Blackwater Worldwide Security - Essay Example

BlackWater Security Order No. 268462 No. of pages: 6 1st 6530 Blackwater Worldwide is an efficient and well known company that caters to to various security solutions. The company vouches that they are guided by not only a great sense of integrity but also innovation that comes with a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to create a safer world for all the citizens. American officials in Iraq rely on private security companies for semi-military tasks for security purposes. These tasks include guarding bases, government officials and convoys. One such company is Blackwater Worldwide, well known as a security firm and security contractor set up by former US Navy Seal, Eric Prince. Blackwater is one of the most high profile private security firms working in Iraq. Blackwater Worldwide along with its subsidiaries, Blackwater Training Center, Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting and Blackwater Canine is engaged in the task of providing security to American officials in Iraq, in keeping with the company’s aim of employing a “new generation of capability, skills, and people to solve the spectrum of needs in the world of security” (Blackwater Security.com.) The services the company renders, include providing security for the American military bases, the Green Zone, infrastructure, weapons demolition, cash transport, guarding important military, civilian and government dignitaries, gathering of intelligence, covert operations, psychological warfare, and most importantly, training Iraqi security forces. (Government Accountability Office, Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Needed to Improve Use of Private Security Providers (July 2005) (GAO-05-737).) Being the security provider for sensitive and important officials of the government and also the military, Blackwater personnel have to often engage in fights with the locals and in one such incident in Baghdad on September 16, 2007, 14 Iraqi civilians and 18 others were wounded, while escorting a convoy through the city. This incident pushed the company into the limelight and it has had to face some hard truths about the way in which it is running its operations in Iraq. The government of USA has been able to increase the number of ground staff by employing private security operatives. This has helped them to maintain the troop levels on the ground without resorting to draft. These private security operators are a part of a ‘shadow army’ which is better trained and equipped than some of the militaries of many countries. In August 2003, Blackwater officially became the security provider for the U.S. civilian officials. Paul Bremer, Coalitional Provisional Authority Administrator, gave the company a no-bid contract for the job. (Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Quarterly Report to Congress (July 2004) The Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) created by the State Department, in June 2004 awarded the company an indefinite delivery and quantity contract for protecting “certain foreign government high level officials whenever the need arises" wherein the company was given permission to use 482 staff in Iraq. (Blackwater Contract S-AQMPD-04-D-0061, Iraq, June 11 2005-September 10 2006, supra note 4) In May 2006, under another contract awarded by WPPS II, for diplomatic security, in Baghdad and Al-Hillah, the company sent 1020 personnel to Iraq. (U.S. Department of State, WPPS II Contracts Awarded to Blackwater, Triple Canopy, and DynCorp (undated) The brief given to Blackwater was to apply force of a defensive nature, in order to avoid "imminent and grave danger" to their own selves and those under their protection. (Mission Firearms Policy, U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq (Aug. 2006) Worldwide Personal Protective Services II Contract $52.233-1(c) Documents from the State Department show that on many occasions they have taken part in tactical military operations, along with U. S. armed forces. During the attack on Najaf on April 10, 2004, personnel from Blackwater, upon learning of the firefight, took part in the fight, positioning themselves on a rooftop with the U.S. Army and Spanish forces and fought the insurgents. (Blackwater Internal E-Mail re: Najaf (Apr.10, 2004) On another occasion on November 24, 2004, the security agency helped in securing a mosque from where sniper fire was originating. A helicopter team of Blackwater, upon seeing a vehicle leave the mosque premises, disabled the vehicle by shooting into the engine part of the vehicle. (Blackwater Aviation After Action Report (Nov. 24, 2004) The company’s prime duty, as set out in the brief given to it, was to provide defensive security. It has a contract of $750 million from the government of the USA. Now, with certain incidents of aggression the Iraqi government revoked the license of the Blackwater USA on September 17, 2007. The said company works in Iraq without a license as the Iraqi government refused to renew its work license. The reason stated for the refusal by the Iraqi government was that Iraqi security agencies were well equipped to provide security. Another reason for non renewal of license was the company’s history of killing civilians. The guards of this company are accused of shooting dead seventeen civilians in Nisoor Square in Baghdad, Iraq. There have been numerous shootout incidents involving the guards of Blackwater USA which has been reported by the State Department. The company hired soldiers at the rate of up to $1000 a day but they did not have a chain of command or supervision. Due to the past actions of the guards of the company, the Iraqi government has sought to expel Blackwater. These efforts have come to a naught as the Americans have no alternative company to provide them with security services. The Americans rely on the heavily armed guards of Blackwater for providing them security. The security situation in the country would deteriorate if the services of the company were terminated. They have played an important role in the occupation of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. It has an estimated thousand employees working in Iraq. They also maintain a fleet of helicopters. The Government of United States of America granted immunity to the guards involved in the Nisoor Square killings, but the Iraqi government has strengthened its hands by signing the Status of Forces Agreement with the United States. This removes the immunity cover of the private guards from 31st December and hence they can be prosecuted by the Iraqi government. The PSC are sometimes regarded as mercenaries and the shootout in Nisoor Square has damaged the reputation of Blackwater. Over the years nearly two hundred Blackwater employees have been killed. The employment practices of the company have also been questioned since Blackwater classifies its employees as ‘independent contractors’. This designation has allowed the company to acquire contracts worth $144 million which was set aside for small businesses. The role of Blackwater in Iraq has shown, how, influential people in America have enriched themselves by procuring lucrative contracts as a result of the war. The Worldwide Personal Protective Services (WPPS) of the State Department, that employs the services of Blackwater in Iraq awarded the contract for enhancing security, but American military commanders are getting worried with the “very quick trigger fingers," "shoot first and ask questions later," and "act like cowboys" behavior of the Blackwater security guards, which has brought the whole U.S. and the peace keeping machine negative publicity.(Private Security Puts Diplomats, Military at Odds, Washington Post (Sept. 26,2007) Senior officials are worried that the repercussions of the Blackwater incidents may be more far reaching than that of the Abu Gharib incident. Investigations reveal that security personnel belonging to the firm, employ excessive use of force and often engage in preemptive strike. The question of what service Blackwater renders in Iraq has come under a cloud, since apparently the company has got the nation more brickbats than bouquets, because of the impulsive, rash and aggressive behavior of its employees. The slogan of the company is to provide “capability, skills, and people to solve the spectrum of needs in the world of security” but it’s over zealous but blinkered pursuit of security has damaged its reputation, rather than make it a by - word for protection, which it aims at being. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is looking into the activities of the company, its role in security operations as well as the unnecessary burden it has caused to the taxpayers. References Government Accountability Office, Rebuilding Iraq: Actions Needed to Improve Use of Private Security Providers (July 2005) (GAO-05-737). Blackwater Contract S-AQMPD-04-D-0061,Iraq, June 11 2005-September 10 2006, supra note 4) U.S. Department of State, WPPS II Contracts Awarded to Blackwater, Triple Canopy, and DynCorp (undated Mission Firearms Policy, U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq (Aug. 2006); Worldwide Personal Protective Services II Contract $52.233-1(c).) Blackwater Internal E-Mail re: Najaf (Apr.10,2004). Blackwater Aviation After Action Report (Nov. 24,2004) Private Security Puts Diplomats, Military at Odds, Washington Post (Sept. 26,2007) http://www.marxist.com/contracting-out-war-in-iraq.htm Blackwater Worldwide - SourceWatch http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Blackwater_USA New Questions About Blackwater Actions in Iraq :: Committee on http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20071001121609.pdf Memo to Committee Members - Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on ... http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20070207112331-22533.pdf Read More