Every once in awhile, I like to flex my ‘Google Fu’ skills and do some digging around. Low and behold, I found an interesting little tidbit about the UAE’s mercenary army called Reflex Responses Management Consultancy LLC or R2 for short.
They just hired the services of Patton Boggs LLP for lobbying in Washington DC in the ‘trade’ department. So my question here is what does R2 plan on selling to the US? Could they offer training services, or maybe even maritime security services to US flagged vessels? Who knows, but I do know that Patton Boggs LLP is no small potatoes law firm/consultancy. They also have a long history and relationship with the UAE.
It is also interesting that all of this lobbying registration happened on 10/20/2011, which was the same time that a consulting firm registered to lobby for Maersk and International Org/Masters/Mates/Pilots. Now what I speculate is that Maersk is seeing the writing on the wall when it comes to having armed guards on boats, and they need some folks in DC to help clear things up.
Maersk is up against a Jones Act based lawsuit filed by crew members involved in the famous Maersk Alabama pirate attack that happened a few years back. They are claiming that Maersk put them needlessly at risk for not providing armed security on the boat. It would make sense that Maersk would lobby DC to alleviate some of the legal concerns about having armed guards on boats.
So how does this connect with the R2 deal? I don’t know, and maybe it is just coincidence. But it is also interesting that Secretary Clinton put out her memo in support of armed guards on boats a couple of days after these lobbyists registered. hmmmm
The other thing to note is that the UAE is on a blitz of sorts to promote anti-piracy efforts. The article I posted below lists a pretty extensive effort and strategy to tackle the problem. So does R2 play into that anti-piracy strategy?
Even if they are not connected, I think Maersk, the unions, and R2 are all interested in getting armed guards on boats. Either for capturing market share in the maritime security industry, or for liability reasons so they don’t get sued by the unions and crews for not protecting seafarers out there. Worse yet, if unions strike because vessels are not providing security, then that could have a serious impact on commerce. Hence why it behooves the government to do something about this. –Matt
Patton Boggs LLP for Reflex Responses Management Consultancy LLC
Issues: Trade (Domestic/Foreign)
Specific issue: Issues related to security consulting and related licensing matters.
Lobbyists: ?Farber, David J ?Garrett, John C ?McHale, Stephen (covered positions: Acting General Counsel, Treasury, Jan-Jun 2001; ActGCTreasury01 ) ?Oresman, Matthew Scott (covered positions: Sen.E.Kennedy,Intern,99;SenateJuducCom,LawClrck,05 )
Link to report here.
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Turner Pollard Strategies for Maersk Inc.
Issues: Defense; Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries; Taxation/Internal Revenue Code; Trade (Domestic/Foreign); Transportation
Specific issue: All issues relating to the U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine, including the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, the establishment of a Marine Highway, Cargo Preferences Statutes, the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, the Tonnage Tax, Title XI (the Federal Ship Financing Program), and the protection of U.S. merchant ships from piracy.
Lobbyists: ?Pollard, John J III (covered positions: Staff of Rep Ike Skelton ans HASC ) ?Turner, James T
Link to report here.
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Turner Pollard Strategies for International Org/Masters/Mates/Pilots
Issues: Defense; Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries; Taxation/Internal Revenue Code; Trade (Domestic/Foreign); Transportation
Specific issue: All issues relating to the U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine, including the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program, the establishment of a Marine Highway, Cargo Preference Statutes, the Harbor Maintenance Trust fund, the Tonnage Tax, Title XI (the Federal Ship Financing Program), and the protection of U.S. merchant ships from piracy.
Lobbyists: ?Pollard, John J III (covered positions: Staff of Rep Ike Skelton ans HASC ) ?Turner, James T
Link to report here.——————————————————–
UAE renews support to all military operations and critical measures aimed at ending piracy off the Coast of Somalia
Nov 18, 2011
The United Arab Emirates renewed its strong support for all military operations and critical measures aimed at improving the process of pursuing and prosecuting those responsible and involved in piracy acts, considering these measures as a strong deterrent for preventing this phenomenon from continuing.
In an intervention made by Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations Ahmed Al-Jarman before the Meeting of the Contact Group on Combating Piracy off the Coast of Somalia on Thursday at the UN Headquarters, he added : “At the same time, the UAE emphasizes that such measures are not sufficient to eliminate totally and permanently these serious acts at sea, and the international community is required to adopt a comprehensive cooperation strategy that ensures the total elimination of this phenomenon, which constitutes a form of organized crime that threatens countries and is subject to international laws”.
UAE looks forward to chair the eleventh meeting of the Contact Group on Combating piracy in 2012.
Though the United Arab Emirates is satisfied at the positive results achieved by the international community since the ninth meeting of the Contact Group in the area of reducing the incidence of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships and tankers off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, the phenomenon of piracy and its negative consequences continue to constitute a major threat not only to Somalia and other countries in the region, but also to international maritime traffic and trade as a whole. Pirates continue to develop their methods and tactics of armed robbery relying on modern techniques that helped them to expand their operations on the high seas, which is harmful to international security, peace and stability, stressed Al-Jarman.
The UAE, which has legislated laws to criminalize acts of piracy, kidnapping, smuggling in all its forms, money laundering and financing of terrorism and organized crime, is keen to strengthen its active participation in regional and international efforts aiming at combating acts of piracy and armed robbery of ships and tankers as part of its comprehensive national strategy, he said.
This strategy consists of three main pillars, which includes participation in military response, abidance to international obligation of prosecution and detention of pirates, bringing them to justice and preventing their sources of funding in accordance with international law, and strengthening its development partnership and long-term humanitarian and financial assistance to some countries in the region, particularly Somalia, in order to enable these countries to revive their national economy, Al-Jarman explained.
“My Government has also undertaken a number of initiatives in the area of combating piracy, including the organization of a high-level international conference held in Dubai last April and its contribution of one million dollar to the Trust Fund for supporting the initiatives of the Contact Group”, said Al-Jarman .
“We hope that states increase their contributions to this important fund, which constitutes a central international financing mechanism and is supported by public and private sectors to implement activities of combating piracy. The UAE would like to be a member of the managing board of this fund, which will enable it to fulfill its commitments towards combating piracy. The UAE is also preparing for hosting a second international conference for combating piracy next year, which will combine high-level representatives from the public and private sectors and will focus on building regional capacity in the fields of combating piracy, strengthening security structures in the region, and coordination of regional efforts among the various parties concerned”, he added.
Countering piracy cannot be effective without creating the fundamental changes in areas of stability and security in the Somali territory. Therefore, we urge the international community to provide the necessary funding for all initiatives and projects aiming at capacity-building of Somalia, including the assistance in the early establishment of its exclusive economic zone, enactment of the necessary national legislations for combating piracy, and providing the necessary assistance to ensure achievement of reconciliation, rule of law, building of transitional federal institutions, and enhancement of national sustainable development, in order to bring peace and stability across the country, stressed Al-Jarman .
Expressing the concern about the continuing payment of ransoms for releasing captured vessels and crews by the pirates, and its impact on growing the acts of piracy, UAE also urged all countries and stakeholders to find a practical and executive legal mechanism that prevents payment of ransom for the release of vessels, whereas the total and sustainable elimination of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea requires in the first place from all countries without exception to continue developing their national legislations for combating piracy on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions 1918, 1950 and 1967 and in accordance with the principles of international law.
Al-Jarman concluded by saying: “We hope this meeting will contribute to promoting the objectives for which this contact group was established, namely in the area of strengthening a comprehensive international strategy for combating piracy and armed robbery on the high seas” .
Story here.