In all the ritualistic handwringing, gnashing of teeth, and wailing about the release by Wikileaks of the Afghan War Diaries document set, containing over 92,000 reports, there has been a curious lack of discussion of the role of private military and security contractors.
Mainly I have attributed that to the difficulty of searching through the material. Despite the effort put into organizing the material by WiIkileaks, and its media partners, New York Times, Guardian, and Der Spiegel the search interfaces were not particularly useful for searching by keyword.
But now something called Diary Dig has stepped up to the plate and produced a simple and easy to use to search mechanism. From the start page you can browse through all of the documents that have been released, organized by type, category, date, number of casualties, and many other properties. From any document page, clicking on the green underlined text will open a popup that links to other documents that contain those phrases, making it possible to see important search terms and connections that you might not otherwise notice.
For example, here are a few relevant reports relating to Blackwater:
RC East reported an IED strike:
FF reported that a Blackwater vehicle struck a VOIED (pressure plate) resulting in 2x US CIV WIA (Cat Unk). The vehicle involved in the IED strike was destroyed. Casualties were taken to FOB Lonestar. QRF is enroute to site. NFI att.
At 1433Z, PBA revealed IED consisted of 20-25lbs of UBE buried deep in a metal container, pressure initiated. No initiation components found. BDA: 2x US CIV WIA (Cat A), MEDEVACd to BAF at 1451Z. Event closed at 1452Z.
(EXPLOSIVE HAZARD) IED EXPLOSION RPT (RCIED) LN CIV : 1 CIV KIA 2 CIV WIA
0650Z: ACO REPORTS INFO FROM CHAPARHAR ANP THAT AN IED STRIKE OCCURED AT APPX 1055L. INJ 1 L/N GUARD, KILLING ANOTHER. EOD IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A POST BLAST. THE GUARDS ARE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE FROM COALITION FORCES. INJURED INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO JBAD HOSPITAL. LOCATION NORTH OF SHOAIB VILLAGE, NORTH OF CHAPARHAR DC, NEXT TO FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL. WILL HAVE A PATROL THAT IS GOING IN AREA DO CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT.
0845Z: EOD WILL GO TO SITE AND CONDUCET POST BLAST, EOD SP ENROUTE TO SITE
0920Z: EOD ARRIVE ON SCENE
1030Z: EOD RP FOB, DELIVERS REPORT
SAME CULVERT AS 28 AUG EVENT. 20-30 LBS OF UBE UNK CONTAINER. RCIED PMR INITIATION SYSTEM. TARGET WAS 3 X LNS WHO WORKED FOR BLACKWATER. UNK FIRING POINT.
WHO: BLACKWATER (2 x CASA-212) (ISO PAX MOVEMENT AND RESUPPLY)
WHEN: 040330ZJUL08
WHERE: 42S UB 72836 15426 (UNK AGL, HDG 240, SPD UNK)
WHAT: At 040330ZJUL08, on a heading of 240 degrees, 2 x miles from 42S UB 72836 15426, 801st personnel on an Low Cost Low Altitude (LCLA) drop into FOB Warrior received SAF from 10-15 Anti-Afghanistan Forces (AAF) on 2 x different ridges. The pilots flew evasively and aborted the mission. Upon post flight inspection, the lead helicopter took 7 x rounds of SAF in the main fuel tank. Aircraft is currently at FOB Sharona and took damage in the right wing and lower fuselage, resulting in a major fuel leak
TF DESTINY ASSESSMENT: There has only been 1 x SAFIRE within 10NM since January 08. There has not been much insurgent activity in Gailan District, Ghazni Province since 2006. Nawa District to the south is an area in which many insurgents hide and stage for future operations. This was most likely a TOO SAFIRE in which the insurgents recognizing contract air engaged in hopes of dissuading Coalition air movements in the area.
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD) IED EXPLOSION RPT (RCIED) TF PALADIN IVO (ROUTE CRIMSON): 0 INJ/DAM
June 20, 2007, 5:30 a.m.
At 0530Z RC Capital reported that a IED detonation occurred against a Blackwater convoy. Attack occurred on RT Crimson near the intersection of RT Pegasus., The vehicles were able to leave the site of the IED and enter the Blackwater Gun Range. Embassy QRF is responding and no additional help is requested at this time.
TU BG QRF and MMT with ISAF EOD were sent to the site for exploit. No information on casualties reported ATT. Update 0900Z: There are no casualties or damage reported. ISAF EOD, ARTEC and QRF are on scene conducting exploit and clearing for possible secondary devices. Update 2nd RCIED was found 2 meters away from the exploded one, on the side of th main road, it was an anti-tank( TC 2.4) mine with motorcycle battery and improvised explosive device in a wooden box. ARTEC found 2 X spider ( MOD-5 DTMF receivers). 1 x vehicle slightly damaged. The exploded device was a small explosive which was buried underground on the tight side of the road and it might have been an anti-personnel mine. Event Closed at 1206(Z). ISAF Tracking # 06-529
Here is one on DynCorp:
Aug. 18, 2005, 11:31 p.m.
TF Devil reports mortar attack on a Dyncorp facility 5km N of Gardez. Dyncorp reports 2x RPGs of mortars landed 100m from the front gate. The first round struck at 2215Z striking at 42S WC 298 167 there were no injuries and light property damage (window broken). The second round landed 300 meters from the compound gate and did not explode at 42S WC 21913 22850. ANP was sent to investigate and found a RPG pointed toward the compound 200m away with wires coming out. EOD was notified. Gardez EOD arrived at the site and destroyed the round in place.
And here is one on Hart:
EXPLOSIVE HAZARD) IED EXPLOSION RPT (RCIED) HART SECURITY / CJ3 IVO (ROUTE GEMINI): 4 CIV WIA
Jan. 7, 2009, 3:40 a.m.
At 1818Z, RC North reported an IED Strike:
FF reported a Red Toyota SUV from HART Security Company with 3x LN HART Guards and 1x TCN (Third Country National) was hit by a RCIED while traveling at MSR Gemini. The car was seriously damaged on the left side and all 4x passengers suffered minor injuries due to several glass and other shrapnel. The investigation of HART Security Company and ANP result in reports from LN, which saw a group of 5x men working on the road at 1930Z on 17DEC08, but were thought to have been construction workers working late and were paid no attention. No FF were involved. BDA: 3x LN wounded, 1x UNK wounded. NFTR. Event closed at 1825Z.