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State Department Oversight of Security Contract
at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul

 

September 1, 2009

 

 

 

Quicklinks: POGO Files | Related Resources | Press Clips

The Department of State contracted with ArmorGroup North America (AGNA) in March 2007 to provide security for the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Almost from Day One, AGNA has knowingly underperformed in its mission in order to maximize its profits, endangering the diplomats and its own employees in the process—and the Department of State knew about it. The State Department repeatedly chastised AGNA with no real effect. In fact, such issues as sleep-deprived guards, deviant hazing and behavior, and cost-cutting measures that resulted in substandard equipment became so problematic that a large percentage of the English-speaking guard force turned to POGO and others outside the State Department for help—they feared they were simply incapable of properly carrying out their mission to protect the Embassy.

 

POGO Files

POGO Supports Whistleblower Review
September 17, 2009 

Testimony of Danielle Brian before the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
September 14, 2009

POGO Statement on ArmorGroup Whistleblower Lawsuit Filed Today: State Department Accountability Remains Key Management Issue
September 10, 2009

POGO Statement on Kabul Embassy Guard Firings
September 4, 2009

Retaliation: Whistleblower Allegedly Forced Out After Helping To Expose Guard Scandal At U.S. Embassy Kabul
September 3, 2009

POGO Letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding U.S. Embassy in Kabul
September 1, 2009

 

Related Resources

McCaskill Questions Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on Contracting in Afghanistan
Press Office of Senator Claire McCaskill
September 15, 2009 

 
Testimony of Terry Pearson
Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
September 14, 2009 

McCaskill Statement On Wartime Contracting Commission Hearing On Kabul Embassy Contract
Press Office of Senator Claire McCaskill
September 14, 2009 

C-Span Video: Commission on Wartime Contracting Hearing on State Dept. Hiring Practices
C-Span (follow the video links to watch the 3 sessions of witnesses)
September 14, 2009 

U.S. Department of State Response to POGO's September 1, 2009 letter regarding the U.S. Embassy in Kabul
U.S. Department of State
September 8, 2009 

Wartime Contracting to probe State Department oversight and contractor-employee conduct
Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
September 4, 2009 

U.S. Embassy Statement on Local Guard Force
United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
September 4, 2009 

State Department Daily Press Briefing Transcript
State Department Press Secretary Ian Kelly
September 2, 2009 

State Department Daily Press Briefing Video
State Department Press Secretary Ian Kelly
September 2, 2009 

State Department Daily Press Briefing Transcript
State Department with Ian Kelly, Department Spokesman
September 1, 2009 

Senator Claire McCaskill's letter to Dept. of State, Under Secretary for Management, Patrick Kennedy regarding the contractor employees performing guard security at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
September 1, 2009 

State Department Daily Press Briefing Video
State Department with Ian Kelly, Department Spokesman
September 1, 2009 

 

Press Clips

 
Podcast: POGO's Danielle Brian, Private Military Herald podcast; PMH Radio, September 20, 2009 Click here to listen to the podcast. 

The business of war and profit: Aren’t we proud?, By Kelley Vlahos, The American Conservative Magazine, September 17, 2009 

 
Not Just Whistling Dixie with Guest Terry Pearson, former U.S. contractor, With Rachel Maddow, The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, September 14, 2009 

Embassy Scandal: A New Abu Ghraib?, By Dan Schulman, Mother Jones, September 14, 2009 

Official: Kabul Embassy Hazing Covered Up, By Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News Online, September 14, 2009 

 
State Department contracting scandal: Kennedy on the hotseat, By Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy, September 14, 2009 

Official Says Contractor in Kabul May Be Ousted, By Ginger Thompson, The New York Times, September 14, 2009 

POGO Blasts State Department Over ArmorGroup Oversight Before Wartime Contracting Commission, By Spencer Ackerman, Washington Independent, September 14, 2009 

State urged to cancel Kabul embassy security contract, By Elizabeth Newell, Government Executive Magazine, September 14, 2009 

