Security Problems At US Bases In Iraq Cause Serious Concern

WASHINGTON — U.S. military officials want to know if an employee for a private security contractor was fired for telling investigators about serious deficiencies in training and equipment for Ugandan guards hired to protect an American base in Iraq.

Information about John Wayne Nash's sudden departure from Iraq after he met with staff from the Commission on Wartime Contracting was forwarded by U.S. Central Command to the office of the Pentagon inspector general.

The inspector general's military reprisal investigation unit is reviewing the material to determine if a full inquiry is warranted, according to a defense official who requested anonymity because he is not allowed to publicly discuss the matter.

The military relies on hired guards at bases in Iraq so troops are available for combat duties. Overall, there are five companies providing security at bases in Iraq under contracts with an estimated value of $250 million.

A majority of the guards are from Uganda and other East African countries. Guard salaries are about $700 a month on average.

Nash, a retired Marine Corps master gunnery sergeant, was security contractor Triple Canopy's on-site manager at Forwarding Operating Base Delta, which is about 90 miles south of Baghdad.

Triple Canopy of Herndon, Va. denies Nash was disciplined. Jayanti Menches, a company spokeswoman, says he is still employed and is currently home on a regular rotation.

But the commission has a different version of events. The independent panel is investigating waste and fraud in wartime spending.

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During a fact-finding visit to Base Delta on April 4-5, commission staff were told by military contracting officers that the Triple Canopy guards don't have enough vehicles to do the job and must rely on the Army for transportation. Basic personal gear, such as gloves, is often scarce.

Triple Canopy holds the $35 million security contract at Base Delta. Under the terms of the contract, awarded in September 2007, the company is required to provide all labor, weapons and other equipment that the guards need.

Nash had been instructed by his superiors at Triple Canopy not to meet with the commission staff, according to Bob Dickson, the panel's executive director. Nash did so anyway and confirmed what they'd been told by the contracting officers. Shortly after that, Dickson and others on the commission learned he'd been dismissed.

"We talked with him one day, and he was leaving the country five days later," Dickson said.

Reached at his home in Jacksonville, N.C., Nash referred questions to his lawyer in Washington. In a brief note to The Associated Press, the lawyer, Thomas Fay, would only say that he is representing Nash "in connection with the circumstances surrounding his departure from Iraq as an employee of Triple Canopy."

Menches said Triple Canopy "is completely contract compliant at FOB Delta."

During their visit to Iraq, Dickson and other staff found Forward Operating Base Hammer had similar problems, including a shortage of weapons and night vision gear and poorly trained guards.

U.S. officers at Base Hammer said they did not feel secure due to the inadequate qualifications and training of the guards, according to information the commission has sent to military authorities, members of Congress and the State Department. The officers at Hammer required the Sabre guards to take a 40-hour course on security operations before they could begin working.

Sabre International Security, based in Baghdad, has a $42 million contract to provide security at Base Hammer. Sabre representatives could not be reached for comment.

Concerned the equipment and training deficiencies leave the bases vulnerable, the Commission on Wartime Contracting alerted military officials in Iraq and at Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

"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," Dickson said.

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," Maka said.

Sen. James Webb, D-Va., a co-sponsor of the legislation establishing the Wartime Contracting Commission, said it would be "unacceptable" if any contractor employees were terminated for cooperating with the commission.

"An employee of a government-contracted firm does not contract away his or her obligation _ not right _ to talk forthrightly with properly constructed government inquiries," Webb said in a statement to the AP.

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On the Net:

Commission on Wartime Contracting: http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/

Comments

[FrozenNorthObserver]

I don't get it, whats the big deal? Just a simple cover up, like the Wh is doing for warc rimin als. It's all the rage now.

[Montgriz]

The Solution to this problem is easy....Ge­t all American troops and arms out of Iraq. Next...

[IntellectuallyHonest]

JUst bring the troops home now.

[WasteNJ]

No surprise, security at most all official buildings is provided by contractors, and has been for years, since the US military is nowhere near big enough. What happens is the larger comapny, say Triple Canopy, will subcontract the job out to other, smaller firms who hire less effective talent, at a much cheaper rate. An American contractor with military background will get around $500 to $650 per DAY, these guys they are using get $700 per month.

That's quite a cost savings.

