Stripes letter: Danger security teams in Iraq (mercs) [View All]

[lebkuchen]

Consider sending this to your senators.

Dangerous security teams

The writer of “Different rules for civilians?” (letter, Sept. 26), about the Iraqi civilian being killed by the personal security detail cowboys in Iraq, is absolutely correct in what he has stated.

I see these PSD people every day in Baghdad and they are out of control. They run the highways at extreme high speed, almost crash their vehicles, run people off the road, shoot at everyone — Iraqis, Americans, it just does not matter. There is nothing professional about the services they perform.

If they are trying to impress the “principle” of the mission, then their “principle” is also guilty of this gross misconduct. I am surprised the command sanctions these “compound commandos” and their extremely aggressive behavior. They are the worst threat against U.S. personnel here, not the terrorists.

Henry Mungle
Baghdad

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=31913


Here is the referenced letter:

Different rules for civilians?

Why is it that civilian contractors do not have to follow the same rules of engagement as the military? Soldiers get paid less and we have to make the best decision possible and pray it was the right one. Otherwise, it’s an all-around pain in the butt. Contractors just don’t have to deal with the same politics that soldiers do.

Last week an innocent civilian was killed. Why? He was too close for the Department of Defense’s comfort. Instead of following our procedures, they went for the kill. As I was holding this dying man, I wondered if this was necessary. This man did not pose a threat at all. The personal security detail team pulled away laughing. Laughing — like someone just told a joke and it was on the man in my arms! That’s when I knew that soldiers are fighting a different war.

The war in Iraq is one of politics. We hurry up and wait for the worst. Soldiers are expected to be professional, look the enemy in the eye, and tell them not to shoot because of the paperwork involved. Moreover, the ROE are so frigid, that even if we are right, we are probably wrong.

I see these civilians every day and they take no responsibility for their actions. I seriously considered working with one of these companies. But I find myself wondering, do I really want to be associated with a company that does business in this manner? No. We are here to win the hearts and minds, and the civilian PSD teams are destroying all of that work.

Today is one of those days when the military needs to decide what the mission in Iraq is, and who will complete it for them — the professionals, or the cowboys.

Spc. Mike Tenhet
Baghdad

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=31824