Feral Jundi

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Iraq: Iraq Confiscates Arms In Private Security Crackdown

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:09 AM

   I am not sure what companies they did this too, and if readers have any further info, feel free to fill in the blanks.  I certainly hope that those that are no longer armed, are able to leave safely or get on a base to get some kind of protection. –Matt

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Iraq confiscates arms in private security crackdown

09 Jan 2010

By Khalid al-Ansary

BAGHDAD, Jan 9 (Reuters) – Security forces confiscated hundreds of rifles, thousands of rounds of ammunition and other military gear in a crackdown on private security contractors in Iraq, officials said on Saturday.

Police raided three locations in Baghdad on Friday, a week after Iraqi authorities were incensed by a U.S. judge’s decision to throw out charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing over a dozen Iraqi civilians in 2007.

Officials said they are targeting private security companies that are no longer legally licensed to operate in Iraq.

“All those companies with their work permits expired are not allowed to move one metre inside Baghdad, or own one piece of weaponry,” Baghdad security spokesman Qassim al-Moussawi said.

He would not reveal how many unlicensed contractors were on the target list, or their names.

Authorities raided the headquarters of a foreign security contractor, whose name could not be immediately confirmed, on Friday night and confiscated 20,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 300 armoured shields.

In another location they found 400 rifles, helmets, radio devices and more than 35 vehicles believed to belong to the same company, officials said. No one was arrested.

(more…)

Monday, January 4, 2010

Jobs: Armed Driver, Iraq

Filed under: Government Work,Iraq,Jobs — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 11:56 PM

   This is a pretty low keyed position and is government work.  With that said, overtime and hazardous duty pay are your friend with these kinds of jobs.  It sounds like a basic armed driver position, just hauling DoD folks around to where they need to go. I am not the POC or recruiter, and follow the links and emails below in order to apply.  Good luck. –Matt

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Department:Department Of Defense

Agency:Office of the Secretary of Defense

Sub Agency:CPMS

Job Announcement Number:00091540

Job Title:VISIT COORD CELL DRIVER

Salary Range:41,210.00 – 227,300.00 USD per year

Night differential, hazardous duty pay, post differential, premium pay, sunday pay, mandatory overtime, holiday pay, etc.

Series & Grade:GS-0083,2102,0085-07/15

Open Period:Wednesday, August 12, 2009 to Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Position Information:Full-Time with high probability of OT, night, and holiday work  Detail not to exceed 1 year.  In special cases, HIGHLY QUALIFIED candidates outside of the DoD civilian workforce will be considered, based on funding availability, for Term limited appointments.

Duty Locations:

1 vacancy – Baghdad, Iraq

Who May Be Considered:

Applications will be accepted from United States citizens and nationals.  First preference is given to current DoD civilians.  If funding is available, in limited cases term limited positions may be available for outside hires.

Job Summary:

“Looking for a Job with a present and a future? Join the Department of Defense civilian workforce and take advantage of an extraordinary opportunity to serve your country. With more than 750,000 civilian employees in 700 occupations, the Department of Defense offers you outstanding career choices in support of America’s defense.”

The Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Civilian Personnel Policy) has been designated by Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) as the lead in expanding the opportunities for Department of Defense (DoD) civilians to fill Global expeditionary augmentation requirements. As result of this initiative we have received from the Joint Staff, a list of requirements for DoD Civilian Volunteers to serve. These opportunities are on Joint Task Force Headquarters staffs, supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations worldwide.

Please note that positions currently advertised have no opening or closing dates. Announcements of positions hinge only on the status of their availability. Available positions will continue to be posted on the CEW website until filled. Applicants should understand that position availability may change rapidly. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to apply without delay.First preference on these positions are given to current, permanent DoD civilians.  These positions may be filled via TDY/PCS with return rights back to your home organization after your deployment time ends.  You will keep your current grade and pay, but will be available for all applicable premium pays (Hazardous Duty, Danger Pay, Post-Differential, Sunday and Holiday Pay, etc). (more…)

Legal News: The Real Blackwater Scandal–Prosecutorial Abuse

Filed under: Iraq,Legal News — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 8:48 AM

The judge calls it “the government’s reckless violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights.” 

*****

   Finally, some push back.  This thing was highly politicized from the beginning, and the DoJ was right in there, thinking of anything they could possible do to get these guys.

   So we take a giant crap on the Marines at Haditha, or the Navy SEALs who gave a terrorist a fat lip, or the Blackwater guards who were fighting for their lives in a firefight in Iraq that resulted in civilian casualties, and yet we release hundreds of detainees from Gitmo because of a lack of evidence during their capture on the battlefield? Pfffft. The enemy is laughing at us. –Matt

Edit: 01/07/2010 – And the Washington Post weighs in with a similar theme. Judge Made The Right Call In Blackwater Case 

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The Real Blackwater Scandal

JANUARY 3, 2010

Another example of prosecutorial abuse in a political case.

