Rules of Engagemment for Security Contractors in Iraq?

[MetalBoy]

The travesty that occurred in Fallujah today got me wondering about when civilian contractors are allowed to fire upon combatants in Iraq. Are they only allowed to fire when receiving enemy fire or are they allowed to tak ea more "proactive" role in combatting insurgent forces. After all the best defense is a good offense as the saying goes. Sorry if this has been covered before.

[Tane Angle]

I don't know if this is the answer you were looking for, but it depends. It changes mainly based what company it is and what their job there is. A PSD(bodyguards) for CPA chief Paul Bremer or SECDEF Rumsfeld, for example, have very different needs and tasks than a team assigned to do the daily convoy runs through Fallujah or from a team protecting a power station outside Mosul. Generally, it terms of actually shooting, though, it's don't shoot unless directly threatened. They can take the first shot, just as police in the United States can. Most don't pick fights though. Have a good one, and just some thoughts...

[UkrainianAmerican]

Perhaps the company, whose contractors dies taday, should send in some "cleaners" to clean that ****ty neighborhood up..
F*cking savages.

[MOD]

Contractors from Blackwater Security in NC.

[Dennis G]

Contractors from Blackwater Security in NC.

where they Blackwater?

[Flagg]

Perhaps the company, whose contractors dies taday, should send in some "cleaners" to clean that ****ty neighborhood up..
F*cking savages.

I somehow doubt that will be the appropriate response in defeating such a nebulous enemy.

In my opinion, if the coalition responds with anything but restrained violence upon only those responsible for this crime...the bad guys will have won.

Also, if the media bombards the public with friendly casualty images and sways public support against completing the job...the bad guys will have won.

Best bet, again in my opinion, stay on course....the enemy will be defeated by bringing an improved standard of living, improved internal security, and eventual democratic self-rule....not through blind retributional violence.

[SeanAshi]

I know we can't do this but just a thought..to bad we can't surround Fallujah the way the Russians surrounded Grozny and cut lose the artillery, damn their unconventional methods.

[Russian Texan]

I know we can't do this but just a thought..to bad we can't surround Fallujah the way the Russians surrounded Grozny and cut lose the artillery, damn their unconventional methods.

You are talking about 4000 explosions per hour here, not exactly the right way to introduce democracy to Iraqis ;)

On a serious note, I think money would be the best means of solving problems/achieving peace.
Be generous with informants, post "Wanted dead or Alive" posters, etc...
Money approach works, just look at Saddam and his sons.

[MOD]

Yes Blackwater.

[SeanAshi]

How about $1 on a fishing pole? Cast out then reel in.

[Stavka]

You are talking about 4000 explosions per hour here, not exactly the right way to introduce democracy to Iraqis ;)


But you gotta admit, it would be an interesting way to go about it.

[HELEX]

This is not really relevant, as long you are "attacked" by a Bomb you have nothing to shoot at. :roll:

[Dominique]

From what I've heard, two of the guys were former SEALs (as are a lot of the staff at Blackwater) and a former Army Ranger.

I'm not sure what their specific ROE were, nore am I sure about what happended, but I can tell you that Gary Jackson runs a tight ship. Blackwater is a very squared away company. The instructors and staff have their **** together and are dailed in tight.

As for the all of the talk of rolling into town and leveling the place, it would make us no better tahn the people we are trying to help. I'm quite sure that the individuals responsible will get exactly waht they deserve.

[WARPIG]

From what I've heard, two of the guys were former SEALs (as are a lot of the staff at Blackwater) and a former Army Ranger.

I'm not sure what their specific ROE were, nore am I sure about what happended, but I can tell you that Gary Jackson runs a tight ship. Blackwater is a very squared away company. The instructors and staff have their **** together and are dailed in tight.

As for the all of the talk of rolling into town and leveling the place, it would make us no better tahn the people we are trying to help. I'm quite sure that the individuals responsible will get exactly waht they deserve.
I agree.
Big wake up call for Black Water people. I see some heavy hardware being pulled out.
Military response however has to be thought out, controlled, but strong. Making thier presence known and displaying some active and obvious efforts to find the people involved will be the right order. Paying informants will go a long way as well. Leveling the place is just ridiculous. That is like bombing LA to stop gang drive-by shootings.

