Yep. They won it alright, and if anyone at all doubts how desperate the US government is for manpower in this war, this is proof positive. The only reason why a company like this, wins this kind of contract, is because they can deliver.
Obviously Xe is disliked by the government, but the government dislikes dead federal employees or losing the war even more. Plus time is not on their side. The administration has to show success in Afghanistan, and part of that strategy involves the civilian surge.(along with this military surge) Xe and the rest of my community are essential for that civilian surge to happen. The war strategists know this, DoS and DoD knows this, and that is just the way it is.
While big military is out killing the Taliban and doing the heavy lifting, who do you think will be doing the convoy, static and PSD work for all of these civilians? The Afghan companies? (wait, we are investigating them for their dealings with the Taliban-yikes) We could initiate the draft? (Oh, now that is even more politically unacceptable–election killer) We could use the National Guard and IRR? (wait, we are using them for the border or gulf spill clean up) Congress could vote for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan? (that would make the venture even more of a re-election killer for a congress and administration already on the ropes) We could put the call out to more countries to send troops? (wait, no one can afford to send any more–something about a world wide recession) How about some Ugandans? (already using them in Iraq) Any others?…. We could contract with DynCorp or Triple Canopy instead of Xe for this job? (we will and are already using them for this work, and DoS has already made their choice as to who is more capable at this time and for this contract/location–best value)
I guess my point is, is that using security contractors and companies like Xe is essential to the war effort at this time. That is the best way I can spell it out for the reader. How are we not, if the DoS is willing to bite it’s lip and contract with this company? How is it not if we are now in the quarter million range as far as contractor numbers in both Iraq and Afghanistan? How are we not after close to 2,000 dead and well over 40,000 injured?
For the protection of federal employees and property in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, the best forces available right now, are the ones the companies have to offer. That is this war, and that is the politics of this event. –Matt
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Firm once known as Blackwater gets Afghan contract
June 19, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — Part of the company once known as Blackwater Worldwide has been awarded a more than $120 million contract to protect new U.S. consulates in the Afghan cities of Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, the U.S. Embassy said Saturday.
The United States Training Center, a business unit of the former Blackwater, now called Xe Services, was awarded the contract Friday, embassy spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.
The company won the contract over two other American firms — Triple Canopy and DynCorps International, she said. The one-year contract can be extended twice for three months each for a maximum of 18 months.
Under the name Blackwater, the Moyock, North Carolina-based company provided guards and services to the U.S. government in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere but came under sharp criticism for its heavy-handed tactics in those missions.
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