U.S. To Review Alleged Misconduct At Kabul Embassy
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul released a statement Wednesday, saying it was reviewing all of the policies related to the guard force there. The embassy was responding to a new investigation by the Project on Government Oversight, which said that guards working for a private security contracting company live in a "Lord of the Flies"-type environment.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host:
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul says it's reviewing all of the policies related to the guard force there. The embassy was responding to a new investigation by an American nonprofit group called the Project On Government Oversight.
As NPR's Michele Kelemen reports, the investigation found that guards are subjected to lewd hazing rituals by their bosses.
MICHELE KELEMEN: Some of the problems with the guards at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul go back years. There's a language barrier - many are Gurkhas who don't speak English. They're understaffed and overworked - and that's not all, according to Danielle Brian, the executive director of the Project On Government Oversight.
Ms. DANIELLE BRIAN (Executive Director, Project On Government Oversight): And then on top of that, you have this weird Lord of the Flies situation that's going on back in the camp where they live when they're off duty, where there's this drunken, debaucherous predatory environment. And what really matters to these guys as we're talking to them is that supervisors are either engaged in or are aware of the behavior and nothing has happened. No one has tried to stop this.
KELEMEN: Her nonprofit released emails and other documents describing drunken hazing rituals that the guards who work for Wackenhut and its subsidiary, ArmorGroup North America. She says many now live in fear and that's a problem, because securing an embassy, especially in a war zone like Afghanistan, requires team work.
Ms. BRIAN: There's a total lack of trust, a total lack of respect. And these are the people who are relying on each other - their lives are at stake, you know. They're protecting an embassy that is under real threat.
KELEMEN: At the State Department today, Spokesman Ian Kelly said the U.S. doesn't believe security has been compromised at the embassy in Kabul. But he said the new report shows that there were things going on that the State Department wasn't aware of and should've been.
Mr. IAN KELLY (Spokesman, State Department): There are number of investigations that are underway both here and out in Kabul. And we expect to see prompt and effective action taken as a result of these investigations. And we expect that there will be some changes.
KELEMEN: Kelly didn't elaborate on what the U.S. will do now with this $189 million contract. Danielle Brian of the Project On Government Oversight says for the past couple of years, the State Department has been writing to the company about deficiencies.
Ms. BRIAN: With all those threats from the State Department, you know, really, we're serious. We're going to potentially hold, you know, your contract in jeopardy over this. Just this year they decided they were satisfied with the contractor ArmorGroup, which is owned by Wackenhut and extended the contract for another year.
KELEMEN: And Brian says she's now learned that when State Department investigators meet with the guards, a supervisor from the contracting company will be on hand. She's also worried that guards who handed over evidence to her investigators could face retribution.
Michele Kelemen, NPR News, Washington.
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