Pakistani Police Raid U.S. Contractor

Local Security Firm Hired to Protect Embassy in Islamabad Allegedly Had Dozens of Unlicensed Firearms

(AP)  Pakistani police raided a local security firm that helps protect the U.S. Embassy on Saturday, seizing dozens of allegedly unlicensed weapons at a time when unusually intense media scrutiny of America's use of private contractors has deepened anti-U.S. sentiment here.

Two employees of the Inter-Risk company were arrested during the raids in Islamabad, police official Rana Akram told a news conference. Reporters were shown the disputed weapons - 61 assault rifles and nine pistols. Akram said police were seeking the firm's owner.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire said the U.S. contract with Inter-Risk took effect at the start of 2009. It is believed to be the first contract the firm has signed with the U.S., said Snelsire, who did not have a figure for its amount.

"Our understanding is they obtained licenses with whatever they brought into the country to meet the contractual needs," he said. "We told the government that we had a contract with Inter-Risk, that Inter-Risk would be providing security at the embassy and our consulates."

Akram said he had no idea about any U.S. links to Inter-Risk, but the company was recently mentioned in local media reports that have been trying to establish the types of private security firms American diplomats use in Pakistan.

In particular, Pakistani reporters, anti-U.S. bloggers and others have suggested the U.S. is using the American firm formerly known as Blackwater - a claim that chills many Pakistanis because of the company's alleged involvement in killings of Iraqi civilians.

The U.S. Embassy denies it uses Blackwater - now known as Xe Services - in Pakistan.

Scandals involving U.S. private contractors have occurred elsewhere in the region.

In Washington on Friday, the Commission on Wartime Contracting heard testimony about another contractor - ArmorGroup North America - involving alleged illegal and immoral conduct by its guards at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan.

The Iraqi government refused to grant Xe Services an operating license earlier this year amid continued outrage over a 2007 lethal firefight involving some of its employees in Baghdad, although the State Department has temporarily extended a contract with a Xe subsidiary to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq.

Many of the reports in Pakistan have been fueled by U.S. plans to expand its embassy space and staff. Among the other rumors the U.S. denies: that 1,000 U.S. Marines will land in the capital, and that Americans will set up a Guantanamo-style prison.

The U.S. says it needs to add hundreds more staff to allow it to disburse billions of dollars in additional aid to Pakistan.

Legislation making its way through Congress will triple non-military aid to Pakistan - one version would provide $1.5 billion a year over five years in humanitarian and economic aid. The goal is to improve education and other areas, lessening the allure of extremism.

The U.S. considers stability in Pakistan critical to helping the faltering war effort in neighboring Afghanistan, and has pressed Pakistan to crack down on extremism on its soil.

Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters are believed to use Pakistan's northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan as hide-outs. Their presence has fueled violence in Pakistani territory, including attacks that pit Sunni Muslims against Shiite Muslims.

Police said Saturday that the death toll from a suicide car bombing at a hotel in a Shiite Muslim-dominated village in Pakistan's northwest rose to 40. The Friday blast in Usterzai village was followed by a bomb in nearby Cho village that killed a Sunni official.

Pakistan has made some gains against militants, however, especially in the northwest Swat Valley, where a four-month-old offensive appears to have cleared many Taliban insurgents.

The army said in a statement Saturday that 51 militants had surrendered in the last 24 hours, and that another seven were arrested. It also said militants fatally shot five civilians in a minibus.

[Mheurt]

Either the photo that accompanies this story is wrong, or some of the facts of the story are twisted. Most of the weapons shown on that table are not "high powered assault rifles", they are pump shotguns with pistol grip stock. Also a WWII surplus bolt action is shown. Weapons yes, but not modern assault rifles. But I guess it doen't sound nearly as dramatic to say that some ratty, used $100 shotguns were siezed; assault rifle sounds much more sinister and ominous,

[luck2imm]

Its all a waste of money. Billions for schools in a war torn country that has been that way for thousands of years. Yet there isnt enough money to support the schools in the usa.

[kevjustice]

Blacwater is evil no matter who(Bush or Obama) uses their "services".

[hermitdave]

How can America run a fake war without private contractors? This is the way it works folks. No way would the American people have stood still for the invasion of one country, much less two countries, without the manufacturing of a evil enemy with a evil leader. The real power brokers of the world faced a major problem at the end of the Clinton era. The western countries were basking in prosperity, Russia could no longer be counted on to SCARE the west into spending tons of money on weapons, the life blood of the Military Industrial Complex. China was more interested in selling the west copies of name brand goods.

Except for the never ending turmoil in a land some silly GOD promised to the ZIONISTS over the dead bodies of the Palestinians. The world was close to the one thing the super rich power brokers could never live with. Peace on earth and the little guy thrives. Something had to be done, but WHAT and HOW?

Just as it had been down through time, the rich and powerful began to plan for their future. The ignorant masses as usual were just along for the ride. Only a select number of humans know who and where this meeting of the super rich and powerful was held, and the names of those attending. The met and a plan was drawn up.

The planners needed to have their own people in charge of the two major countries involved. This was easy since politicians were involved. Therefore only mild threats and money were needed. Unlike countries where powerful dictators rule and you need assassins and it can get bloody.

In America they picked their team and made sure it won the election. Technology helped and except for a brief but harmless attempt by the congressional black congress to question the election, everything fell in to place. It was a slam dunk since without at least one signature of a senator, the black group was shut up. Just a few phone calls to senators. Remember senators listen to people powerful enough to be able to get them on the phone.

