Feral Jundi

Monday, February 28, 2011

Legal News: Fitzsimons Gets Life Sentence In Iraq, Escaping Hanging

Filed under: Industry Talk,Iraq,Legal News — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:13 AM

     Interesting verdict. Thanks to Carmen for giving me the heads up on this story and this is hopefully the final chapter on a very tragic incident.

     This is also significant because this is the first Western contractor to be prosecuted and convicted of a crime in Iraq. –Matt

UK contractor gets life sentence in Iraq, escaping hanging

February 28, 2011

An Iraqi judge sentenced a British contractor to life in prison Monday, sparing him the death penalty.

Daniel Fitzsimons, 30, was charged with murder in the 2009 shooting deaths of two colleagues in Baghdad, in the first trial of a Westerner in Iraq since the Iraq War started in 2003.

He pleaded not guilty, telling a three-judge panel that he shot the two men in self-defense.

The judge who sentenced him said he didn’t give him the death penalty “because you’re still young and because of the circumstances of the crime,” he said.

Fitzsimons smiled and thanked the judge when he heard the verdict Monday.

The victims were Paul McGuigan, a British national, and Darren Hoare, an Australian. Fitzsimons was also accused of the attempted murder of a guard.

(more…)

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Industry Talk: FBO–USACE Looking For Interested Companies For Possible Security Support Contract, Afghanistan

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk,Iraq — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 5:15 PM

     Not that companies who are in the mix don’t already know about this FBO posting, but still I figured I would put it out there for the rest of the industry to check out.  From the sounds of it, this contract would be similar to the remote bases that USACE used to run in Iraq for the CMC projects.  Those were cool contracts because contractors did it all at those camps.  From PSD missions to convoy security, and of course static security–security contractors were vital assets.

     What would be different here is the increased use of aviation transport.  In Iraq you could convoy everywhere and aviation was not used as much for these CMC camps.  But in Afghanistan, air transport and the security that goes with it would be a big part of this contract.

     The other difference is that USACE is probably doing a different mission with this contract than clearing munitions.  Reconstruction could mean all sorts of things and who knows what they will be building? We will see if they fly this one or not, because this is still in the beginning research phase. –Matt

R–Afghanistan Reconstruction Security Support Services for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Solicitation Number: W912ER11R0050

Agency: Department of the Army

Office: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Location: USACE Middle East District

Synopsis:

Added: Feb 02, 2011 11:04 pm

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Middle East District, is publishing this sources sought notice to solicit responses from firms interested in and capable of providing the following services throughout Afghanistan: comprehensive security, operations, transportation, aircraft, and intelligence services to secure and account for Afghanistan Engineering District-North (AEN) and Afghanistan Engineering District-South (AES) personnel, provide all forms of transportation services, provide quality assurance activities to include construction, nationwide operational oversight, intelligence analysis, production of intelligence products, convoy transportation and security, fixed/rotary wing air-transportation services, personal protective services, static site security, community liaison activities, local atmospherics, supply and maintenance of armored vehicles, establishment, maintenance and management of a nationwide, visual map-based satellite tracking product, establishment, maintenance and management of a nationwide voice and text communication network, and vetting of third-party employees. The contemplated contract awarded from a solicitation for this work will constitute an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract as defined in FAR 16.504. Task orders will be Firm-Fixed Price (FFP).

(more…)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Maritime Security: ICS Changes Policy, Backs Private Armed Guards To Beat Pirates

Filed under: Maritime Security,Somalia — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 2:03 AM

     Polemis said the decision had been made during a meeting in London last week because “many shipping companies have concluded that arming ships is a necessary alternative to avoiding the Indian Ocean completely, which would have a hugely damaging impact on the movement of world trade.” 

     This is big folks.  News like this can invigorate the demand for armed private security on boats and really fire up this aspect of the industry.  Which is good, because there are a ton of capable veterans/security specialists out there ready to jump on this stuff.

    Hell, with most of these maritime contracts being very short in duration, I could see guys actually planning to do a contract here or there just for a change of pace from Iraq or Afghanistan.  But on the down side, these short term contracts are what turns off some folks.  Meaning sometimes guys like stability within their contract, and they like to hang their hat on a good gig for awhile.

     And for the guys that are truly experienced and qualified to do this stuff, they will require a price to match or exceed what they would be earning for their efforts in Iraq or Afghanistan. The quotes I am hearing for pay for these types of gigs is kind of low if you ask me. Like I said, if the industry expands and there is a high demand for qualified individuals, the companies/clients will have to pay the price.  Because in this industry, you get what you pay for.

    What will really be exciting is to see what companies rise to the top as the best private naval companies? It will really be interesting to see how this private navy backed by JLT turns out?  Perhaps these talks are connected to the efforts of this insurance company and we will get some more scoop on their operations in the near future?

     Either way, I am glad to hear that the ICS (which represents around 80 percent of the world’s merchant fleet) has changed their minds and listened to reason in regards to armed guards on boats. It is the right thing to do and this industry will certainly do what it can to meet their needs. Plus, the economics of continuing to pay ransoms and fueling a piracy industry or the amount of time and money lost by re-routing ships in order to avoid this piracy scourge is also a huge factor in making this decision. –Matt

The Voice of International Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) are the principal international trade association and employers’ organisation for merchant ship operators, representing all sectors and trades and about 80% of the world merchant fleet.

15 February 2011 – Shipping Industry Changes Stance on Armed Guards

ICS – whose Executive Committee comprising representatives of national shipowners’ associations from over 30 countries met in London last week – has decided to clarify its stance on the use of private armed security guards to defend merchant ships against attacks by Somali pirates. ICS members have also identified a vital need for the military to disable the hijacked ‘motherships’…

Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia

Website for ICS/ISF here.

