[Peace-discuss] Blackwater (Counter Narcotics-Latin America)

[Roger Epperson]

Truly, Blackwater has a global presence. One report
today suggests that they are building a training site
in Thailand. Tom Dempsey does not lack  opportunity in
employment.    

Contractors take on expanded role in drug warBy
Katherine McIntire Peters kpeters at govexec.com
September 12, 2007 Late last month, the Pentagon
tapped five major defense contractors to provide
wide-ranging support in global counter-narcotics
operations. The contract, worth up to $15 billion over
the next five years, illustrates the extent to which
the Defense Department is relying on contractors to
perform critical missions while combat forces are
stretched thin by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In response to specific task orders issued under the
indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract,
companies will develop and deploy new surveillance
technologies, train and equip foreign security forces
and provide key administrative, logistical and
operational support to Defense and other agencies such
as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to the work statement provided to bidders,
the vast majority of the drive will be conducted
overseas.
"The contractor shall provide security and related
services in support of [counter-narcoterrorism and]
related missions to include, but not limited to,
intelligence, medical, logistics, canine services,
surveillance, counter-surveillance, aerial over-watch,
security advisory, etc. The services may be incidental
to other activities (i.e., training programs,
construction, etc.) or the primary purpose of the
[task order]," the statement said.
Three task orders included in the request for
proposals issued last December give some sense of the
contract's scope:
The first task order requires the contractor to
develop and install high-resolution shortwave infrared
cameras and all necessary appurtenances on two types
of aircraft. A second requires the contractor to
provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
support in Trans-Saharan Africa by identifying the
best platform and sensor suite; designing, building,
operating and maintaining a base of operations; and
providing various analytical reports. A third "sample"
task order requires the contractor to develop a
program to train border police in Afghanistan to guard
crossings, prevent the flow of contraband, and search
people and vehicles. 
All contractor personnel must have security clearances
for handling classified information, and some must
possess clearances for special access programs,
including those at the Top Secret/sensitive
compartmented information level.
Awardees include Raytheon Technical Services Co.,
Lockheed Martin Co., Northrop Grumman Corp., Arinc
Inc., and Blackwater USA. The contract was let by the
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command on Aug. 24
on behalf of the Pentagon's Counter-Narcoterrorism
Technology Program Office.
The mission of the counter-narcoterrorism office is to
"develop and deploy technology that aids disrupting,
deterring and denying the flow of drugs, people,
information, money and weapons related to illegal drug
trafficking and narcoterrorism," according to a 2003
Pentagon memo that expanded the charter. The office
was formerly known as the DoD Counterdrug Technology
Development Program Office.
While contractors have long supported federal
counternarcotics programs, the scope of requirements
in the contract issued last month is new. In late
February 2006, Space and Missile Defense Command
issued a "sources sought" document seeking information
from industry about the support that contractors could
provide for the counter-drug mission.
Two months later, at an industry briefing in April,
Defense officials estimated that the value of the
contract would be $500 million to $750 million per
year over five years, according to briefing documents.
Clearly, the Pentagon's requirements expanded between
that briefing and last December, when Defense issued
its request for proposals.
As the work statement in the request noted: "Due to
the rapid adaptability of the counter-narcoterrorist
threat, special federal government spending
authorities are available to the [deputy assistant
secretary of Defense for counter-narcoterrorism]."



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