million for a new World War II museum at the University of New Orleans and $20 million to launch an educational institute named after the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.
While earmarks are hardly new in Washington, “in 30 years on Capitol Hill, I never saw Congress mangle the defense budget as badly as this year,” said Winslow Wheeler, a former Senate staffer who worked on defense funding and oversight for both Republicans and Democrats. He is now a senior fellow at the Center for Defense Information, an independent research organization.
Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, called the transfer of funds from Pentagon operations and maintenance “a disgrace.”
“The Senate is putting favorable headlines back home above our men and women fighting on the front lines,” he said in a statement.
Comments Off on Military News: U.S. Troop Funds Diverted to Pet Projects
Somalia: CSS Global Inc. Wins Contract to Protect Somali Government From Terrorism, Pirates
I do not have anything to say about CSS Global Inc., and maybe a reader or two can chime in about this company? I think it is great they got the contract, and hopefully guys will get a few jobs out of this. I will not endorse them though, because I have never heard anything good or bad.
One other thing. I have no idea if they are hiring either, so please do not send me resumes for this. Go through their website that I posted below, to find out more.
On an initial search in the career section, I did not see anything posted, and the hiring could be all going on through back channels. My guess is they have everyone they need, but you never know and it wouldn’t hurt to send them a resume for this anyway. –Matt
—————————————————————-
Ada company wins contract to protect Somali government from terrorism, pirates
By Ted Roelofs
The Grand Rapids Press
October 15, 2009
A Grand Rapids-based security firm is taking on a job few would envy: Protect the transitional government of Somalia, a failed state and breeding ground for terrorism and international piracy.
According to the Somali government, CSS Global Inc. has been contracted to provide security consulting services and training for government forces.
In a statement released Wednesday, Somali special envoy H.E. Ali Hassan Gulaid said he is “confident the expertise of the CSS Global senior staff will prove to be a valuable asset to us in our efforts to establish a safe and secure Somalia for our citizens.”
CSS Global, an affiliate of Ada-based CSS Alliance, has furnished counterterrorism services in other African nations and provided security and logistics in Iraq. Its operations team comprises former military and law enforcement personnel, including Special Forces.“It is going to be a huge challenge,” said Chris Frain, chief executive officer and co-owner of CSS Alliance. “This is a brand-new government being stood up with the help of the international community.”
Frain said he is optimistic CSS can get the job done.
“Our protective operations team has the experience and focus to provide strategic security services and support operations in any situation,” he said.
Strategy: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Grand Strategy, By David Isenberg
Awesome. This is the kind of conversation we need to have out there, and I applaud David for his work on trying to start that conversation. And just a hint to the guys over at Small Wars Journal, or anyone else that claims to be students of this war and strategy. There are over 240,000 civilian contractors in this war, with 1,168 killed and over 37,000 injured. Why there is no mention of PMC’s/contractors and grand strategy in the same sentence, is beyond me. We are very much a part of this war, and we do have an impact on strategy for these wars and future wars. –Matt
—————————————————————–
Private Military Contractors and U.S. Grand Strategy
10/15/2009
The debate over whether and how to utilize private military contractors (PMC) often seems like childish name calling, e.g. “You’re a mercenary.” Such rhetoric is silly and prevents people from facing underlying realities.
What nobody wants to discuss is that the U.S. government’s huge and growing reliance on private contractors constitutes an attempt to circumvent or evade public skepticism about the United States’ self-appointed role as global policeman. The U.S. government has assumed the role of guarantor of global stability at a time when the American public is unwilling to provide the resources necessary to support this strategy. Private contractors fill the gap between geopolitical goals and public means.
As the United States relies more heavily upon military contractors it reinforces the tendency to approach global crises in a unilateral, as opposed to multilateral manner. U.S. use of PMCs is inevitable until people grasp the key point: contracting is both part of war and part of maintaining a global military hegemonic presence.
Such a policy is not without problems. As Adam Smith wrote in the Wealth of Nations about his experience of the corporations that were contracted to perform British government services — such as the East India Company, the Halliburton of its day, left him too skeptical to suggest privatization: “These companies… have in the long-run proved, universally, either burdensome or useless.”
ISBN : 978 82 7288 324 8 • Isenberg Private Military Contractors PRIO Report 1-2009.pdf
Comments Off on Strategy: Private Military Contractors and U.S. Grand Strategy, By David Isenberg