[George W. Bush]

From what I've heard, two of the guys were former SEALs (as are a lot of the staff at Blackwater) and a former Army Ranger.

I'm not sure what their specific ROE were, nore am I sure about what happended, but I can tell you that Gary Jackson runs a tight ship. Blackwater is a very squared away company. The instructors and staff have their **** together and are dailed in tight.


Big wake up call for Black Water people. I see some heavy hardware being pulled out.


You bet.. No sane personnel are ever going to roll thru Fallujah without being armed to the teeth. This attack was a big operation aimed to destabilize the Americans back home. I have no doubt about that.

[Argyll]

From what I've heard, two of the guys were former SEALs (as are a lot of the staff at Blackwater) and a former Army Ranger.

I'm not sure what their specific ROE were, nore am I sure about what happended, but I can tell you that Gary Jackson runs a tight ship. Blackwater is a very squared away company. The instructors and staff have their **** together and are dailed in tight.


Big wake up call for Black Water people. I see some heavy hardware being pulled out.


You bet.. No sane personnel are ever going to roll thru Fallujah without being armed to the teeth. This attack was a big operation aimed to destabilize the Americans back home. I have no doubt about that.



thing is they probably were pretty "tooled up" as is,these men were no slouch's,something went seriously wrong with Intelligence on this Op.
It doesn't make it any easier for the remaining guys on their shift.ROE's for PMC are "flexible",but based on current situations and Ops,they usually have a less "tolerance" level for returning fire.
In saying that there are dozens of different Companies in Iraq at the mo,they'll all have their own ROE's

[WARPIG]

From what I've heard, two of the guys were former SEALs (as are a lot of the staff at Blackwater) and a former Army Ranger.

I'm not sure what their specific ROE were, nore am I sure about what happended, but I can tell you that Gary Jackson runs a tight ship. Blackwater is a very squared away company. The instructors and staff have their **** together and are dailed in tight.


Big wake up call for Black Water people. I see some heavy hardware being pulled out.


You bet.. No sane personnel are ever going to roll thru Fallujah without being armed to the teeth. This attack was a big operation aimed to destabilize the Americans back home. I have no doubt about that.

I think your reading into it. Maybe the guerrilla attacks are a deliberate step up in their op tempo.. but the mob of animals that mutilated the bodies was just that. An inhuman mob that don't deserve the right to breathe.

[Beowulf]

Perhaps the company, whose contractors dies taday, should send in some "cleaners" to clean that ****ty neighborhood up..
F*cking savages.

I somehow doubt that will be the appropriate response in defeating such a nebulous enemy.

In my opinion, if the coalition responds with anything but restrained violence upon only those responsible for this crime...the bad guys will have won.

Also, if the media bombards the public with friendly casualty images and sways public support against completing the job...the bad guys will have won.

Best bet, again in my opinion, stay on course....the enemy will be defeated by bringing an improved standard of living, improved internal security, and eventual democratic self-rule....not through blind retributional violence.

What he said.

[Deminer from Sarajevo]

Does Somebody hear about this british security company HARD Group which is dislocating in South Iraq?

[front]

"Companies in Iraq at the mo,they'll all have their own ROE's"

That is a problem is'nt it? It brings up a lot of questions on their legal status.

Are these security guards legally protected by the US military if they open fire and kill civilians?

If they do kill civilians who is then responsible for the later investigation? The Iraqi police or the US military?

Would they be permitted to leave the country before an investigation was completed and return at a later date for a trial?

Who exactly controls these guys? The companies they are contracted to?

Just what is their legal status? Are they considered civilians? If so then are the Iraqi authorities, or people, comfortable with heavily armed foreign civilians in their country?

Are they officially briefed on a regular basis of their legal responsibilities by the US military or Iraqi police?

Are they bound in anyway, shape, or form under the Geneva and Hague conventions?

I cannot find out much on a search of Google about the answers to these questions. Can anyone here point out any official sources or even journalist reports which may answer these questions.

cheers

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