Security issues discovered at U.S. bases in Iraq

[Richard]

WTF? What Dilbert made this decision? Guess there's more than just the showers to worry about around there. The last paragraph sounds as if it either came right out of the White House Press Room or from the Group XO/S-4 to the inspectors during an AGI.

Richard's $.02

Security issues discovered at U.S. bases in Iraq
USAToday, 24 Apr 2009

A commission investigating waste and fraud in wartime spending has found serious deficiencies in training and equipment for hundreds of Ugandan guards hired to protect U.S. military bases in Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.

The problems at Forward Operating Bases Delta and Hammer include a lack of vehicles used to properly protect the two posts, a shortage of weapons and night vision gear, and poorly trained guards. Both bases house several thousand U.S. military personnel.

Concerned the shortages leave the bases vulnerable, the Commission on Wartime Contracting alerted military officials in Iraq and at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

"Incidents such as this are a concern in their own right, but they are a particular concern to the commission if they prove to be indicators of broader, systemic problems that impede the delivery of critical services to American military forces in a war zone," said Bob Dickson, the commission's executive director.

Army Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a spokesman for Multi-National Force-Iraq, said contracting officials have taken the commission's findings seriously. "Security contractors at both sites have corrected or are in the process of correcting deficiencies," he said Saturday.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...hooModule_News

[Dad]

I have a question I hope y'all can answer. This has bothered me since the program of out sourcing traditional military responsibilities was first outlined. I believe it was the defense secretary in the first Bush administration (George H.W.)

Should the military even be out sourcing these types of activities? I have yet to find any conclusive evidence that one single dime has been saved, which was one of the original advantages used to promote the idea. I have read others who maintain it has put our military at additional risk. Somehow, the idea of Ugandas protecting our soldiers really bothers me. I appreciate your thoughts.

[Pete]

There is no white or black on this issue unless the tax payer is going to cough up tons more money for a greatly expanded military.

If you want it done "all" by the military then you have to have that capability on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days of the year.

Private companies can hire and fire, sub contract, get bigger and get smaller faster than the military.

The arguement would be over the scope of the issue.

Me? I'm glad they contracted out KP.

[uboat509]

I talked to a guy last year over at the Small Wars Council who was a DOS security officer. He stated that the number of security personnel in Baghdad alone was somewhere around 4500, most of those being contractors. That's a brigade that the military would have to cough up just to provide security in Baghdad.

SFC W

[Stras]

Richard,

I guess the "leaker" forgot the part about the one Ugandan guard who showed up in 2006 in Baghdad, as an active carrier of malaria. Yeah, that caused just a little drama for the boys.. Needless to say, I think he left the country rather quickly.

Gave us a chance to get some good dreams with the methlyquine (sp) though..

With a military force providing security, there's no doubt as to their status in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. With a private security force, there's always the stigma of borderline mercenary, and whether they have protections under the Geneva Conventions. Nice big gray area for the JAG to figure out.

With that said, there are some private companies that I trust, and then there are others like Blackwater/XE that I try to stay far away from.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by Stras

Richard,

I guess the "leaker" forgot the part about the one Ugandan guard who showed up in 2006 in Baghdad, as an active carrier of malaria. Yeah, that caused just a little drama for the boys.. Needless to say, I think he left the country rather quickly.

Gave us a chance to get some good dreams with the methlyquine (sp) though..

With a military force providing security, there's no doubt as to their status in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. With a private security force, there's always the stigma of borderline mercenary, and whether they have protections under the Geneva Conventions. Nice big gray area for the JAG to figure out.

With that said, there are some private companies that I trust, and then there are others like Blackwater/XE that I try to stay far away from.

Stras,

I don't believe in this in this "contract" guard ,it's just BS ! They maybe qualified SOF but I just can't believe they could do this ......................

GB TFS