Open publication – Free publishing
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Publications: Journal Of International Peace Operations, January-February 2011
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Thursday, December 30, 2010
Legal News: Fitzsimons Goes On Trial In Iraq Charged With Killing Two Colleagues
Who knows how this case will go? If any legal folks out there have an idea on how this might go down, I would be interested in hearing your opinion on this. –Matt
Briton goes on trial in Iraq charged with killing two colleagues
Wednesday 29 December 2010
A British security contractor charged with killing two of his colleagues after an argument in Baghdad’s Green Zone has gone on trial in Iraq.
Danny Fitzsimons, 29, from Middleton, Manchester, is charged with shooting dead another Briton, Paul McGuigan, and an Australian, Darren Hoare, in August 2009 and wounding an Iraqi guard while fleeing.
All were working for the British security firm ArmorGroup Iraq.
He is the first westerner to go on trial in an Iraqi court since a 2009 US-Iraqi security agreement lifted immunity for foreigners, and faces the death penalty if convicted.
Fitzsimons, a former soldier who served in the Parachute regiment, was in court as the guard, Arkan Mahdi Saleh, told a three-judge panel he saw Fitzsimons with a pistol before he was shot.
“I was standing at a guard post when I heard some movements behind me,” said Saleh, 33. “When I turned back to check, I saw Fitzsimons with a pistol in his hand and aiming at me.”
Fitzsimons stood behind a wooden fence with two security guards closely watching him.
At one point he asked a judge for permission to speak, but the request was refused. “I’ve got a lot to say,” Fitzsimons told his lawyer after the court adjourned.
Written testimonies from three foreign security contractors said they saw the three men drinking and quarrelling inside one of the caravans where they lived.
The case was adjourned until 23 January.
Story here.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Iraq: Oil News–Local Security Firms Running A ‘Mafia’ To Artificially Inflate Prices
This is a great little article that gives a snap shot of the current oil security business in Iraq. It also mentions the Chinese security teams operating there and some of the issues they have faced. For a quick primer on this, I posted some stuff about China’s plans in Iraq.
Basra is also really bad for this kind of thing. It is to be expected that these Iraqi companies would try to inflate prices and jerk around the oil companies. Haliburton and others should not be surprised that these local companies would be like this. –Matt
WikiLeaks cables: Iraq security firms operate ‘mafia’ to inflate prices
Halliburton executive’s comments reveal tensions between security firms, oil companies and the Baghdad government
By Rajeev Syal
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Halliburton’s senior executive in Iraq accused private security companies of operating a “mafia” to artifically inflate their “outrageous prices”, according to a US cable.
Written by a senior diplomat in the US’s Basra office, the confidential document discloses the tensions between private security firms, oil companies and the Iraqi government as coalition forces withdraw from protecting foreign business interests.
John Naland, head of the provincial reconstruction team in Basra, wrote in January this year that several oil company representatives complained of “unwarranted high prices” given an improving security situation since 2008.
“Halliburton Iraq country manager decried a ‘mafia’ of these companies and their ‘outrageous’ prices, and said that they also exaggerate the security threat.
“Apart from the high costs for routine trips, he claimed that Halliburton often receives what he says are ‘questionable’ reports of vulnerability of employees to kidnapping and ransom. He said that he recently saw an internal memo from their security company which tasked its employees to emphasize the persistent danger faced by IOCs [international oil companies].” Naland wrote.
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Publications: Contractor Support Of USCENTCOM AOR, 4th Quarter FY 2010
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Monday, December 20, 2010
Jobs: Foreign Service Security Protective Specialist, OCONUS
This is cool. I signed up for job alerts with the DoS awhile back, and they sent me this one today. I have gotten other job alerts from them for all sorts of interesting stuff, but this is the first security related job. With that said, this would be another deal you could add to your job seeking machine.
