Company loses security contract for Kabul embassy

[The Straight Story]

Company loses security contract for Kabul embassy
By Richard Lardner, Associated Press December 8, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The State Department is cutting ties with the security contractor protecting the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan following an investigation of allegations that guards engaged in lewd behavior and sexual misconduct at their living quarters.

The arrangement with ArmorGroup North America expires next summer and will not be renewed, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday. Work will begin immediately on finding another company to guard the embassy in Kabul, one of the country's most important diplomatic outposts, he said.

Susan Pitcher, a spokeswoman for Wackenhut Services, ArmorGroup's parent company, referred all questions about the decision to terminate the contract to the State Department. ArmorGroup, based in McLean, Va., was awarded Kabul embassy security work in March 2007. Wackenhut acquired ArmorGroup in May 2008.

In early September, an independent watchdog group wrote a 10-page letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton describing "Lord of the Flies" conditions that included threats and intimidation and scenes of ArmorGroup guards and supervisors in various stages of nudity at parties flowing with alcohol.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44199&dcn=todaysnews

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