DoS « Feral Jundi

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Industry Talk: Were ArmorGroup Allegations Quashed?

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: Afghanistan, ArmorGroup, DoS, Krongard, private contractors, private security contractors, security contracting — Matt @ 10:35 AM

Attkisson asked Krongard about the conflict of interest:

Attkisson: Did you know your own brother was on ArmorGroup’s board of directors?

Krongard: No , I did not.

Attkisson: Why didn’t you know?

Krongard: Dunno. I guess No. 1 I’m not sure why I should’ve known, but No. 2 he never told me.

*****

Come on!…… You have to be kidding me, right? Howard had no idea that his own flesh and blood was a member of AGNA’s board of directors? Pfffft.

This just keeps getting better and better. All of this, because a few leaders did not have the courage to do what is right. –Matt

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Were ArmorGroup Allegations Quashed?

State Department Inspector Gen.’s Office “Lost” Complaint against Troubled Security Co.

By Sharyl Attkisson

09/30/2009

Howard Krongar’s job was to investigate alleged misconduct at the U.S. embassy in Kabul. Sharyl Attkisson reports on how one of his personal relationships may have prevented him from doing so.

A hearing has been held over the recently-leaked photos which reveal allegedly lewd behavior by employees hired to provide security for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Sharyl Attkisson reports.

John Gorman, a former manager with ArmorGroup, the private company hired to provide security at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul details what he knew and what happened when he tried to stop it.

Krongard is accused of improperly burying legitimate allegations against security contractors Blackwater and ArmorGroup while, and perhaps because, his brother sat on the boards of directors of those compines while he was charged with investigating them.

(more…)

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Monday, September 14, 2009

Video: CSPAN–Wartime Contracting in Afghanistan and Iraq: DoS and the Kabul Fiasco

Filed under: Afghanistan,Video — Tags: Afghanistan, CSPAN, DoS, security contracting, Video, wartime contracting — Matt @ 8:38 AM

I am watching this right now, and it is fascinating. They talk about ‘Snack Pack’ (dressing like Afghans and going outside the wire to do a recon) and the hazing stuff. Lots of interesting little tidbits being covered in this deal.

The overall impression that I get, is that this hearing is bashing the crap out of State for not doing anything about this stuff when it was brought up, time and time again over the years. This contract has been a joke for awhile, and State could care less about squaring it away. –Matt

Edit:

The most profound thing in this whole deal was Samuel Brinkley alluding to the idea that the Snack Pack was condoned by the State Department. (Snack Pack was the group that did the recon outside the wire–big no, no, and definitely not in the contract)

I will applaud him for the apologies to the industry, and that is the least he could do. Although I am not too convinced that he is the right guy for that VP job with Wackenhut. He didn’t even know what a Gurkha was, and he actually thought that all of his Nepalese guards on the contract at the Embassy were Gurkhas. LOL

Oh, and the AGNA supervisor that put together that Rat Poster (friends do not rat on friends…..), is an idiot. You know who you are, and guys like you do not deserve to be in management or even in this industry. –Matt

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Industry Talk: State’s Inspector General Says Failed Oversight on Armor Group ‘Will Be Made Public’

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: Armor Group, DoS, Industry Talk, oversight, security contractors, State Department — Matt @ 7:35 AM

Great! State has a lot of answering to do in regards to managing this thing, and I am glad to hear that the IG will be going to town on these clowns that exhibited such poor leadership and oversight. I also hope that the State Department will have the guts to do what is right, and fire some folks as well. Although I see that as a little bit tougher, because it is damn near impossible to fire anyone in government. –Matt

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State’s Inspector General Says Failed Oversight on ArmorGroup ‘Will Be Made Public’

By Spencer Ackerman

9/9/09

At a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on Afghanistan, the State Department’s inspector general, Howard Geisel, made his first public comments about ArmorGroup, the State Department security contractor accused of physical and sexual harassment. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) asked Geisel, whose office has opened an investigation into the oversight of ArmorGroup’s contract to protect the U.S. embassy in Kabul, “who bears responsibility” for the company’s abuses.