No, not as the left would have it, that Blackwater still exists. The scandal is that the Justice Department’s case against five former security guards for the military contractor unraveled late last week in what appears to be another instance of gross prosecutorial misconduct, as abusive Justice lawyers went after an unsympathetic political target.

The indictments—which were thrown out by D.C. District Judge Ricardo Urbina in a derisive and detailed 90-page opinion—stemmed from a 2007 firefight in Baghdad’s Nisour Square that left 14 Iraqis dead and others wounded. The government contends that five Blackwater guards, who were providing tactical support for the State Department after an IED exploded in the vicinity of a meeting with Iraqi officials, went on an unprovoked killing spree against unarmed civilians. The guards maintain that they came under attack by insurgents and were responding in self-defense to a mortal threat.

Judge Urbina dismissed the charges because prosecutors misused sworn statements the guards were compelled to make to investigators after the shooting, under the threat of job loss. This was routine practice under military contracting rules, though the statements could not be used in criminal prosecutions. Promptly after the Nisour incident these statements were also leaked to the media, which ran with the narrative of modern-day Hessians gone berserk.

“In their zeal to bring charges against the defendants in this case,” Judge Urbina ruled, prosecutors had violated Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination by using these compelled statements to formulate their case and ultimately obtain indictments against the guards. The judge calls it “the government’s reckless violation of the defendants’ constitutional rights.”

(more…)

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Industry Talk: Iraq Spokesman Says Ex-Blackwater Employees Not Wanted In Iraq

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 2:12 PM

“I don’t think [the] Iraqi government is willing to have any Blackwater member, even if they are working in other companies, we don’t like to see them here working in any company,” al-Dabbagh said. “Instructions have been given to check if there is any Blackwater member [in the country]. I advise him to leave Iraq and not to stay in Iraq anymore.”

*****

     Interesting choice of words.  So my question is how will Iraq get this list of current and former BW guys? Keep your eye on this one, and watch yourselves out there.-Matt

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Iraq spokesman: Ex-Blackwater employees not wanted in Iraq

January 3, 2010

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ali al-Dabbagh says he hasn’t told U.S. Embassy: “I don’t think we need to consult any others”

• He says Iraq will file suit against five Blackwater security guards in 2007 deaths of civilians

• Stance follows U.S. ruling to dismiss charges against ex-Blackwater guards

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) — The Iraqi government is actively pursuing any former Blackwater personnel still working in the country, spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told CNN in an interview Sunday.

“I don’t think [the] Iraqi government is willing to have any Blackwater member, even if they are working in other companies, we don’t like to see them here working in any company,” al-Dabbagh said. “Instructions have been given to check if there is any Blackwater member [in the country]. I advise him to leave Iraq and not to stay in Iraq anymore.”

Iraq said Friday it will file suit against five Blackwater security guards cleared of manslaughter charges in the 2007 killings of 17 Iraqi civilians, an act a government official called murder. Al-Dabbagh also said Friday the Iraqi government will ask the U.S. Justice Department to appeal a federal judge’s dismissal of the charges Thursday, calling it “unfair and unacceptable.”

(more…)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Industry Talk: Peter Moore Reunited With Family As Argument Rages Over Deaths

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq,Kidnap And Ransom — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 8:38 AM

   You know, the way these security contractors were just killed and thrown away by these captors is just deplorable. It is just like how they did the guys at Crescent, and with Nick Berg. The enemy didn’t sign on to the Geneva Convention, and they could care less about your life.  Fighting to your death is probably your best option……if you even can fight to the death.  If not, and for whatever reason you do get captured, may god have mercy on your soul.  I think in that case, hope and constant dedication to any means of escape are things that will get you through.  The Code of Conduct could be somewhat of a guide, along with the industry best practice for surviving hostage situations.  Other than that, just don’t get captured. –Matt

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Peter Moore reunited with family as argument rages over deaths

January 2, 2010

Sean O’Neill, Crime and Security Editor

Peter Moore arrived back in Britain last night as criticism continued to grow of the Government’s handling of the Iraq hostage crisis.

A chartered aircraft carrying Mr Moore landed at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, shortly after 5pm. He was later reunited with his stepparents, Fran and Pauline Sweeney, at an undisclosed location.

Mr and Mrs Sweeney, from Lincoln, said that they were “thrilled to have Peter back safely”. They asked for the chance to spend some time with him.

“We have a lot of catching up to do and would like to have time with Peter on our own,” the couple said.

Mr Moore, 36, was flown from Baghdad to the Jordanian capital Amman yesterday morning, then transferred to an aircraft operated by the security company International SOS for his return to Britain. He was accompanied by consular staff from the British Embassy in Baghdad and was met at the RAF base by an official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

(more…)

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