Reply #11: Text of her speech on 'contractors' in Africa is here:

[Snazzy]

http://www.defenselink.mil/policy/isa/africa/IPOA.htm

(lotta info in here for future ref. about mercs in Africa)

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Theresa Whelan

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs

Remarks to IPOA Dinner

19 November 2003

Washington, D.C.

Thanks very much for asking me to speak tonight. After looking around the room before and after the dinner started, I realized that a lot of you could probably do this better tonight than I could, but unfortunately you’re stuck with me.

What Doug asked me to speak on tonight was our experiences from a DoD perspective in using contractors in Africa in supporting US government objectives.

...

Plus, contractors get more bang for the buck in Africa by providing skilled management teams that rely on host nation labor which is generally cheaper. So you get considerable cost savings.

(Here's the part where she winks:

Plus, the use of contractors in Africa also means that the U.S. can be supportive in trying to ameliorate regional crises without necessarily having to put U.S. troops on the ground, which is often times a very difficult political decision.

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Also, the current International Criminal Court situation leaves the civilians out in the open with regard to potential criminal sanctions. Again, this is an area that needs to be explored more. The military are automatically covered by SOFAs, but the contractors are hanging out there. It gets back to my earlier comments that we have to try to work the contractors into the SOFAs in order to provide protection.

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Also worth checking out is the hillariously Orwellian International Peace Operations Center:

http://www.ipoaonline.org/

WELCOME
The International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) is an association of Military Service Provider companies - companies who work or are interested in international peace operations around the world. This includes companies that do everything from mine clearance, to armed logistics, to emergency humanitarian services, to actual armed peacekeeping.

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Here's their PR on the EG Coup (which sounds like they deny involvement, but they don't actually. At the bottom they list Sandline as a member)

Zimbabwe/Equatorial Guinea Events - IPOA Statement

3/12/04

Recent events in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea have captured headlines and, not surprisingly, have spurred a great deal of frenzied speculation and spur-of-the-moment analysis.

While this can be distracting, the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) wants to emphasize that these events highlight exactly why our members have joined the association. They are distinguished by a published code of conduct, operate strictly within international legal frameworks, work only for legitimate clients, and have a tangible corporate presence. Impeccable reputations and the highest level of professionalism are fundamental in order to provide services to international peace operations. These attributes are the defining characteristics of our members.

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Background:

The International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) is an association of military service companies that support international peace and stability operations around the world. This includes companies that do everything from mine clearance, to armed logistics, to emergency humanitarian services, to the provision of specialized equipment, to actual armed peacekeepers. The association was founded to institute industry-wide standards and a code of conduct, maintain sound professional and military practices, educate the public and policy-makers on the industry’s activities and potential, and ensure the humanitarian use of private peacekeeping services for the benefit of international peace and human security.

IPOA represents a growing list of companies including:

AirScan, ArmorGroup, DEI/CITSC, ICI of Oregon, J-3 Global Services, Main Street Supply, MPRI, Pacific Architects & Engineers, Sandline International, and (affiliated member) O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt.

http://www.ipoaonline.org/news_detailhtml.asp?catID=4&docID=13