Difference between revisions of "Global Strategies Group"

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[[Global Strategies Group]], formerly '''Global Risk Strategies''', is a London based firm founded by [[Damien Perl]], a former marine, and [[Charlie Andrews]], a former [[Scots Guards]] officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. What began as a two man team has grown extensively since then. In March 2004, The Economist wrote:
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:Global Risk Strategies was a two-man team until the invasion of Afghanistan. Now it has over 1,000 guards in Iraq—more than many of the countries taking part in the occupation—manning the barricades of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Last year it also won a $27m contract to distribute Iraq's new dinar.<ref> [http://www.economist.com/World/europe/displayStory.cfm?story_id=2539816 Mercenaries: The Baghdad Boom], ''The Economist'', March 27, 2004</ref>
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|website=http://www.globalgroup.com
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|founders=Damien Perl, Charlie Andrews
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|logo=Global Strategies Group.png
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|titular_logo=1
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|constitutes=PMC
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|type=commercial
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|powerbase=http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Global_Strategies_Group
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|sourcewatch=http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Global_Strategies_Group
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}}
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[[Global Strategies Group]], formerly '''Global Risk Strategies''', is a London based [[PMC]] founded by [[Damien Perl]], a former marine, and [[Charlie Andrews]], a former [[Scots Guards]] officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. What began as a two man team has grown extensively since then. In March 2004, ''[[The Economist]]'' wrote that
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{{SMWQ
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|date=March 2004
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|authors=The Economist
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|format=inline
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|subjects=Global Strategies Group, 2001 Afghanistan war
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|text=Global Risk Strategies was a two-man team until the invasion of Afghanistan. Now it has over 1,000 guards in Iraq — more than many of the countries taking part in the occupation—manning the barricades of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Last year it also won a $27m contract to distribute Iraq's new dinar.
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|source_URL=http://www.economist.com/node/2539816
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}}
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Global Strategies first contract in Iraq was based in Mosul in late 2003 which was a national money exchange project called "Northstar" which involved the replacement of the Iraqi Dinar bearing Saddam Husseins image with the current Iraqi Dinar which depicts culturally significant images on the various denominations. Project Northstar later expanded to include escort of fuel tankers from the Turkish boarder to the fuel staging point called "Tinderbox" just north of Baghdad. Other Northstar missions included transport of humanitarian aid to include food and clothes to the Iraqi people as well as escort of forensic scientists to investigate mass graves containing thousands of Iraqi citizens killed under Saddam's regime prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by allied forces.
  
 
The firm is helping the [[CPA]] to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced [[Custer Battles]] with providing the security at [[Baghdad]] airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.<ref>Special Report, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,11816,1218365,00.html "Don't call us mercenaries, says British company with lucrative contracts and cheap labour"], ''The Guardian'', May 17, 2004</ref>
 
The firm is helping the [[CPA]] to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced [[Custer Battles]] with providing the security at [[Baghdad]] airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.<ref>Special Report, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/military/story/0,11816,1218365,00.html "Don't call us mercenaries, says British company with lucrative contracts and cheap labour"], ''The Guardian'', May 17, 2004</ref>
  
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Through its senior analyst [[Tamara Makarenko]] the firm also has links to the [[Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence]] at [[St Andrews University]],<ref>James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005</ref>  the leading academic centre on terrorism providing ideological definitions and remedies for terrorism. According to Makarenko, civil liberties are something that one would cherish, only &#39;if you are a suspect with something to hide.&#39;<ref>James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005</ref>
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Through its senior analyst [[Tamara Makarenko]] the firm also has links to the [[Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence]] at [[St Andrews University]],<ref>James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005</ref>  the leading academic centre on "terrorism" providing ideological definitions and remedies for "terrorism". According to Makarenko, civil liberties are something that one would cherish, only &#39;if you are a suspect with something to hide.&#39;<ref>James Cusick, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050710/ai_n14720217 "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights"], ''Sunday Herald'', July 10, 2005</ref>
  
 
The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.<ref>David Phinney, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12158 "Contract Quagmire in Iraq"], ''CorpWatch'', April 27th, 2005</ref>
 
The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.<ref>David Phinney, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12158 "Contract Quagmire in Iraq"], ''CorpWatch'', April 27th, 2005</ref>
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*Steve Negus, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12467 "Iraq: Civilian Traffic at Baghdad Airport Set to Resume"], ''Financial Times'', June 26, 2005. </ref>
 
*Steve Negus, [http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12467 "Iraq: Civilian Traffic at Baghdad Airport Set to Resume"], ''Financial Times'', June 26, 2005. </ref>
  
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==Contact, Related, External links,Notes==
 
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===Contact===
 
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*'''Web:''' http://www.globalgroup.com/
 
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Contact information for the organization's offices in Washington DC, Colombia, London, Baghdad, Spain, Nigeria, Kabul, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China are available at: http://www.globalgroup.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=209
 
 
===Related Resources===
 
===Related Resources===
 
*[[British Association of Private Security Companies]]
 
*[[British Association of Private Security Companies]]
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*Jonathon Finer, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001559.html "Financial Dispute May Disrupt Iraq Airport Security: Current Firm Has Not Been Paid; Iraqis Want Local Group to Take Over"], ''Washington Post'', July 1, 2006.
 
