DoD, State sign pact on contractors in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

DoD, State sign pact on contractors in Iraq
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 6, 2007 5:48:38 EST

Private security contractors working in Iraq will coordinate movements with U.S. military officials and adhere to clearer rules on the use of deadly force, according to a memorandum of understanding signed Wednseday at the Pentagon by the deputy secretaries of State and Defense.

The final authority for such movements, however, will rest with the chief of mission — currently, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The agreement, worked out by the two departments along with the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and Multi-National Force-Iraq, aims “to improve coordination of our private security contractors operating in Iraq,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

The agreement, which covers movement coordination and control, incident response, use of force and accountability, was signed Wednesday afternoon by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

“We think this is a very good and strong memorandum of agreement between our two departments, and should vastly improve the coordination and control of private security contractors operating in Iraq,” Whitman said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/military_contractors_071205w/