Documents expose private security firms

Recently disclosed documents have spilled the beans on the activities of US security contractors, revealing offenses committed by more than 200 security contract employees in different countries.


The documents obtained by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act highlighted previously kept secret offences committed by personnel working under a broad State Department security services contract in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries between 2004 and 2008.

The security service contracts were shared by private security firms such as DynCorp of Falls Church, Va., Triple Canopy of Reston, Va., and Blackwater Worldwide -- now called Xe Services of Moyock, NC.

Most of the incidents included excessive drinking, drug use, sexual misconduct, and mishandling of weapons -- all of which are considered violations of corporate and US policies.

In one incident on September 9, 2005, five DynCorp International security guards assigned to protect Afghan President Hamid Karzai returned to their compound drunk at 2 in the morning, accompanied by a prostitute.

Less than a week later, three of the same five guards got drunk in the VIP lounge of the Kabul airport while awaiting a flight to Thailand.

Afghanistan's deputy director for elections and a foreign diplomat were also present in the airport lounge.

Such incidents are widely viewed as damaging the US reputation which is already accused of launching a privatized war in the Middle East.

Kabul has confirmed the presence of 52 foreign private security companies, including the notorious American security firm Xe Services.

Karzai has ordered all security companies to be disbanded by the end of this year.

Most of the security contractors are believed to have close ties with Afghan warlords and are also accused of contributing to the rising number of civilian casualties in the country.