*Jonathon Finer, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/30/AR2006063001559.html "Financial Dispute May Disrupt Iraq Airport Security: Current Firm Has Not Been Paid; Iraqis Want Local Group to Take Over"], ''Washington Post'', July 1, 2006.
 
*David Hubler, [http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_11/30918-1.html "Technology with a human touch: Company combines IT and security to win work in the world’s hot spots"], ''Washington Technology'', June 25th, 2007
 
*David Hubler, [http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_11/30918-1.html "Technology with a human touch: Company combines IT and security to win work in the world’s hot spots"], ''Washington Technology'', June 25th, 2007
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===Notes===
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{{SMWDocs}}
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
[[Category:PMC]][[Category:Terrorism Industry]]
 
[[Category:PMC]][[Category:Terrorism Industry]]

Latest revision as of 01:20, 11 February 2019

Group.png Global Strategies Group
(PMC) Powerbase Sourcewatch WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Global Strategies Group.png
Founder•  Damien Perl
•  Charlie Andrews
Type commercial

Global Strategies Group, formerly Global Risk Strategies, is a London based PMC founded by Damien Perl, a former marine, and Charlie Andrews, a former Scots Guards officer. With a modest beginning ferrying NGO employees and media personnel to and from Afghanistan the company soon expanded its operations to renting out secure compounds in Kabul. The US authorities also gave it a contract to distribute new currency in Afghanistan and in Iraq. What began as a two man team has grown extensively since then. In March 2004, The Economist wrote that “Global Risk Strategies was a two-man team until the invasion of Afghanistan. Now it has over 1,000 guards in Iraq — more than many of the countries taking part in the occupation—manning the barricades of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). Last year it also won a $27m contract to distribute Iraq's new dinar.” [1]

Global Strategies first contract in Iraq was based in Mosul in late 2003 which was a national money exchange project called "Northstar" which involved the replacement of the Iraqi Dinar bearing Saddam Husseins image with the current Iraqi Dinar which depicts culturally significant images on the various denominations. Project Northstar later expanded to include escort of fuel tankers from the Turkish boarder to the fuel staging point called "Tinderbox" just north of Baghdad. Other Northstar missions included transport of humanitarian aid to include food and clothes to the Iraqi people as well as escort of forensic scientists to investigate mass graves containing thousands of Iraqi citizens killed under Saddam's regime prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by allied forces.

The firm is helping the CPA to draft new regulations in Iraq and has also replaced Custer Battles with providing the security at Baghdad airport. The firm has around 1,500 mercenaries of various nationalities working for it in Iraq, majority of them Fijians and Gurkhas. While it pays British or US ex-special forces soldiers more than £300 a day for their services, the 500 Gurkhas and the 500 former members of the Fijian army only receive £35 a day.[2]

Through its senior analyst Tamara Makarenko the firm also has links to the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at St Andrews University,[3] the leading academic centre on "terrorism" providing ideological definitions and remedies for "terrorism". According to Makarenko, civil liberties are something that one would cherish, only 'if you are a suspect with something to hide.'[4]

The firm was amongst four whose payments were withheld by the new Iraqi government due to the lack of procedure and paperwork followed by the CPA in awarding these contracts. The companies were also accused of overcharging and of failing to deliver on their obligations. The US State Department subsequently intervened on their behalf.[5]

In Afghanistan, it works in conjunction with Asia Foundation on USAID funded projects.[6]

Related Resources

External links

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.economist.com/node/2539816 , March 2004
  2. ↑ Special Report, "Don't call us mercenaries, says British company with lucrative contracts and cheap labour", The Guardian, May 17, 2004
  3. ↑ James Cusick, "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights", Sunday Herald, July 10, 2005
  4. ↑ James Cusick, "The Battle To Stop Freedom Falling Victim To Terrorism Human Rights", Sunday Herald, July 10, 2005
  5. ↑ David Phinney, "Contract Quagmire in Iraq", CorpWatch, April 27th, 2005
  6. ↑ Voter Registration & Elections Process (VREP) in Afghanistan The Asia Foundation
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