Difference between revisions of "Global Risk Strategies"
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| − | '''Global Risk Strategies''' is a London based firm founded by [[Damien Perl]], a former marine, and [[Charlie Andrews]], a former [[Scots Guard]] officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. | + | '''Global Strategies Group''', formerly '''Global Risk Strategies''', is a London based firm founded by [[Damien Perl]], a former marine, and [[Charlie Andrews]], a former [[Scots Guard]] officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. What began as a two man team has grown extensively since then. [http://www.economist.com/World/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2539816] |
The firm is helping the [[CPA]] to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced [[Custer Battles]] with providing the security at [[Baghdad]] airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.{{ref|grs}} | The firm is helping the [[CPA]] to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced [[Custer Battles]] with providing the security at [[Baghdad]] airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.{{ref|grs}} | ||
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The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.{{ref|cpa}} | The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.{{ref|cpa}} | ||
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| + | ==Relted Resources== | ||
| + | *[[British Association of Private Security Companies]] | ||
| + | *[[CSTPV]] | ||
| + | *[[Asia Foundation]] | ||
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| + | ==Contact== | ||
| + | *'''Web:''' http://www.globalgroup.com/ | ||
| + | Contact information for the organization's offices in Washington DC, Colombia, London, Baghdad, Spain, Nigeria, Kabul, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China are available at: http://www.globalgroup.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=209 | ||
==Related Articles== | ==Related Articles== | ||
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# {{note|cst}}James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005 | # {{note|cst}}James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005 | ||
# {{note|cpa}}David Phinney, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12158 "Contract Quagmire in Iraq"], Special to CorpWatch, April 27th, 2005 | # {{note|cpa}}David Phinney, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12158 "Contract Quagmire in Iraq"], Special to CorpWatch, April 27th, 2005 | ||
| + | *Steve Negus, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12467 "Iraq: Civilian Traffic at Baghdad Airport Set to Resume"], ''Financial Times'', June 26, 2005. | ||
| + | *[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/09/09/iraq.main/index.html "Baghdad Airport Closed to Civilian Traffic: Iraqi forces to take over security after dispute with contractor"], [[CNN]], September 10, 2005 | ||
| + | *[http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050910/2005091003.html "US Army Blocks the Iraqi Army from Iraq's Airport"], ''ArabicNews.com'', September 10, 2005. | ||
| + | *Jonathon Finer, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001559.html "Financial Dispute May Disrupt Iraq Airport Security: Current Firm Has Not Been Paid; Iraqis Want Local Group to Take Over"], ''Washington Post'', July 1, 2006. | ||
| + | *David Hubler, [http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_11/30918-1.html "Technology with a human touch: Company combines IT and security to win work in the world’s hot spots"], ''Washington Technology'', June 25th, 2007 | ||
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| + | [[Category:Private Military Corporations]] | ||
Revision as of 13:02, 13 July 2007
Global Strategies Group, formerly Global Risk Strategies, is a London based firm founded by Damien Perl, a former marine, and Charlie Andrews, a former Scots Guard officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. What began as a two man team has grown extensively since then. [1]
The firm is helping the CPA to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced Custer Battles with providing the security at Baghdad airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.[2]
Through its senior analyst Tamara Makarenko the firm also has links to the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at St Andrews University,[3] a right wing think-tank that provides highly ideological definitions and remedies for terrorism. According to Makarenko, civil liberties are something that one would cherish, only 'if you are a suspect with something to hide.'
The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.[4]
Relted Resources
Contact
Contact information for the organization's offices in Washington DC, Colombia, London, Baghdad, Spain, Nigeria, Kabul, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China are available at: http://www.globalgroup.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=209
Related Articles
- ^Special Report, "Don't call us mercenaries, says British company with lucrative contracts and cheap labour", The Guardian, May 17, 2004
- ^James Cusick, "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights", Sunday Herald, July 10, 2005
- ^David Phinney, "Contract Quagmire in Iraq", Special to CorpWatch, April 27th, 2005
- Steve Negus, "Iraq: Civilian Traffic at Baghdad Airport Set to Resume", Financial Times, June 26, 2005.
- "Baghdad Airport Closed to Civilian Traffic: Iraqi forces to take over security after dispute with contractor", CNN, September 10, 2005
- "US Army Blocks the Iraqi Army from Iraq's Airport", ArabicNews.com, September 10, 2005.
- Jonathon Finer, "Financial Dispute May Disrupt Iraq Airport Security: Current Firm Has Not Been Paid; Iraqis Want Local Group to Take Over", Washington Post, July 1, 2006.
- David Hubler, "Technology with a human touch: Company combines IT and security to win work in the world’s hot spots", Washington Technology, June 25th, 2007