Also keep in mind that Triple Canopy usually get their contracts from an even larger contractor, like DynCorp, who deals directly with the DoD. These companies have their top teams, comprised of ex-SEALs, Ex-DELTA, Ex-Marine Recon, etc who get used on VIP PSD's (Personal Security Details) like Hamid Karzai's or Paul Bremer's, and to guard high value installati­ons.. The lower contracts often get subcontracted.

Before the Iraq invasion, there were a handful of Security Contractor Companies, now there are hundreds.

[Leakman]

What ever happened to Marines guarding and defending our consulates and embassies. Plus, rotating personell from all four services to do bodyguard work. Air Commandos, Seals, Marine Recondo, Specila Forces and Rangers.
Building back the Consular Operations Protective Division back to prior numbers. Geez, doesn't anybody see the wrong in this whole contracting scheme.

[holeybuybull]

This policy of privatization of military "support" functions was pushed by Cheney and friends. Rather effective way to guarantee enriching your former employer at the expense of the American taxpayer. Why do you think Cheney argued against invading Iraq in 1994? The policy wasn't in place at the time.

[Montgriz]

Unfortunately, this country is about business and money making and no one benefits like our politicians who dole it out and get "donation" in return....­...

[ibsteve2u]

"[...] hired to protect U.S. military bases in Iraq"

That entire concept is just flat wrong.

[tahoegal]

I feel better just knowing that Webb is on this issue - he's been there and done that, and so have his sons. I appreciate their continuing service!

[Montgriz]

Many of our elected reps have military experience. This guy is getting a spotlight because he is from Virgina and the Dems are looking for future "heros" to follow Obama.....­..frankly, I am tired of Easterners and Southerners running this government­...they like wars and big spending plans or both......

[LucyBelle97]

When we start outsourcing the gaurding of forward bases, you've really got to start wonder what has the military got on it's mind. These guys weren't part of a multinational force, they were contractors. The business regime we just fired wanted government employee numbers to be low so everything they could they contracted out. Why is the cost of one service personell per year in Iraq $390,000? Because their meals are flown in by contractors, their living facilities are built (poorly) by contractors, they are gaurded by contractors, and just about everything else except risking of life is done by contractors. Is there not something wrong with this picture?

[Montgriz]

They are not bound by our military book of operations­...

[J G H]

I was at LSA Anaconda when the Ugandans began to man the entries to the mess halls and PXs. I found them to be efficient, polite, and much more consistent than US units when they rotated through the duty. On the other hand, the exterior guard towers were manned largely by rear area troops whose ability to hit a point blank target is debatable. One of my sergeants visited one of the towers and saw the guards using a rifle scope like binoculars, removing it from the rifle to get a closer look at something, then reattaching it to the rifle improperly, practically guaranteeing that he would miss anything he aimed at. My own unit, a combat arms unit, received training from contrators who were all competitive marksman; I learned weveral things I had not known after over 20 years including infantry basic training. i have receivved excellent training in the National Guard and abysmal classes in both Guard and active classes. The problem is not limited to contractors. The Army has a problem with quality control in its own training programs.

[createpeace]

What a waste of time, money and human beings. Thanks again GWB we won't forget.

[zaz33]

Since insurgent attacks are down because we SAY we're pulling our troops, this should not be an issue.

if we lied when we said we were removing ALL our troops, security and supplying our bases will be a problem.

Remove all our troops - problem solved

[Stilts9]

The US Military is one big freaking mess. They can't even protect themselves.

And they treat their veterans like trash.

Wake up America.

[Peter007]

There are plenty of "Hit men" in US prisons that we could use over in Iraq. They all speak engish and I'm sure they will send their wages home to this country rather than Uganda.
The mafia has unemployment too. Why not use them to protect US troops?
I think they would charge less than foreign nationals.

[J G H]

I was told that the Ugandans were being paid between $1500 and $3000 a year. To men from a country with incomes averaging between $300 and $600 a year, this was quite a good deal, and I am sure that the contracting company only charged the Pentagone five or ten times their costs, so the Pentagon probably though it had a good deal. At least it put money into the Ugandan economy from the bottom rather than at the top, where very littl would trickle down. Too bad we haven't done that with the banking fiasco.

[jnah]

thats what happens when you outsource everything to mercenaries