Japan's Blackwater

[Taro Toporific]

Blackwater: Japan's Missile Defense Force
October 07, 2007 | 2:57:54
The guns-for-hire at Blackwater don't just roam the streets of Baghdad and New Orleans. Turns out, they're in Japan, too -- protecting the country's controversial ballistic missile defense systems.
In Shariki, a tiny village near the Sea of Japan, about 100 government contractors work withAN/TPY-2 radar...more...

[Buraku]

Yeah, the US defense money is been outsourced to contractors and guns for hire. A lot of them are honest guys just trying to make a buck while doing their job but some of them are morons, complete cowboys, that get drunk and go on shooting rampages - this is why Blackwater got so much bad press and of course evil America gets blamed for all this.

Basically word on the inside is that the US can no longer afford its own security anymore, that's why port security was almost outsourced to those Dubai Arabs. Keeping US bases around the world open (Hurghada, Guantanamo, Kamiseya, Ramstein etc) is also an expensive business, strategically they'll probably want to keep the AFBs and Naval bases open but keeping the army in shape is going to be very difficult. The Marine Corps has seen equipment cuts while the Army is stretched almost to the breaking point, think about it the USA has buried hundreds of soldiers in war that was 'mission accomplished'. There are huge medical bills to pay for with wounded troops and young Americans are left exposed in a hostile country with no real exit strategy.

Some day soon Japanese may be doing more than just volunteering to do their duty.

[Greji]

Yeah, the US defense money is been outsourced to contractors and guns for hire.

Buraku, people are just re-inventing the wheel with their new found knowledge here. There have always been the contract "guns for hire" and it will continue.

During Vietnam, Air Scare and Southern Air used to hire off duty military, primary MPs and SPs to moonlight by flying guns for them along with their "contract" employees. When this topic comes resurfaces, new people are just so suprised. During the fun days in Central and South America, most of the hired guns were from the ex-ranger and green beanie set. Barry Saddler, ex-A-team SSgt, ex-singer and former-live person, headed up several "have gun will travel" groups (at least for the recruiting end) at that time for the fun in the sun tours, primarily in Central America.

As I said, there has always been and will be a market for these so-called hired guns.

[kusai Jijii]

Basically word on the inside is that the US can no longer afford its own security anymore, that's why port security was almost outsourced to those Dubai Arabs. Keeping US bases around the world open (Hurghada, Guantanamo, Kamiseya, Ramstein etc) is also an expensive business, strategically they'll probably want to keep the AFBs and Naval bases open but keeping the army in shape is going to be very difficult.

With respect, that aint really an 'inside secret'.

[Behan]

Love these job qualifications:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk, use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee may occasionally sit for prolonged periods of time at a desk, or table. The employee may stand for prolonged periods of time. Must be able to occasionally travel by designated transportation i.e. aircraft, vehicle, mass transit system.

[Kuang_Grade]

With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the 90's, many jobs descriptions in the US started to include the required physical aspects needed to perform the job (being able to stand for long periods of time, repeatably lift 50 lb items, being able to hear spoken communications). So it seems stupid to state that mercenaries in war zone should be able to walk and talk and be able to use their hands, but they're doing it to avoid lawsuits.

[L S]

Buraku, people are just re-inventing the wheel with their new found knowledge here. There have always been the contract "guns for hire" and it will continue.

During Vietnam, Air Scare and Southern Air used to hire off duty military, primary MPs and SPs to moonlight by flying guns for them along with their "contract" employees. When this topic comes resurfaces, new people are just so suprised. During the fun days in Central and South America, most of the hired guns were from the ex-ranger and green beanie set. Barry Saddler, ex-A-team SSgt, ex-singer and former-live person, headed up several "have gun will travel" groups (at least for the recruiting end) at that time for the fun in the sun tours, primarily in Central America.

As I said, there has always been and will be a market for these so-called hired guns.

I think it is reasonable to say though that the growth in this industry is quite unprecedented compared to any previous time.

Blackwater is the poster child for gun-for-hire success. They went from under $1M in US gov't contracts in 2001 to $600M in 2006. They have been awarded a total of $1B in contracts by the US gov't.

