Agents Lay Siege to Iraq

With the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, a new day is dawning for British and American private security firms, who eagerly await their slice of the $3 million security industry pie.

New details have emerged concerning XE Services (formerly known as Blackwater), which received a $42 million penalty for breaching U.S. government export regulations. With the withdrawal of the last U.S. forces from Iraq, U.S. and British private security firms have agreed to operate 19 camps in Iraq. Twelve are pre-existing and seven will be new. The value of these deals exceeds three billion dollars.

Employing agents

The U.S. implemented an interesting tactic before withdrawing: Alongside Iraqis, it appointed retired intelligence agents to management positions in private security firms serving in Iraq. Many retired soldiers and agents of the CIA, FBI, MI5, MI6 and Mossad are working in northern, central and southern Iraq. They operate like combatant armies, typically equipped with heavy weapons and moving in special army formation. They are experienced in the areas of light skirmishes, security training, defense techniques, crisis management, security advising, convoy security and dealing with organized crime.

Here are some of the firms operating in Iraq:

• XE SERVICES (BLACKWATER): U.S.-based company that became the center of controversy due to its actions in Iraq during 2007

• TITAN CORPORATION: American company that performs communications services for the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies and other public institutions

• CALIFORNIA ANALYSIS CENTER, INC.: American company that came to the fore as a result of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal

• SANDLINE INTERNATIONAL: London-based British private security firm operating in Basra

• MILITARY PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, INC.: Company with 12,500 retired soldiers, police and intelligence personnel operating out of Baghdad

• VINNEL CORP: Company that signed a $48 million agreement to train the new Iraqi army in 2003. This agreement remains in effect.

Warning about Blackwater from the National Intelligence Institute

Turkey’s National Intelligence Institute issued four separate alerts pertaining to Blackwater. Its reports addressed Turkey, the United States and Iraq. The first alert relating to Blackwater came in 2007. Allegations that Blackwater illegally trafficked in weapons are also under discussion.

Biggest operation since 1945

The American army is about to complete its biggest logistical operation since World War II: withdrawing a military apparatus with over a million pieces of equipment. According to Colonel Donnie Walker, commander of U.S. reinforcement troops in Kuwait, “We are undergoing the largest withdrawal since World War II. We have retrieved about 1.2 million pieces of equipment.” Brigadier General Nick Tooliatos also said that after they inspect the equipment, they would transfer it to Afghanistan and 16 other countries.

Amassing a diplomatic force for Iraq

After the withdrawal of military forces, U.S. officials will embark on a process of normalizing relations with Iraq over a three to five year period. This will require shifting the leadership of these relations from the military to the civilian sector. Officials in the Obama administration say that diplomats who will work in Iraq during this period are being trained in this capacity. Heading this small army of approximately 300 diplomats will be James Jeffery, the former ambassador to Turkey and now appointed to the Iraqi Embassy.