Feral Jundi

Sunday, November 16, 2008

News: Iraqi Cabinet Approves Security Pact with US

Filed under: Iraq,News — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 12:03 PM

Iraqi Cabinet approves security pact with US

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer Qassim Abdul-zahra, Associated Press Writer Sun Nov 16, 10:13 am ET

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Cabinet on Sunday approved a security pact with the United States that will allow American forces to stay in Iraq for three years after their U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

The decision followed months of difficult negotiations and, pending parliamentary approval, will remove a major point of contention between the two allies. Parliament’s deputy speaker, Khalid al-Attiyah, said he expected the 275-member legislature to begin debating the document this week and vote on it by Nov. 24.

The U.S. government agreed last week to an Iraqi request to amend the draft. The amendment removed what al-Attiyah said was ambiguous language that could allow U.S. forces not to adhere to a timeline for their withdrawal from Iraqi cities by the end of June and from the entire country by Jan. 1, 2012.

The Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni parties making up Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government dominate parliament, so there is a good chance that the legislature will approve the security pact.

(more…)

News: Ugandans Could Lose Iraq Jobs

Filed under: Africa,News — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 1:00 AM

    Boy, wouldn’t this be something if the Ugandans had to go home because of this deal?  If that did happen, there would be a mad scramble to fill those jobs–a lot of jobs.  The other thing about this is Dreshak.  I have heard nothing but bad things about those guys, and how they have treated their recruits. –Head Jundi

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Ugandans could lose Iraq jobs

By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe

Saturday, 15th November, 2008 

 

OVER 5,000 Ugandans working as security guards in Iraq risk losing their

jobs following a business rivalry among recruiting agencies.

A Kampala businessman, Stanley Mutebi, has already secured a High Court

injunction against Dreshak International, one of the recruiting firms.

The injunction blocks Dreshak from carrying out any further recruitment and

also seeks to stop the firm from administering the Ugandans working in Iraq.

This would mean that the Ugandans would have to be returned home, according

to reliable source.

(more…)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

News: Congressional Study: PSC’s Are More Economical, Serviam

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 1:54 PM

     I posted some of this stuff about the CBO awhile back, and I wanted to bring it up again because Serviam did an outstanding job of sifting through this thing.  To me, this is the other reality that the new administration will be facing.  The poor economy right now will certainly dictate our choices in defense procurement.

     We are cost effective, and in this ‘long war’, any and all ways to save money do so will weigh heavy on the minds of the decision makers.  I also find it disturbing that Congressman Henry Waxman and his committee was so faulty in their findings.  Perhaps they need be investigated?  I am all about accountability, but I also want that investigation to be unbiased and honest.(right….-LOL) –Head Jundi

 

Congressional Study: Private Security Contractors Are More Economical

From the September/October 2008 issue of Serviam.

By Serviam staff

A new study by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finds that private security contractors in Iraq are indeed a quality, cost-effective alternative to uniformed military personnel.

The CBO study, released in August, supports contentions by the private security contractor (PSC) industry that the taxpayer receives better value when the government contracts private security companies to protect diplomats and VIPs in Iraq.

The CBO is a nonpartisan office of Congress that studies budgetary matters. The report, titled “Contractors’ Support for U.S. Operations in Iraq,” was authored by CBO National Security Division analysts Daniel Frisk and R. Derek Trunkey.

Critics have long urged that uniformed military troops perform mundane security functions like static defense of embassies and other diplomatic outposts and personal security details to protect diplomats, aid workers, intelligence officers, and visiting lawmakers and staff from Washington.

(more…)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

News: American Shot Dead in Pakistan’s Frontier Peshawar

Filed under: News,Pakistan — Tags: , , , — Matt @ 12:01 PM

   Rest in peace, whomever you are.  I can only imagine that this guy that was killed, was operating under amazing pressure and danger.  –Head Jundi 

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American shot dead in Pakistan’s frontier Peshawar

Wed Nov 12, 2008 

By Faris Ali

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Nov 12 (Reuters) – Gunmen killed a U.S. aid official on Wednesday outside his home in Peshawar, police said, the frontier Pakistani city near Afghanistan which has borne the brunt of a growing Islamist insurgency.

Spiralling violence has raised fears of instability in nuclear-armed Pakistan, whose support is seen as vital to the defeat of al Qaeda globally and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

(more…)

Friday, November 7, 2008

News: Contractors and Obama, By David Isenberg

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 10:07 PM

   Well here is that analysis I was talking about.  Check out what David had to say about Obama and contractors.  And as a disclaimer, I did not coordinate this with the guy, so I think it is pretty funny that he came out with this after I mentioned it a couple posts back. I am glad though that someone else besides me, is looking into the industry’s future under Obama. 

   So what is new?  Well, it sounds like Obama doesn’t have an issue with us.  He just wants more accountability, and I actually like that.  I think our industry does need more oversight. And I am not saying that we should be micromanaged to death by the government.  I am just saying give us some direction and some guidance is all.  Spell out exactly the terms, and get some of the ‘gray areas’ out of the industry that tend to give pause to those that have been critical.  The more the government can legitimize and give guidance to our industry, the happier the client(which is the government) will be.  

    I also like the fact that Obama wants to increase funding to DoS.  Today’s wars are not just a military battle.  It also requires a massive diplomatic effort.  And if the military is busy with other stuff, then security for DoS will have to come from contractors. I am sure the WPPS companies out there are pleased with that.

   On the down side, I was not aware of the provisions in the 2009 Defense Authorization Act.  The one I clued in on, was section 832.  It is a call for the military to do the security jobs that contractors have been fulfilling. Or if contractors are needed, that the decision to use us will be based on the discretion of the ‘relevant combatant command’. 

(more…)

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