Private security firms stand to earn at least $3 billion guarding diplomats in Iraq, as the U.S. military gradually downsizes its remaining presence in the country.

 

In September, the State Department announced a list of eight security companies that will be allowed to bid on a range “task orders” for security jobs around the world.

 

Triple Canopy is in line to make $1.53 billion protecting State Department personnel at work, at home and when they travel, while SOC has a deal for $973 million to guard the Baghdad embassy itself. The British firm Global Strategies Group has been hired to protect diplomats at the consulate general in the southern city of Basra for $401 million.

 

Triple Canopy has been criticized for some aspects of its operation. In July 2005, the company was faulted for hiring guards and supervisors who spoke different languages and could not communicate with each other. Also, their guards have sometimes had to work an average of 10 to 11 consecutive days, and some as many as 39 days in a row.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Two More Merc Firms Get Big Iraq Contracts (by Spencer Ackerman, Wired)

Blackwater Wins Piece of $10 Billion Mercenary Deal (by Spencer Ackerman, Wired)

State Department Report Criticizes Baghdad Embassy Security (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)