Feral Jundi

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

News: PSC Prospects in Darfur

Filed under: Africa,News,Sudan — Tags: , , — Matt @ 10:22 PM

    Boy, there’s that R2P thing again.  Talk is cheap, and the Sudan and the Congo are disasters right now.  It is extremely frustrating to know that there is a capable company like Blackwater–ready to go into the fire and protect the weak, and yet we do nothing.  Good job to Mrs. Bennett for putting together a great article. –Head Jundi 

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18 Nov 2008

PSC prospects in Darfur

With the international community slow to react to the conflict in Darfur, private security companies weigh their options for entering the region, Jody Ray Bennett writes for ISN Security Watch.

By Jody Ray Bennett for ISN Security Watch

For almost five years the world has watched hundreds of thousands of Darfur civilians be massacred, raped and displaced from their families and homes.

Even though world leaders have issued calls to action, such as the 2005 international manifesto Responsibility to Protect (R2P), which called for states responsible for widespread harm to its population to face repercussions, the international community has been slow to respond to crisis in Darfur. Two years after the issuing of the R2P, approximately 200,000 to 400,000 Dafuris were dead and 2.5 million displaced.

As the US stretches its own forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has also been politically unable to justify the invasion of yet another Islamic country. China, Sudan’s closest economic, political and military ally, has failed to respond to the ongoing genocide despite its ability to do so.

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Friday, November 7, 2008

Industry Talk: PSC Urges Contractor Protections in Iraq SOFA

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 12:08 PM

     Wow, I had no idea the Professional Services Council would get involved with the process, but that is cool.  I didn’t even know they existed, and at least someone cares about us.  Although, seeing how this was sent almost a month ago, the SOFA(Status of Forces Agreement) writers and negotiators have been notified and I really haven’t seen a focus on these issues.  When the final product comes out and the agreement has been signed, then we will see if Condoleezza Rice was really listening.

   Also with the letter, they mentioned how this SOFA could impact a Afghanistan SOFA in the future.  That if you do not protect civilian contractors with a sound agreement in Iraq, that Afghanistan might push for the same type of agreement in that war zone.  It is about precedent and it is about doing the right thing, and that the DoD and DoS both have an opportunity to take a stand about how important we are in the war effort.  Especially as we draw down in Iraq, and build up in such places as Afghanistan and Africa. 

    The other thing that is interesting about the PSC, is that they are another resource you can use to bring up issues in the industry that need attention.  –Head Jundi

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PS Council Logo

 

PSC Urges Contractor Protections in Iraq SOFA

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on October 8, PSC outlined its concerns regarding the development of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Iraq that may exclude basic protections for contractor personnel supporting the military and reconstruction efforts in the country. Of particular concern is the fact that a fledgling Iraqi legal system and the general in-country environment may not provide adequate due process procedures for detained contractor personnel.

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