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Monday, February 9, 2009

Afghanistan: Blast Kills Two Contractors

Filed under: Afghanistan — Tags: Afghanistan, bombs, deaths, security contracting — Matt @ 9:39 AM

Sad deal, and the point to bring up in this story, is booby trapping IED’s with remote detonation of that IED. In Iraq and elsewhere, it is very common to have an attack, followed up with an attack. The point is to draw in the QRF or emergency folks, or draw in folks who think the bomb is defused, and then initiate the secondary bomb. It is very difficult to defend against, and a common tactic of the bomber. Rest in peace, and my heart goes out to the families of the deceased and injured. –Matt

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Afghan blast kills two US nationals

February 8, 2009

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) — A bomb killed four people, including two US nationals, in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand Sunday, a police commander said, in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

The explosion was in the dangerous Nad Ali district, one of Afghanistan’s main opium-growing areas, where Taliban insurgents are said to earn money by protecting the lucrative crop from US-backed efforts to eliminate it.

The US and NATO-led military forces confirmed the blast but not the casualties.

The group had been checking an improvised explosive device that they believed had been defused, Helmand deputy police chief Kamalodin Khan told AFP.

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Friday, January 30, 2009

Iraq: Blackwater Says It Could Leave Iraq with 72 Hours

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: Blackwater, DoS, Iraq, security contracting — Matt @ 1:45 PM

And as a follow up to the last story, this sounds more and more like a game of poker. We will see what DoS does. –Matt

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Blackwater says it could leave Iraq with 72 hours

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press writer Mike Baker, Associated Press Writer Thu Jan 29, 4:54 pm ET

MOYOCK, N.C. – Blackwater Worldwide, which guards American diplomats in Iraq, said Thursday it would be prepared to leave that country within 72 hours after Iraqi officials denied the North Carolina-based company an operating license because of a deadly shooting spree in Baghdad.

But Blackwater founder Erik Prince told The Associated Press that while losing the State Department contract would hurt the company, the move would cause more harm to the diplomats it has protected since soon after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

“Our abrupt departure would far more hurt the reconstruction team and the diplomats trying to rebuild the country than it would hurt us as a business,” Prince said Thursday in an exclusive interview with the AP.

Iraqi officials said the lingering outrage over a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead led to its decision.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Iraq: Iraq to Deny New License to Blackwater Security

Filed under: Iraq — Tags: Blackwater, Iraq, security contracting — Matt @ 8:53 PM

I think the key word is preferred contractor, because Blackwater brings a lot of toys and capability to the table. I guess we will see if in fact, they do go away. –Matt

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Iraq to Deny New License To Blackwater Security

U.S. Embassy’s Preferred Contractor Accused of Killings

By Ernesto Londoño and Qais Mizher

Washington Post Foreign Service

Thursday, January 29, 2009; A12

MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 28 — The Iraqi government has informed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that it will not issue a new operating license to Blackwater Worldwide, the embassy’s primary security company, which has come under scrutiny for allegedly using excessive force while protecting American diplomats, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry conveyed its decision to U.S. officials in Baghdad on Jan. 23, in one of the boldest moves the government has made since the Jan. 1 implementation of a security agreement with the United States that sharply curbed American power in Iraq.

Blackwater employees who have not been accused of improper conduct will be allowed to continue working as private security contractors in Iraq if they switch employers, Iraqi officials said Wednesday.

The officials said Blackwater must leave the country as soon as a joint Iraqi-U.S. committee finishes drawing up guidelines for private contractors under the security agreement. It is unclear how long that will take. Blackwater employees and other U.S. contractors had been immune from prosecution under Iraqi law.

“When the work of this committee ends,” Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said, private security companies “will be under the authority of the Iraqi government, and those companies that don’t have licenses, such as Blackwater, should leave Iraq immediately.”

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Podcasts: Combat Operator Radio Interviews Doug Brooks, CEO of IPOA

Filed under: Podcasts — Tags: Combat operator, IPOA, Podcasts, radio, security contracting — Matt @ 3:14 PM

This was a great interview between Jake and Doug Brooks of IPOA. The scope of the conversation was outstanding, and both talked a lot about the role of contractors in today’s wars and peace and stability operations. They even discussed the new administration and what the feeling in Washington DC is about the industry.

As for Doug’s predictions–more peace and stability related operations contracts in Africa. Hillary Clinton’s tone will be changing over time, because of the reality of the situation on the ground in places like Iraq.(she was pretty negative on contractors during her Presidential campaign) That contracts in the future will be more about working with local nationals and that to be competitive in the industry, you must show some proficiency working with local nationals.(which in the scope of the industry, is nothing new)

It was a great little podcast at about 27 minutes, and it was a treat to listen and learn a little from these two. Also, as a heads up, Eeben Barlow of Executive Outcomes fame will be on Combat Operator Radio on January 29, 2009. Be sure to check it out. –Matt

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Job Tips: Danger Zone Jobs Blog

Filed under: Job Tips — Tags: Afghanistan, Danger Zone Jobs, Iraq, Jobs, security contracting — Matt @ 12:29 AM

I have been a big fan of Danger Zone Jobs(the job hunting website) for awhile now, and really is a great resource. The blog though is a new feature, and a good one to put on your RSS reader.

On a side note, check out the free report they put together for 2008. Lots of surprises, and the report gives a better picture as to the make up of defense contractors out there. I focus primarily on the security end of things here at FJ, but Danger Zone Jobs covers it all out there, and it really is interesting to check out the various other opportunities.

A great finding of the report, that to me was a no brainer, was the idea of how important networking really is. The polls of the report completely back that up. I thought the internet and forums would have a stronger showing as to sources of jobs, but really, networking was the clear leader for getting jobs in this study. Check it out. –Matt

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About DZJ

William Beaver – Editor/Publisher DZJ

From 1992-2008, I worked in Kuwait as a partner in a company that provided signage, printing and publishing services for the military and contractors, mostly reproducing military documents and manuals, creating publications, making outdoor signage etc.

In the course of this, I kept hearing soldiers asking how the guys in CSA, MPRI and the rest found their jobs. Many of the civilians working for private companies also talked about looking for their next job, but not knowing where to start, or not having time to go chasing around the internet looking for openings.

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