Afghan gov't: 4 months to disband security firms

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Afghan gov't: 4 months to disband security firms
(AP) – 18 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan — A spokesman for the Afghan president says Hamid Karzai will order all private security companies in the country disbanded within four months.

Spokesman Waheed Omar says the decree is expected later Monday. It will both set the deadline and detail a process through which the companies should cease operations.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNFTCCDUQmsI1SV67vO0WCd8EcOwD9HKHF1G0

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a lot quicker than the 2 years mentioned previously.

[Turborama]

1. K&R That is relatively soon.

It'll be interesting to see what the decree actually says.

Thanks for posting. :hi:

[maddezmom]

2. more info from WaPo: Karzai moves to disband private security firms in Afghanistan

Karzai moves to disband private security firms in Afghanistan
Network NewsX Profile

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By Joshua Partlow
Monday, August 16, 2010; 9:58 AM

KABUL -- President Hamid Karzai intends to disband all private security companies in Afghanistan within four months, his spokesman said Monday, a timeline that likely will meet with strong resistance from NATO forces who rely heavily on the companies to provide security to convoys and installations across the country.

The announcement came as a surprise to U.S. military officials who have recently begun a review of their security contracts in an attempt to address the widespread allegations that such guards are unaccountable and that their reckless behavior inflames public sentiment against foreign forces.

Just hours before presidential spokesman Waheed Omer's announcement, the head of the new NATO task force on private security companies, Brig. Gen. Margaret Boor, said, "I'm not sure any of us know what timeline would look like at this point" for dissolving the companies.

After the announcement, U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, Maj. Joel Harper, said, "We are in total support of the president of Afghanistan's intent to do away with private security companies and to do away with the need for private security companies."

But he added, "This should be done in a logical and sequential manner, and as conditions permit."

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/16/AR2010081602041.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Harper's comment, translated:

" We were caught flatfooted by Karzai's delusion he is actually running the country, but we will pretend to agree with it, *as conditions permit* until we figure out a way to get around it"

Memo to Karzai: stay out of small planes. Your usefulness to the M.I.C. has ended.

[patrice]

3. K & R to End War Profiteering!

[Turborama]

4. Guardian feature: Karzai to scrap foreign security firms in Afghanistan within four months

Afghan president brings forward deadline for handover of many security duties from foreign security firms to national police

Jon Boone
Monday August 16 2010

Afghanistan's giant private security industry, which guards everything from western embassies to Nato supply convoys, is set to be scrapped within four months under dramatic new plans from Hamid Karzai.

According to Karzai's spokesman, the Afghan president is due to bring forward plans to dissolve all private security companies and hand over responsibility to the country's still ill-trained and often corrupt police force.

In November, Karzai said the firms, which employ tens of thousands of gunmen, would be phased out by late 2011.

The sudden announcement caught the private security industry by surprise, with many western managers in Kabul simply refusing to believe that the international community, which relies heavily on private armed guards to secure embassies and other facilities, would tolerate Afghan police guarding their foreign staff.

"If you go and talk to any of the big donors you will find that none of them will stay in the country if they can't have international security companies protecting them," said one senior executive of a major international security company.

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/16/karzai-ends-private-security

[Phil The Cat]

8. Good! Get them out!

Afghanistan is for the Afghanis! Foreigners need to get out and quit profiting on their resources and misery!

[superconnected]

5. Karzai Bans Private Security Firms

Source: Common Dreams

Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, has given private security firms working in Afghanistan four months to end their operations.

Karzai has repeatedly called for the banning of private security companies in Afghanistan. (Gallo/Getty)
Karzai has repeatedly called for banning private security companies, saying they undermine government security forces.

"Today the president is going to issue a four-month deadline for the dissolution of private security companies," Waheed Omer, Karzai's spokesman, said on Monday.

Omer gave notice last week that the president intended to act over private security firms, calling it "a serious programme that the government of Afghanistan will execute".

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/08/16-3

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Okay, they can still work there for 4 months. I'm glad they're being banned though. Buh Bye Xe.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Wouldn't it make good financial sense for Xe to help overthrow/kill Karzai and help install...

...someone who will "play ball"?

I mean, this is Xe/Blackwater we're talking about.

PB

[Francesca9]

9. corrupt