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Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Military privatisation in Iraq.
Both Juan Cole and Edward Hughes at Fistful of Euros highlight an extraordinary privatisation tender put out for the protection of the Green Zone (administrative HQ) in Baghdad after the US handover. Contractors must:

"... deal with vehicles containing explosive devices, the improvised explosives planted on roads, "direct fire and ground assaults by upwards of 12 personnel with military rifles, machine guns and RPG [rocket-propelled grenade], indirect fire by mortars and rockets, individual suicide bombers, and employment of other weapons of mass destruction . . . in an unconventional warfare setting." To meet that challenge, the bidders' personnel must have prior military experience, and those involved directly in force protection must have "operated in U.S., North Atlantic Treaty Organization or other military organizations compatible with NATO standards."

Quite a mercenary outfit called for.

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