I wanted to point out a couple of things that bother me about today’s articles about contractors. I read a lot of them, and there is a definite model of article that all of these journalists are following–or so it seems. For example, it is rare that a journalist forgets to mention something about Blackwater (Xe), any time they want to talk about anything relating to contractors. The story could be about contractors handing out shower shoes to poor Iraqi families, and the reporter will throw in the standard story about Blackwater killing 13 civilians in cold blood…. (ad nauseam)
Ok, we get it. We know that story already, and it is like beating a dead horse every time these guys do that. It would be like mentioning the Haditha incident, every time there was a story about the military–good or bad. But it seems like the media is really hung up on doing it with our industry, as if they are like zombies, filling in the blanks on some contractor related report software. Shower shoes…check. Iraq…check. Contractor does this (fill in the blank). check. Blackwater killed 13 civilians…check. And now you have an article! Pffft.
The other one I wanted to hit on, is when is it journalistic, to write as a source ‘in recent online postings’? I am a blogger, and even I take the time to point out the link to where I got the info from. For this article, I have a wonderful little link down below, just so people know where this came from. But ANNE FLAHERTY has felt that being vague with her source was acceptable. Did she get it from a blog, a forum, or what? Was it FedBizOp?(that would be my guess, but who knows?). Either way Anne, if you are reading this, guys like me and Jake and the rest of the crew, like knowing where you got your info from. Not because of credit reasons, but because if you have found some jobs for our industry, we would like to know about it so we can tell our community. That’s all.
With that said, I will assume she has probably been cruising the same jaunts that our crew has been cruising for info, and what she has said is not that new to us. I did want to post this as a flag though, that Afghanistan is picking up for contracts and now the media is catching on. I have posted several gigs lately, to include that Cohort deal. And Anne did mention a few things that I totally agree with and wish that the government would work on. So not all is lost with this article. lol
Let’s try this. Iraq could be viewed as a big testing site for the proof of concept called security contracting. And right now, there are plenty of resources, organizations, papers, subject matter experts, legal experts, laws and attention on the subject, to really formulate a solid plan on how to use us properly out there. It just means getting off of your ass, and doing what you have to do to make it happen.(this is totally directed at the Obama Administration and Congress right now) You guys are the leaders and this is your ship. Afghanistan is something we need to get serious with, and by not dealing with these issues is dangerous. If you do not, I guarantee that we will have another Blackwater type incident, and another company will be skylined as the flagship of all that is bad with the war in Afghanistan, and we will be set back even further in this fight. You know the Taliban will do all they can to set it up, and take advantage.
The industry begs you to do something about this, so we can be more effective in this war effort. Einstein had a great quote for leaders or anyone that does not learn from past mistakes. “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” –Matt
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Military hangs `Help Wanted’ sign in Afghanistan
By ANNE FLAHERTY
March 21, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — The military buildup in Afghanistan is stoking a surge of private security contractors despite a string of deadly shootings in Iraq in recent years that has called into question the government’s ability to manage the guns for hire.
In recent online postings, the military has asked private security companies to protect traveling convoys and guard U.S. bases in troubled southern provinces such as Helmand and Kandahar. And if truckers hired to transport fuel for the military want protection, they can hire their own armed guards, the military says.
The Bush administration expanded the use of such companies with the onset of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan because it can save the military time and money. But the practice lost much of its appeal with Congress after September 2007, when five guards with what was then called Blackwater Worldwide (the company recently changed its name to Xe) opened fire in a crowded Baghdad square and killed 17 Iraqis.
Those killings followed a 2006 incident in which a drunken Blackwater employee fatally shot an Iraqi politician’s bodyguard.