The new American government consisted of many holdovers from previous republican administrations. Very powerful men well known by the super rich power brokers. Top first name good old boy stuff. Except for a first and most important element, a powerless inept, totally controlled president. This was not a easy person to find. Any study of human behavior will show that presidents and kings and dictators usually want CONTROL. I guess you could call it a super rich powerful lucky break. A powerful man from a old line power family, former president, well known to all the super rich power brokers, had a son that you might say enjoyed playing like he was one of the gang, but never wanting to put much effort into it. He couldn't even run a oil company someone gave him the money to buy, same with a baseball team, and a horseless ranch.

With September 11th 2001 around a year and nine months away, America swore in it's first real PLAY president, and several men hand picked by the super rich power brokers of the world. The plan to keep money flowing to the super rich was in place.

TO BE CONTINUED

[kevjustice]

Blackwater=Xe Services=Grim Reaper Services

[jgg00009]

funny how obama still uses blackwater, eh

[jackobyte]

why dont we just call a t**d a t**d? they are not contractors but mercenaries.

changing names doesnt change behavior. these mercenaries obviously want to keep themselves in work, so a little side business gun running is cool, know it? Y O U R T A X D O L L A R S at work...

[jgg00009]

I realize that you are using the term "mercenary" because it carries a derogatory connotation. However, if I, or any member of my family was stationed at the US embassy in pakistan I would want the biggest, meanest, rambo-on-steroids, MF's money could buy. And in actuality, they are not "mercenaries". If they were they'd be fighting in the war, and be hired from a foreign country.

[dragon8me]

Lawyers-Guns-n-Money better look out, we're showing our age. The kids are going *** are they talking about. lol. I had forgot all about that and would probably never would have, Thanks Tool 4 clearing a few cobwebs.

[outwestbutnotca]

This is all very interesting, but why is it that some of the rifles and at least one of the pistols are clearly WWII vintage surplus? That table looks more like something from a gun show than modern weapons used to provide security. Curious.

[jackobyte]

because they are probably buying and selling, kabish? its business.

[jgg00009]

if we are not going to defend our embassy with everything we've got, close the embassy.

[dragon8me]

That's CSPAN 1 live.

[dragon8me]

Right now CSPAN is showing hearings on these contractors

[sdemaggie]

Who is the idiot that OK'd using paramiltary organizations as security for our embassies? When did we disband the Marines?

[culturechang]

and all those guns will end up in the hands of terrorists.

[oiaf0831]

Bingo. And they were already paid for before they were seized.

[underdogus09]

yeah but they rather own a Russian made AK-47.....

[oiaf0831]

This happened on Obama's watch.

Obama is to blame.

It's that simple!

[brianbwb-2009]

Not far from correct, because they shouldn't even be there in the first place, (which is of course Bush's fault, but president Obama also risks also being held liable for war crimes that happen on his watch) but it remains to see what President Obama will do about it.

If it were up to me, I say let the perps be processed under the laws of Pakistan, as a warning to future contractors planning illegal acts, that we will not protect them from the consequences of their stupidity.

[oiaf0831]

9/11/2009 has come and gone.

Obama now owns all problems.

No matter who "started it."

[brianbwb-2009]

To oiaf0831

You do have a point, but still evade the real one, so let us see if you are up to it.

What do you suppose should be done about the current president's role in this, and what should be done about the former president's role in starting it all?

Shouldn't the highest body count receive the harshest sentence?

Or do you posit that we should be there, in which case neither should be sanctioned?

[dragon8me]

oiaf0831 September 19, 2009 9:18 AM EDT
This happened on Obama's watch.

Obama is to blame.

It's that simple!
-------------------------------------------------------------------

A statement like that just shows how simple you are.

[txlakeside]

Simple is as simple does ... and you are very simple! Not to mention dumb as dirt!

[gunownerdan]

WHAT A JOKE!
Pakistan has gun licencing? Yeah right.
Pakistan has huge gun markets where people make and sell all kinds of guns to just about anyone!

[brianbwb-2009]

Actually, they do.

"Pakistani citizens and special category of foreigners can legally own firearms. A license is required to purchase a firearm which involves payment of fees, a processing time ranging from a few days to months and registration of the firearm with the local authorities. Present laws allow ownership of handguns of any caliber (at one time this was restricted up to the .38). However, rifles above the .22 caliber are prohibited (excluding those which were bought before this restriction was imposed). Shotguns below 12 gauge are not allowed. A person may keep a firearm at his/her place of residence, in one's vehicle and concealed on person; public display is prohibited (though this law is honored more in the breach than in the observance, especially outside urban areas and in particular by private bodyguards of politicians). Special permits are required for carrying firearms during times when local authorities impose restriction on public gatherings to preempt civil unrest or protests that can turn ugly. In large cities, facilities exist for gun enthusiasts to practice shooting on targets, etc."

Due to cultural norms, as well as a very powerful organized crime network, there is a large and lucrative underground market for unlicensed weapons there.

It is quite probable that some US employee of Inter-Risk was looking to make some money on the side.

At any rate, the law, even if not followed by many, is clear, and is staten even on the immigration documents they received before arrival in Pakistan.

Whoever brought the unlicensed weapons into the country should be expecting either some heavy jail time, or a VERY expensive bribery payment.