LoungeMachine
09-10-2005, 01:02 AM
Security Company Closes Baghdad Airport Over Pay
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
Published: September 10, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Saturday, Sept. 10 - The private security company that guards Baghdad International Airport shut down the airport on Friday, saying it had not been paid for the past six months. But the company, Global Strategies Group, announced early Saturday that it had agreed to reopen the airport on Saturday morning after a promise by the Iraqi government to pay half the amount owed.
The shutdown on Friday nearly led to a standoff between American military forces and Iraqi soldiers when United States forces rushed to the airport to prevent Iraqi troops from taking it over, according to Iraqi officials and the security company.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari announced Saturday morning that at 2 a.m., American and Iraqi forces "commenced an operation to remove all remaining terrorist elements" from the northern insurgent stronghold of Tal Afar, where an American regiment has been fighting for months to suppress an insurgency that controls much of the city. Dr. Jaafari's statement offered no details, but said "the terrorist elements being targeted by this operation are guilty of blatant crimes against its people."
In Washington, President Jalal Talabani said American troops would be needed in Iraq for at least two more years and warned that a premature withdrawal would be a victory for terrorists.
The Baghdad airport is the one dependable way for many reconstruction and security contractors to enter and leave Iraq. Early in the occupation, Westerners could travel by road west to Jordan, north to Turkey and south to Kuwait. But for more than a year those roads have been too dangerous, with insurgents in restive Sunni Arab towns like Mahmudiya, Mosul and Ramadi a deadly threat.
After Global Strategies closed the airport at dawn on Friday, infuriated Iraqi ministry officials dispatched their own troops to secure the airport. But the Iraqis turned back to avoid a confrontation with American soldiers who had already hurried to the airport from their nearby base, according to Iraqi officials and Global Strategies. Global Strategies has offices in London; Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates; and Washington.
Giles Morgan, a spokesman for Global Strategies, said the company was keeping employees on the job at any places critical to the overall security and integrity of the airport. The American military sent troops to guard the airport, he said, specifically because they had been informed that Iraqi forces were on their way to take control.
"The Ministry of Transportation said they were deploying interior ministry personnel to secure the perimeter, and it was on that basis that the U.S. military deployed the quick-reaction forces they have standing by at the airport," he said.
The acting Iraqi transportation minister, Esmat Amer, said the Iraqi government had "ordered the forces to pull back after American forces were deployed at the first checkpoint on the road," according to The Associated Press. "We did not want to create a confrontation."
An American military spokesman in Baghdad, Lt. Col. Steve Boylan, said he could not confirm that information. He called the American deployment at the airport "precautionary" and said he did not know how long it would last. "We have troops there in case Global walks off the job," he said.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, Ahmed Abdul Wahab, said that by Friday afternoon the airport had reopened. But Mr. Morgan of Global Strategies said that civilian passenger flights were not operating Friday. Royal Jordanian Airlines, which operates two daily flights into Baghdad from Amman, Jordan, said there were no flights on Friday.
Global Strategies has almost 600 employees - Iraqis, Fijians, Nepalese and Westerners - who guard the airport. Although it has been paying them full salaries, the Iraqi government has failed to pay the security company for work since March, Mr. Morgan said.
The company shut down the airport for 48 hours in June over the nonpayment, he said, but went back on the job after assurances of a resolution. He said the airport could be reopened for civilian passengers by 8 a.m. Saturday.
Among Western security contractors in Baghdad, Global has a good reputation for successfully guarding the airport for more than a year. At the airport, "security incidents have fallen to virtually nil," Global said in a statement on Friday.
Mr. Amer, the transportation ministry official, told The A.P. that the government had been trying to renegotiate the contract for Global Strategies, worth $4.5 million monthly. Mr. Morgan said he could not comment on how much was in dispute, but said that the company would probably not demand the other 50 percent of money owed for the past six months. The money to be paid under the new deal does not fully cover expenses over the past six months on the contract, he said.
In a speech in Washington, Mr. Talabani argued that a withdrawal of forces from Iraq "in the near future could lead to the victory of the terrorists in Iraq and create grave threats to the region."
His plan, he said, was to gradually reduce American forces over two years. But he suggested their presence was needed to ward off not only terrorist groups, but other nations seeking advantage in Iraq.
Mr. Talabani's call for patience closely parallels President Bush's arguments, though Mr. Bush has been careful never to estimate how long an American troop presence may be required.
In Tal Afar, where the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment is continuing a campaign begun in May to oust an entrenched network of insurgents, American and Iraqi soldiers have surrounded the city and 80 percent of the residents have fled, according to The A.P. Two car bombs there on Friday killed five Iraqi soldiers, The A.P. reported, adding that the beheaded and handcuffed bodies of 10 men in civilian clothes were found in the city.
Talks appeared to be continuing Friday evening on possible last-minute changes to Iraq's draft constitution, presented to the National Assembly two weeks ago. An official with the United Nations, which will oversee the printing of five million copies distributed to Iraqis, said he had still not seen a final version. The official said he expected a final version to be submitted at the National Assembly's meeting on Sunday.
Members of the constitutional panel have said there is an agreement to amend one article that had angered some Sunni members. The article, which previously stated only that Iraq is part of the Islamic world, will be revised to say Iraq is part of the Islamic world and the Arabic world.
