Afghanistan
12/17/08
Armed Contractor Oversight Directorate
W91B4N-09-T-5006
R — Professional, administrative, and management support services
12/17/08
W91B4N-09-R-5001
V — Transportation, travel, & relocation services
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Iraq
12/17/08
W91B4M-09-R-0004
S — Utilities and housekeeping services
I am sure Blackwater has been seeing the writing on the wall with this one. I would like to get a copy of this report as soon as it gets out, and do a further review. This could go one of two ways. Either the WPPS program gets abolished, and DoS makes a big push to fill the ranks with DSS folk. Think Border Patrol style recruitment, because there are a lot of diplomats out there that need protection.
The other way this goes, is Blackwater loses all of it’s privileges to submit bids on the WPPS, and the other big companies will take over. Triple Canopy and Dyncorp come to mind as a few of the other WPPS contenders.
The big one here, is capability. Blackwater has all the toys to play, to include helicopters. These other companies could get to that level of support, but it will take some time. It is also a risk for these companies, because they see how the DoS has treated Blackwater in this deal, and they probably can’t help but to think it could happen to them.
Finally, my view on this business side of this is that all the companies take turns at the top. If the WPPS program survives, a new service provider will rise to the top of the heap, and Blackwater will just stick with training or enter into new emerging markets like today’s piracy in the Gulf of Aden. In essence, the private industry will evolve and adapt, and Blackwater is a brand that won’t be going away anytime soon. –Matt
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Panel calls for dropping Blackwater guards in Iraq
12/17/2008
By MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — A State Department advisory panel is recommending that Blackwater Worldwide be dropped as the main private security contractor for American diplomats in Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.
A senior official familiar with a report commissioned by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the AP on Wednesday that the panel has called for Blackwater’s contract not to be renewed when it expires next year. A decision on the recommendation will be left to the Obama administration, which will be in place when the contract comes up for renewal in the spring.
US Marshal Service Website
EODT has current openings for Static Security Specialists in Iraq. This is a short-fused requirement and is for current secret clearance holders who can deploy on or before 20DEC2008.
Salary: $9500 monthly
Requirements:
4+ years military or LEO (tactical LEO or combat arms preferred)
25+ years of age
Nationality must be from a current member of the coalition in Iraq.
If interested, email your resume to Sarah Shelton (recruiter).
Website Here
And to provide some balance to the perception of what the media tries to present, here is the widow of a deceased Blackwater employee and her heartfelt plea for understanding. Art was killed while trying to protect employees of the US government in Iraq. His helicopter was shot down, and he is no less the hero because he was a ‘civilian pilot working for Blackwater’. Not to mention Art’s service in the military as a pilot during the war. Why is Art less of a patriot or not worthy of our respect, just because he worked for Blackwater and was killed in the line of duty? Rest in peace Art, and my heart goes out to Marybeth. –Head Jundi
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My Husband Was a Blackwater Hero
By Marybeth Laguna
Sunday, November 30, 2008; B03
My husband, Art Laguna, was a hero. He was a man of honor — he kept his word and he valued truth and honesty, and he expected no less from anyone else. His life was spent in service to his country and his family.
Here at home, Art served as a sheriff’s reserve deputy. He was a volunteer helicopter pilot and flew medical evacuation missions with the California National Guard out of Sacramento ‘s Mather Field. He was the father of four and grandfather of six.
Art was proud of his three-decade career with the U.S. Army and the National Guard. He served in Iraq three times and he deployed once to Bosnia. In 1998, he was awarded a medal of valor from the California Department of Corrections for piloting a National Guard helicopter that helped save a California man who’d been stranded by floodwaters on the roof of his car. And last June, the military awarded him the Legion of Merit for exceptional conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. I accepted this most recent honor on his behalf.
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