Afghanistan lets Blackwater stay despite shakeup of security contractors

[Newsjock]

Source: The Guardian

Blackwater looks set to survive an Afghan government clampdown on mercenaries after Hamid Karzai was forced by his western partners to abandon a complete disbandment of private security companies.

Under plans to be announced by the Afghan government this month many security contractors, whom Karzai regards as being little better than militias, will be allowed to continue operating for another year.

... Western and Afghan officials say the draft plans drawn up by former Karzai opponent Ashraf Ghani will actually allow companies to keep supplying private guards and security services to development projects indefinitely. According to a list seen by The Guardian 11 companies operating in Afghanistan that have a good reputation with government officials will enjoy favoured status in taking over contracts.

Xe Services, formerly known as Blackwater, is included in that group despite being banned in Iraq and notorious for its activities in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/07/afghanistan-blackwater-xe-security-contractors

[damntexdem]

1. Bring the troops home. Let Afghanistan pay for Xe.

Tell them that they're welcome to all that black water, I mean Blackwater.

[yellerpup]

2. Agreed.

Xe will abandon Afghanistan at that point because with the USA out they won't be able to pay kickbacks to Karzai. I bet Karzai pays slow if at all. Nope, not much future for Xe with the US not picking up the tab. k&r

[JanDutchy]

3. The Stupidity of private enterprise

'XE-services' and other mercenaries should be banned.

Force can only be legitimate under democratic control of state(s)

[libodem]

4. WTF