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Shippers back private armed guards to beat pirates

Feb 15, 2011

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has changed its policy on private armed guards, and now accepts operators must be able to defend their ships against rising pirate attacks, the chamber said on Tuesday.

The ICS, which represents around 80 percent of the world’s merchant fleet, has so far discouraged its members from the use of private armed guards on its vessels.

“ICS has had to acknowledge that the decision to engage armed guards, whether military or private, is a decision to be made by the ship operator after due consideration of all of the risks, and subject to the approval of the vessel’s flag state and insurers,” the Chairman of the London-based ICS, Spyros M Polemis said in a statement.

Polemis said the decision had been made during a meeting in London last week because “many shipping companies have concluded that arming ships is a necessary alternative to avoiding the Indian Ocean completely, which would have a hugely damaging impact on the movement of world trade.”

(more…)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Industry Talk: The Booming Private Security Industries Of Pakistan And India

Filed under: India,Industry Talk,Pakistan — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 1:52 PM

     Below I have posted two snapshots of the private security industries in Pakistan and India. In a nutshell, those industries are exploding with growth. In Pakistan, terrorism is the driver of this increase. In India it is a combination of economic expansion along with terrorism as the drivers.

     Of course Pakistan and India are very mistrustful of one another, and there is also the growth of their defense industries to meet the needs of their militaries. Interesting stuff and definitely an area to keep a watch on. –Matt

Boom in Pakistan’s private security industry

January 18, 2011

Pakistan’s deteriorating  law and order has led to a boom in the private security industry in the country. Companies are investing millions of dollars to train and update their security operations.

 An estimated 30,000 private security guards have found employment with 400 private security agencies that have sprung up in Pakistan in recent years. These guards are paid about ten thousand Pakistani rupees a month… well above the minimum wage of six thousand.

Specialist security guards and bodyguards make around 25 thousand rupees.

Training includes special focus on the deadliest of enemies, the suicide bomber. Iqbal Mahmood, the trainer at Security 2000 explains how to look for one. “If someone is draped in white dress, particularly resembling a white shroud is a sign that the person has come ready to die. This is usually the first sign, secondly when the body looks a bit out of proportions; particularly the chest is raised higher than a normal human being is another give away sign that this person might be a suicide bomber,” says Mahmood.

The security industry in Pakistan is worth around 60 million dollars a year. Visit any luxury hotel in Pakistan and you’ll see where the money is being spent.

Zahid Shah, Security Manager at Pearl Continental Hotel says, “We have tried to maintain and standardise our security arrangements by beefing up this location with various kinds of systems, there can be hydraulic blockers, there are electronic barriers, there are sniffer dogs, besides of course the manual arrangements which is comprising of the security guards and the supervisors that we have.”

Story here.

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Booming private security agencies seek PE funding

Paramita Chatterjee & Pramugdha Mamgain

18 Jan, 2011

As rapid economic expansion creates a booming market for private security services, small and mid-sized companies in the sector are seeking risk capital infusion to further expansion plans. Growing public infrastructure in the form of roads, airports, shopping malls and commercial complexes has triggered a boom in the market for security services that is expected to grow five-fold to reach a size of 30,000 crore by 2015.

(more…)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Executive Protection: Some Thoughts On How To Protect Members Of Congress

Filed under: Arizona,Executive Protection,Industry Talk — Tags: , , , , , , , — Matt @ 11:08 AM

     I thought this first article was a good little run down of some commonsense moves for protecting members of congress.  Of course all of this is coming out after the recent shooting that killed six and critically wounded Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. The other two articles detail the potential for copycat killers, and what members of congress think about their own personal security or lack of it.

     Although I would have liked to have heard more of a discussion about private security and specifically privatized executive protection services for members of congress.  We use highly trained private security specialists to protect members of congress in war zones through programs like WPS, but what about for members of congress in the US?  Perhaps a similar program could be started just to meet the needs of congress throughout the nation?

    Or a stipend could be given to members of congress with the idea that they could contract the services of competent executive protection specialists wherever they go in the nation.  To depend upon police departments purely for this type of security could be a strain on them in terms of man power and financially, or these officers could be the wrong tool for the job.  In some parts of the country, I don’t know if a member of congress would want a police officer watching their back. Meaning there are some cops out there that are very low paid and minimally trained for high end executive protection duties.  Private industry is very good at this task, and this is their bread and butter.

     Finally, the government could just ramp up the Secret Service and task them to get this going.  They could literally assign a detail to every member of congress, and give everyone custom tailored protection.  Of course the cost of this could be pretty high, but they are leaders of this country and they are public figures.  Or we could tell members of congress to wear a vest, a gun, and tell them to hope for the best. It is a dangerous world out there and executive protection services, either private or public, should be a priority. –Matt

How to Protect Members of Congress

Officials warn of Arizona copycat attacks

Lawmakers rethink security after Arizona shooting

How to Protect Members of Congress

It doesn’t have to break the budget to provide the security they need.

By Marc Ambinder

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

On Wednesday, the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police will brief members of Congress on basic security precautions they can take when they’re interacting with constituents. Also on the agenda: an explanation of how Capitol Police officers conduct threat assessments. What the members are likely to hear may be as simple as surrounding themselves with aides wearing suits or setting up a thin rope line to create a slight barrier between them and possible danger.

They will also hear about threats beyond the shooting in Tucson, Ariz. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrence Gainer told WTOP Radio on Monday that he had referred 49 threats against senators alone to the FBI within the past year. But the rarity of actual assassination attempts against members of Congress underscores the challenge for investigators.

“A lot of people will talk, but a tiny few will act; and most who act tend not to talk beforehand,” is how one current federal agent describes people who threaten public officials.

(more…)

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