WASHINGTON — The State Department is taking a second look at a
British security contractor it retained that operates in Iraq.
The contractor, Aegis Defence Services, has been publicizing its
operations in Iraq, which includes firing on civilian vehicles. Aegis has
been hired by the State Department to protect diplomatic and other
facilities in Iraq.
Members of Aegis, one of the largest security contractors in Iraq,
posted a video of security personnel firing on civilian vehicles in Iraq.
Officials said the department has sought to determine whether this was an
actual incident.
[On Tuesday, a group entitled the Islamic Army in Iraq claimed to have
abducted a U.S. security adviser and threatened to kill him within 48 hours
unless the U.S. military releases all Iraqi prisoners. The Qatar-based
A-Jazeera satellite channel identified the hostage as Ronald
Schulz, a security adviser for the Iraqi Housing Ministry, Middle East Newsline reported.]
"I think it is incumbent upon the company involved to answer any
questions that may be raised about the conduct of their employees," State
Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Dec. 1.
"If any of these
particular employees were under contract to the U.S. government or the U.S.
mission and their behavior in any way deviated from the expected
norms and standards of the U.S. mission that it has for its employees in
Iraq, I would expect that that to be looked into."
Aegis, with 2,000 employees in Iraq, cited rules of engagement for
contractors to fire upon civilian vehicles. The department would not confirm
this or whether the company's staff routinely opened fire during the course
of duty.
The U.S. military has also launched an investigation into the video. The
video has been removed from its original site, http://www.aegisIraq.co.uk.
The site contains a disclaimer that it was not part of Aegis Defence, rather
the "men on the ground that are the heart and soul of the company."
"Aegis has established a formal board of enquiry in cooperation with the
U.S. military authorities to investigate whether the footage has any
connection with the company, and should this provide to be the case under
what circumstances any incident took place," Aegis said in a statement.
The company said the U.S. military and State Department permitted live
fire against civilian vehicles suspected of containing bombs. The company
said all incidents of fire by its personnel have been investigated.
In 2004, Aegis won a U.S. project to coordinate security for
contractors in Iraq. The contract also stipulated counter-insurgency
support, escort security and close personal protection.
In April 2005, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq
Reconstruction determined that security officers at Aegis were not
qualified. The inspector general said Aegis had not complied with the terms
of its $293 million contract.
Private contractors have played a major role in fixed-site, convoy, VIP
and other security in Iraq. Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, nearly 300
private security officers have been killed in insurgency strikes in Iraq.