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Saturday, September 5, 2009

Industry Talk: The Kabul Fiasco and Moving Forward

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk — Tags: Armour Group, DoS, eeben barlow, embassy, Jake Allen, Kabul, Tim Lynch — Matt @ 8:07 AM

I don’t have much to say, because the acts of these individuals and the lack of leadership at Armour Group and DoS speak volumes. I guess the only thing not being said in this whole deal, is bravo to the whistleblowers for having the courage to do what is right. That takes guts, to put it all on the line and call out your employer like that. You guys had the courage to do what is right.

The other thing I want to applaud in this deal, is the outpouring of commentary and passion on the subject by our small community of security contractors and bloggers. The media and public should take note that we do care about what you think, and that the acts of these few individuals, and the non-action of companies and governments, have disgusted us as well.

We are also getting tired of being hated, and for those of you looking for the way forward, I highly suggest you develop your own personal plan on how to be the best you can be on your contract. Your actions, could stop another incident like this. Your act of outstanding leadership and professionalism, will motivate others, and bring honor and respect upon your crew and this industry. Use the key elements of Jundism, and get your Kaizen on. –Matt

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Boys Gone Wild!!! The Kabul Edition, by Jake Allen

Is It Just Me?, by Eeben Barlow

Animal House: The Real Story, by Tim Lynch (This is an outstanding post, because of Tim’s experience at the Embassy)

Problems at the U.S. Embassy in A’stan, SOCNET Forum Thread

Career SEPPUKU: U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan Fires Lewd Guards, Tactical Forums Thread

WSI/Armor Group Afghanistan Embassy, Secure Aspects Forum Thread

Drank Vodka Poured Off Each Other’s Exposed Buttocks?, Lightfighter Forum Thread

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Project on Government Oversight

Sep 04, 2009

State Department Rescinds Two Resignations, Revokes Security Clearances

We’ve just received word about some of the ArmorGroup guards who have left the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. Originally, two guards had resigned before news broke of the misconduct. We’ve heard from sources on the ground that the State Department has rescinded the pair’s resignations, fired the guards, and revoked their security clearances, meaning they won’t be able to work again as a government contractor in a war zone. In addition to the other eight dismissals that have been announced, this is a good step towards holding to account those responsible for the misconduct.We are concerned, however, that some of the dismissed contractors were younger guards coerced into the depravity. So far we’ve seen good, swift action, but we should be careful not to punish those that may have been victimized.

(more…)

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Quotes: DoS Department Spokesman on Contract Oversight

Filed under: Afghanistan,Funny Stuff,Quotes — Tags: Afghanistan, Armor Group, Blackwater, contract oversight, DoS, Funny Stuff — Matt @ 9:59 AM

This just says it all. I mean everyone has seen the pictures and heard all the crap with Armor Group at the Embassy, but to me, this was the most relevant bit of information about the whole deal. It is also the funniest quote ever. Jake put it up on PMH too. Enjoy. –Matt

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DoS Department Spokesman

Daily Press BriefingWashington, DC

September 1, 2009

AFGHANISTAN

QUESTION: But if you could just describe that and what is DS’s role.

MR. KELLY: Sure. I mean, DS’s role, I think, is mainly to over -the oversight of the guard program. But that’s a good question, and we’ll get you the info on it.

QUESTION: And what is the oversight of this particularcontractor? Does DS have an oversight of that contractor? Becausein the whole Blackwater situation there was a lot of complaintsthat DS didn’t have enough oversight over the contractors. So who specifically –

MR. KELLY: Well, I do have a specific answer to that question.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. KELLY: The contracting officer is assigned here inWashington, D.C., and that person has overall responsibility for oversight of the contract and participates in weekly meetings between the program office and AGNA, or the Armour Group. And this person is also the one who has interactions on a more frequent basis –

QUESTION: From here?

MR. KELLY: From here in Washington.

QUESTION: So there’s no adult supervision of this contractor on the ground?

MR. KELLY: I’m getting to that.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. KELLY: In Kabul, there are two assistant Regional Security Officers designated as the contracting officer’s representative and assistant contracting officer representative, respectively. There is also always a duty RSO who deals with the routine guard force matters such as access requests and on-compound events. So that’s – I guess that goes some way to answer your question. Right? It does appear that they do have the guard force responsibility.

QUESTION: Meaning the Armour Guard force?

MR. KELLY: Well, I mean, it’s an embassy guard force, and Armour has the contract for it. Can we –

QUESTION: To guard the perimeter of the embassy? Is that what they do?

MR. KELLY: Well, let’s find out exactly.

QUESTION: Okay.

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