Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Jobs: UNOPS Protection Officer(s)–Personal Security Detail, Iraq
Lots of positions and it will be interesting to hear any other details on this. The funny part about this, like most UN security job offerings, is the total lack of any specifics when it comes to weapon stuff. Maybe they plan on giving each officer a revolver and three bullets? lol All kidding aside, I would love to hear any UN folks talk a little more about these job offerings. -Matt
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Vacancy Details
Vacancy Code UNOPS/IQOC/09/027
Post Title Protection Officer – Personal Security Detail
Post Level P3 (ICS 10)*
Duty Station Baghdad, Iraq (2 positions)
Basrah, Iraq (1 position)
Kirkuk , Iraq (1 position)
Mosul , Iraq (1 position)
Najaf , Iraq (1 position)
Duration 12 months with possibility of extension subject to fund availability
Closing Date 2 July 2009
Link to Brochure Here.
Iraq: Rumblings in Falluja Threaten to Disrupt Script for U.S. Withdrawal
Mr. French, the reconstruction team leader, said, “Everyone’s feeling squirrelly now because we’re in a transition phase, where the perception was that the release of the Bucca detainees and the withdrawal of the Marines would make things worse.”
“My inclination is to say, yes, the security is worse,” he said. “Are there really any more incidents? I don’t think so.” Although the American team has not reduced its activities in the Falluja area, he said, “we keep a low profile.”
There are three things in this story to focus on. The troop withdrawals, the release of prisoners, and the threat towards contractors that are involved with reconstruction. All of those planets are in alignment for Iraq to be an active place. The insurgency will definitely try and test the Iraqi government and it’s forces with all sorts of attacks. And given the latest suicide and IED attacks, this is already starting.
There is one more factor to keep in mind, and that is the stuff going on in Iran right now. I could see Iran upping the tempo of operations in Iraq, to try and take the attention off of what’s going on in their country. That, and attacks might be used as leverage to somehow influence US actions. The rhetoric might go like this–stay out of our business in Iran, and we won’t turn on the switch in Iraq for violence. It’s just a guess, but you never know the geopolitical underpinnings of what could be going on right now over there. Either way, it is just one more factor that could contribute to possible instability in Iraq.
So with that said, the remaining security forces, meaning security contractors and military, will definitely be working hard in a rapidly evolving environment. Keep your head on a swivel guys and gals. –Matt
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June 24, 2009
Rumblings in Falluja Threaten to Disrupt Script for U.S. Withdrawal
By ROD NORDLAND
FALLUJA, Iraq — Falluja was supposed to be a success story, not a cautionary tale.
After all, by last year the city, a former insurgent stronghold, was considered one of the safest places in the country. Local Sunni sheiks had driven out the insurgent group Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia and held successful elections, and American engineers were hard at work on a showcase reconstruction project: a $100 million wastewater treatment plant meant to be a model for civilian advances in Iraq.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Military News: The Marine Corps Lioness Program and Counter-insurgency
Cool program and glad to see it having an impact. I have never heard of such a thing, and this is certainly some out of the box thinking on the part of the Marines. Maybe the companies out there should work to hire a few female security contractors in order to have this kind of capability out there? Especially if you could get a few of these Lioness veterans. Semper Fi. –Matt
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Lionesses work to improve community in local Iraq city
6/12/2009
By Byline Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty ,
Unit 2nd Marine Logistics Group
CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq —
Female Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 7, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), have been participating in civil affairs missions with the Civil Affairs Group 10, 2nd Marine Division for approximately three months in various cities surrounding Camp Korean Village, Iraq.
The women are part of an all-female team called Lioness that was first formed several years ago to implement culturally-sensitive methods of searching Iraqi women to deter the enemy’s use of females to conduct terrorist attacks.
However, Lionesses aren’t just female searchers. In fact, they now do little to no searching at all.
Iraq: Bodies of Two British Hostages Identified
Rest in peace to these men. And what really kills me about this news, is that it will be snuffed out by all the other crap going on. These contractors had been in captivity for awhile, and this is a sobering ending to a bad deal. If any of the readers have any more to add, feel free to post in the comments section. I also posted a small deal through the FJ Facebook page. –Matt
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Bodies of 2 British hostages identified
Sunday, June 21, 2009
LONDON — Two bodies handed over to British authorities in Iraq have been identified as bodyguards kidnapped in Baghdad two years ago, the government said Sunday.
The Foreign Office said the two bodies were “highly likely” those of Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, Scotland, and Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale in northwest England.
The two men worked for Canadian security firm GardaWorld and were abducted in May 2007 along with information technology consultant Peter Moore and two other bodyguards, identified only as Alan and Alec.