Of course this job is geared towards my American readers, and that is the way it goes. And based on the DoS’s current plans with WPS, they are going to need a ton of these SPS’s to help keep everything running smoothly.
Also, don’t let the pay throw you off either. With this kind of work, it is all about the over time pay/danger pay/post differential pay, and all of that can add up pretty nicely. I am not the POC for this job, and please follow the directions below if you want to apply. Good luck and let me know how it goes. –Matt
Announcement No: SPS-11-01
Opening Date: December 20, 2010
Closing Date: January 20, 2011
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE SECURITY PROTECTIVE SPECIALIST
Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-06: $44,737 per annum*
Additional Benefits: Tax-Free Housing Overseas; Danger Pay; Post Differential; Overtime Compensation; Holiday Pay and Holiday Premium Pay; Night Shift Differential; Accrual of Annual and Sick Leave; Life Insurance; Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHB); Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS); Separate Maintenance and Educational Allowances; Compensation for Disability or Death (Details available online at Compensation and Benefits.)
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-order register to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Diplomatic Security Protective Specialist (SPS) vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service. Applications are accepted ONLY during the period specified above.
Area of Consideration: All Sources.
Location: All assignments will be directed by the Department according to the needs of the Service. Assignments may be to any high or critical threat Foreign Service post abroad. Initial training and orientation will be held in the Washington, DC area.
* Includes the 16.52% Overseas Comparability Payment.
SPECIAL NOTICES
Please go to www.usajobs.opm.gov for application instructions.
Successful applicants are appointed to the Foreign Service as Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) employees with a federal benefits package.
Appointments will be made for an initial 13-month period and may be renewed annually up to a maximum of five years.
Overseas tours are unaccompanied.
There is no conversion mechanism to a career Foreign Service position. SPSs are encouraged to apply to become a Foreign Service specialist, but must meet the applicable qualifications and complete the standard application and assessment process.
The appointment may be terminated by the US Government at any time upon at least 30 days notice unless the termination is for cause. In this case, the 30 days notice is not applicable.
The SPS may terminate the appointment by written notification at least 30 days in advance.
Benefits Package
The following are some of the more significant benefits to employment in the Foreign Service:
1. Danger Pay – based upon post of assignment: Afghanistan – 35% of base pay; Iraq – 35% of base pay; Peshawar, Pakistan – 35% of base pay.
2. Post Differential – based upon post of assignment: Afghanistan – 35% of base pay; Iraq – 35% of base pay; Peshawar, Pakistan – 30% of base pay.
3. Overtime – OT may be expected and is paid at the rate of 1.5 times the hourly rate.
4. Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA) – while assigned to unaccompanied posts, SPS employees are eligible for SMA. The SMA is an annual grant determined by the number of dependents and ranges from $6,000 for one child to $20,200 for an adult dependent if there are 4 or more family members. The SMA is non-taxable.
5. R&R – Kabul, Peshawar and Baghdad are all under a generous leave/R&R allowance program (usually taken at 50-60 day intervals). Kabul and Baghdad allow 2 R&Rs and 3 Regional Rest Breaks (RRBs) or 3 R&Rs and no RRBs. Peshawar allows 2 R&Rs and 1 RBB. R&Rs provide round-trip transportation to any point in the United States. Time usually allowed is approximately two weeks. In addition to the Annual Leave allowance (addressed below), at post discretion, a limited amount of administrative leave may also be authorized to be used while on R&R.
6. Paid Annual Leave – federal employees earn Annual Leave (AL) based upon the following formula.
If less than 3 years federal service – 4 hours a pay period (26 pay periods in a calendar year);
If between 3 and 15 years federal service – 6 hours a pay period;
If more than 15 years federal service – 8 hours a pay period. Former military service – time spent in the US military is credited towards the annual leave allowance unless the employee is retired from the military. If retired and receiving retired pay, then form SF-813 (Verification of a Military Retiree’s Service) must be submitted before a determination can be made as to creditable service.
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