State Department's Oversight of Security Contractors Is Scrutinized, By Mary Beth Sheridan, The Washington Post, September 13, 2009 

Company Kept Kabul Security Contract Despite Record, By Ginger Thompson and Mark Landler, The New York Times, September 12, 2009 

Afghan Embassy Scandal's Link to Cost-Cutting Security, By Ken Steir, TIME Magazine, September 11, 2009 

Whistleblower sues Afghanistan security contractor, By Charley Keyes, CNN, September 11, 2009 
 

Ex-Manager: More Excesses By U.S. Embassy Guards, By Michele Keleman, National Public Radio, September 11, 2009 

Embassy contractor faces new charges, By Jen DiMascio, Politico, September 10, 2009 

2 Say They Reported Abuses at Embassy , By Ginger Thompson with Mark Landler, The New York Times, September 10, 2009 

POGO Reacts to ArmorGroup Whistleblower Lawsuit, By Spencer Ackerman, The Washington Independent Online, September 10, 2009 

Ex-managers: security firm cut corners at embassy, By RIichard Lardner, The Examiner; Associated Press, September 10, 2009 

Naked Pool Parties, Alleged Sex Acts at Kabul U.S. Embassy Force Out 10 Guards, By Megan Chuchmach and Nick Schifrin, ABC News The Blotter With Brian Ross, September 4, 2009 

Systemic Problems Found With State Department Contract With Kabul Embassy Security, By Spencer Ackerman, Washington Independent Online, September 4, 2009 

Concerned Foreign Service Officers: Photos Are An 'Ugly Manifestation' of State Department Contractor Culture, By Spencer Ackerman, The Washington Independent, September 3, 2009 

Contractors in Kabul accused of 'lewd and deviant behavior', By Gordon Lubold , Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2009 

Contractor to Continue Work in Iraq Temporarily, By Mark Landler, New York Times, September 2, 2009 

'Deviant hazing' alleged at U.S. Embassy in Kabul, , CNN.com/Asia, September 2, 2009 

Life During Wartime: U.S. Embassy contractors gone wild?, , The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC, September 2, 2009 

Afghan U.S. Embassy patrol in 'deviant' parties with booze, hookers - report, By Richard Sisk , New York Daily News, September 2, 2009 

Contractors Outnumber U.S. Troops In Afghanistan, by Kevin Whitelaw, NPR - National Public Radio, September 2, 2009 

First Person: 'Lewd Behavior' At U.S. Embassy, Associated Press via YouTube, September 2, 2009 

Guards Gone Wild in Kabul, With Sharyl Attkisson , CBS News, September 1, 2009 

Watchdog group alleges misbehavior by State Dept. security contractors, By Elise Castelli , Federal Times, September 1, 2009 

Group: US Embassy Guards in Kabul Are Mistreated , , Associated Press; The New York Times, September 1, 2009 

'Lord of the Flies' in Kabul, By Jen Dimascio, Politico, September 1, 2009 

Kabul Embassy Report, With Jill Dougherty , CNN, September 1, 2009 

Watchdog questions security at U.S. Embassy in Kabul, By David Alexander, Reuters, September 1, 2009 

Animal House in Afghanistan, By Daniel Schulman, Mother Jones, September 1, 2009 

U.S. Embassy Guards Accused of Misconduct in Afghanistan, By Ann Scott Tyson, The Washington Post, September 1, 2009 

Clinton told of security failings in Afghanistan, By Richard Lardner, Associated Press; Houston Chronicle, September 1, 2009 

Allegations of misconduct by the private security company guarding the U.S. Embassy compound in Kabul, With Margaret Warner, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (audio) Video is available here http://video.pbs.org/video/1236177496 (scroll until there's 27:57 left) , September 1, 2009 

POGO investigates abuses at U.S. Embassy in Kabul, By Frank Munger, Knoxnews.com, September 1, 2009 


Founded in 1981, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical federal government.

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