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
Published: September 10, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Saturday, Sept. 10 - The private security company that guards Baghdad International Airport shut down the airport on Friday, saying it had not been paid for the past six months. But the company, Global Strategies Group, announced early Saturday that it had agreed to reopen the airport on Saturday morning after a promise by the Iraqi government to pay half the amount owed.
The shutdown on Friday nearly led to a standoff between American military forces and Iraqi soldiers when United States forces rushed to the airport to prevent Iraqi troops from taking it over, according to Iraqi officials and the security company.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari announced Saturday morning that at 2 a.m., American and Iraqi forces "commenced an operation to remove all remaining terrorist elements" from the northern insurgent stronghold of Tal Afar, where an American regiment has been fighting for months to suppress an insurgency that controls much of the city. Dr. Jaafari's statement offered no details, but said "the terrorist elements being targeted by this operation are guilty of blatant crimes against its people."
In Washington, President Jalal Talabani said American troops would be needed in Iraq for at least two more years and warned that a premature withdrawal would be a victory for terrorists.
The Baghdad airport is the one dependable way for many reconstruction and security contractors to enter and leave Iraq. Early in the occupation, Westerners could travel by road west to Jordan, north to Turkey and south to Kuwait. But for more than a year those roads have been too dangerous, with insurgents in restive Sunni Arab towns like Mahmudiya, Mosul and Ramadi a deadly threat.
After Global Strategies closed the airport at dawn on Friday, infuriated Iraqi ministry officials dispatched their own troops to secure the airport. But the Iraqis turned back to avoid a confrontation with American soldiers who had already hurried to the airport from their nearby base, according to Iraqi officials and Global Strategies. Global Strategies has offices in London; Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates; and Washington.
Giles Morgan, a spokesman for Global Strategies, said the company was keeping employees on the job at any places critical to the overall security and integrity of the airport. The American military sent troops to guard the airport, he said, specifically because they had been informed that Iraqi forces were on their way to take control.
"The Ministry of Transportation said they were deploying interior ministry personnel to secure the perimeter, and it was on that basis that the U.S. military deployed the quick-reaction forces they have standing by at the airport," he said.
The acting Iraqi transportation minister, Esmat Amer, said the Iraqi government had "ordered the forces to pull back after American forces were deployed at the first checkpoint on the road," according to The Associated Press. "We did not want to create a confrontation."
An American military spokesman in Baghdad, Lt. Col. Steve Boylan, said he could not confirm that information. He called the American deployment at the airport "precautionary" and said he did not know how long it would last. "We have troops there in case Global walks off the job," he said.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, Ahmed Abdul Wahab, said that by Friday afternoon the airport had reopened. But Mr. Morgan of Global Strategies said that civilian passenger flights were not operating Friday. Royal Jordanian Airlines, which operates two daily flights into Baghdad from Amman, Jordan, said there were no flights on Friday.
Global Strategies has almost 600 employees - Iraqis, Fijians, Nepalese and Westerners - who guard the airport. Although it has been paying them full salaries, the Iraqi government has failed to pay the security company for work since March, Mr. Morgan said.
The company shut down the airport for 48 hours in June over the nonpayment, he said, but went back on the job after assurances of a resolution. He said the airport could be reopened for civilian passengers by 8 a.m. Saturday.
Among Western security contractors in Baghdad, Global has a good reputation for successfully guarding the airport for more than a year. At the airport, "security incidents have fallen to virtually nil," Global said in a statement on Friday.
Mr. Amer, the transportation ministry official, told The A.P. that the government had been trying to renegotiate the contract for Global Strategies, worth $4.5 million monthly. Mr. Morgan said he could not comment on how much was in dispute, but said that the company would probably not demand the other 50 percent of money owed for the past six months. The money to be paid under the new deal does not fully cover expenses over the past six months on the contract, he said.
In a speech in Washington, Mr. Talabani argued that a withdrawal of forces from Iraq "in the near future could lead to the victory of the terrorists in Iraq and create grave threats to the region."
His plan, he said, was to gradually reduce American forces over two years. But he suggested their presence was needed to ward off not only terrorist groups, but other nations seeking advantage in Iraq.
Mr. Talabani's call for patience closely parallels President Bush's arguments, though Mr. Bush has been careful never to estimate how long an American troop presence may be required.
In Tal Afar, where the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment is continuing a campaign begun in May to oust an entrenched network of insurgents, American and Iraqi soldiers have surrounded the city and 80 percent of the residents have fled, according to The A.P. Two car bombs there on Friday killed five Iraqi soldiers, The A.P. reported, adding that the beheaded and handcuffed bodies of 10 men in civilian clothes were found in the city.
Talks appeared to be continuing Friday evening on possible last-minute changes to Iraq's draft constitution, presented to the National Assembly two weeks ago. An official with the United Nations, which will oversee the printing of five million copies distributed to Iraqis, said he had still not seen a final version. The official said he expected a final version to be submitted at the National Assembly's meeting on Sunday.
Members of the constitutional panel have said there is an agreement to amend one article that had angered some Sunni members. The article, which previously stated only that Iraq is part of the Islamic world, will be revised to say Iraq is part of the Islamic world and the Arabic world.