Security assigned to watch U.S. guards at Kabul embassy

Friday 04th September, 06:52 AM JST

KABUL —

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has banned alcohol and assigned American personnel to watch the embassy’s security guards following allegations of lewd behavior and sexual misconduct at their living quarters.

The announcement of the crackdown on embassy guards came as NATO reported the deaths of two U. S. service members in southern Afghanistan. A British soldier was also killed, according to the U.K. military.

The two U.S. personnel were killed by a bomb while on patrol in the region, which has seen some of the most intense fighting of the war. No other details have been released.

The British soldier from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment was shot dead while on patrol in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province.

The U.S. Embassy announced its new security measures Thursday after an independent watchdog group charged that guards hired by a private contractor were threatened and intimidated by supervisors.

The alleged mistreatment occurred at their offsite living quarters.

Meanwhile, photos were released of guards and supervisors in various stages of nudity at parties flowing with booze.

The State Department inspector general is leading an investigation of the contractor, ArmorGroup North America.

Ambassador Karl Eikenberry held a meeting with his staff on Thursday to discuss the situation, said embassy spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.

“We’ve already started to make changes to remedy some of the problems,” Hayden said.

Alcohol has been prohibited at Camp Sullivan—the offsite location where ArmorGroup guards live—and diplomatic security staff have been assigned to the camp, the embassy said.

The embassy “will continue to take every possible step to ensure the safety and security of American Embassy personnel, while respecting the values of all Afghans, Americans and contract employees and visitors from other countries,” a statement said.

The ArmorGroup security personnel guard the gates to the embassy road and perimeter and screen visitors. The Project on Government Oversight, an independent watchdog group, said the nearly 450 ArmorGroup guards live and work in an oppressive environment in which they are subjected to hazing and other inappropriate behavior by supervisors.

In at least one case, supervisors brought prostitutes into the quarters where the guards live, a serious breach of security and discipline, the group said this week. In other instances, members of the guard force drew Afghans into activities forbidden by Muslims, such as drinking alcoholic beverages, it said.

The situation led to a breakdown of morale and leadership that has compromised security at the embassy, where nearly 1,000 U.S. diplomats, staff and Afghan nationals work, according to the nonprofit group.

The embassy has been targeted in insurgent rocket attacks, and suicide bombs have exploded at or near its gates. Militant attacks have risen across Afghanistan the last three years.

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On the ‘Net:

Project on Government Oversight: http://www.pogo.org

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6 Comments

S7ro9kGm3aQ at 08:37 AM JST - 4th September

There's obviously a lot of gay love going on with the private security folk.
Osakadaz at 08:38 AM JST - 4th September

to be fair, the guards are predominantly Ghurka (300 out of 400) and the rest are a mix of South African,Australian,British,American and other mercenaries of the world.
adaydream at 11:17 AM JST - 4th September

More private contractors. It looks like private contractors supervisors can't keep their employees at least in line. But that's no surprise.

Why should I expect private contractors to be as consciencous as the military personnel? When you get to expect quality work, it's disconcerting to see average or below performance.

Is Haliburton connected to this group? < :-)
timorborder at 12:20 PM JST - 4th September

Heard about the security fun and games at the US Embassy in Kabul a couple of months ago from a friend who knows about such things. Apparently this ArmorGroup has attracted a right rogues gallery over the years. My friend reckons only the Gurkhas can be trusted. But at the same time, it is implied that there is a hint of racism in terms of the conditions that the company makes them work under. Moreover, the cowboys among the guards are apparently not short of shooting at each other to alleviate the boredom. That being said, I would rather have these guys on wookie parade than serving soldiers (standing around waiting to be hit). However, I just wish that these PMCs were able to attract a better standard of employee. First you have Black Water in Iraq spreading peace and love while massacring citizens, now you have these clowns given the rest of the people serving in Afghanistan a bad name.
ChrisBiggins at 02:09 PM JST - 4th September

i think the whole sordid affair is beastly an the guards should be sacked.
Yelnats at 02:23 PM JST - 4th September

Wow, guards to watch the guards. intersting