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Security Firms in Iraq Face New Rules
Blackwater founder Erik Prince testified Oct. 2 before the House oversight committee about his company's performance in providing security in Iraq.
(By Susan Walsh -- Associated Press)
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Some of its 19 recommendations -- the assignment of an armed Diplomatic Security Service agent to ride along as the "officer in charge" with every contractor convoy and the installation of video cameras in each contractor vehicle -- were announced earlier this month after an interim assessment.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Other measures announced yesterday included:
¿ Establishment of a "go team" of embassy security officials to "proceed as soon as possible to the scene of any weapons discharge to gather information and material and provide an analysis of what happened and why, and prepare a report." The team will coordinate with U.S. military and Iraqi government officials.
¿ Establishment of an "incident review board" made up of embassy diplomatic and security officials, a U.S. military officer, and another U.S. government official "from an agency other than State or Justice with a law enforcement background." The board will review all incidents involving contractor use of deadly force, injury, death or serious property damage and recommend to the ambassador whether force was justified. If justification is not found, the incident will be referred to the Justice Department.
¿ Establishment of a permanent working group made of Diplomatic Security and the Multi-National Force-Iraq officials to develop "commonly agreed operational procedures" and exchange information.
¿ New training for contractors on diplomatic and military procedures and Iraqi culture.
¿ Increased embassy responsiveness to the families of "innocent Iraqi civilians killed or seriously injured" and offers of "appropriate condolences and compensation."