DynCor, which is Blackwater's competitor, had $2.08B in revenue for fiscal year ending May '07. This is from thigns like a $2.45B 2004 State Dept contract for CIVPOL (civilian Police) training in various foreign countries including Iraq.

And these are just a few examples...

As a business guy it makes me wonder about efficiency and value of outsourcing vs. internal staffing. It is pretty obvious that outsourcing has a real place in most large organization to adjust and adapt to changing short term needs of the market. BUT, many companies are looking again at their strategies to see if there is an overreliance on it. As with many management trends, companies tend to buy into it too much.

I believe the US govt/military has bought into this a little too much as part of a concept to reduce gov't size and give the perception of less direct $ going to the war (Pentagon costs). I am doubting this is truly cost effective as-is and believe that a lot of what the contractors do are real missions that will be in the military's domain for years to come. A good CEO/COO would think about brining some of it "in-house" at this point.

[Choeki]

The one major thing I've noticed about all this Blackwater business is the fact that by hiring these guys they have the plausible deniablility regarding responsibility for their actions as well as an easy way to remove unsuitable assets if an incident should arise.

All the Federal services involve a lot of incest (i.e. retention of trained personnel through contracting), but Blackwater is only being singled out due to the bad press they've been getting recently. Most of those guys are US military ex-spec ops or spec-war and simply want to be paid what they're worth verses what the government deigned to pay them. Add to this that they can choose to walk off the job if something "smells bad" and it's a hard deal to beat. The only problem of course is that they usually have to buy their own equipment, but then again they were doing that anyway if they were spec-ops or spec-war.

[Greji]

The one major thing I've noticed about all this Blackwater business is the fact that by hiring these guys they have the plausible deniablility regarding responsibility for their actions as well as an easy way to remove unsuitable assets if an incident should arise.

This flows both ways I think. A lot of agencies and contractors do not much care for military security because of various reasons from restraints the military has to the ability to provide long term committment for security programs for these people as end users.

Contract security is more dependable and available without being "pulled for mission related duties" at unannounced times. Most people DBA in a place with not nice people surrounding them, generally do prefer and actually feel more secure with security teams that answer directly to them and not to military commanders with other priorities.

[kamome]

[quote="Behan"]Love these job qualifications:

the employee is frequently required to stand]

Sounds like your run-of-the-mill salaryman to me!

[Visitor K]

SECURICOR
by Crass
from the album The Feeding of the 5000
YEAR: 1978

I'm a private in a private army, I'm a private in a private army.

I am a working for securicor,
Take the money and come back for more.
I want to do it cause I know I should,
For the customer and the common good.

I walk around with a big alsation,
He'll re-arrange you with no provocation,
And I'm the bugger who has got the lead,
You'll have to be bright if you want to get at me.

Securicor cares. Securicor cares.
Securicor scares the shit out of you,
Do you want to come closer?

I block the pavement with my club and hat,
I deal in money that you can't get at.
You want to use me cause I'm up for rent,
Tough shit, cause I'm real busy.

You ought to know me cause I've been a cop,
Out at the army where I learned a lot.
Some kids still chuckle when they see my van,
But it's not all money sonny, you want to come closer?

Securicor cares. Securicor cares.
Securicor scares the shit out of you,
Do you want to come closer?
DO YOU WANT TO COME CLOSER?

Well I'm a private in a private army, I'm a private in a private army,
I'm a private in a private army, I'm a private in a private army,
I'M A PRIVATE IN A PRIVATE ARMY.

[emperor]

Securicor scares the shit out of you

Outside an AIB bank branch on St. Stephens Green in Dublin:
I saw a securicor employee shot in the leg with a revolver from 10 metres, right before the gunman (IRA up till the end of the 90s had a on monopoly on every form of lucritive crime in the country, its plain&simple organised crime since then) grabbed the metal case and jumped on the back of a passing motorcross bike.

the securior didnt look very scary, he didnt intimidate me at all, in fact i think he might have been pooping himself at the time...