July 9, 2006
Leaked Baghdad Intel briefing matches Iraq blog entry?
(hat tip to Indigo from the comments)
Latest from the WSJ: "A
daily intelligence brief on Iraq, prepared by a private contractor for
the U.S. military and companies working in Iraq, paints a grim picture
of life in Baghdad. The daily report for July 7 documents a slew of
sectarian attacks and car bombings around the capital and says that
"the levels of torture and execution-style killings…illustrate the
increasing disregard for human life by the perpetrators for those not
of their own grouping."
But the report, marked "for official use
only," also goes on to describe Baghdad as a city without spirit — in a
long passage lifted straight from a popular Iraqi blog called Iraq the
Model. "Baghdad looks so exhausted these days and so do her people; the
relentless violence, the lack of basic services and the scorching heat
abolishes human desire to do anything or to even think of anything,"
says the daily report, which is compiled by SOC-SMG Inc., a Nevada-based contractor.
The language of this and several other passages mirrors almost exactly
a posting for the July 6 edition of Iraq the Model. "Living for many
Iraqis was reduced to existence a long time ago; dreams and desires are
shrinking under the heavy shadows of the situation."
The
company’s interim CEO, Robert Shields, said he was unaware of the
overlap and would look into it. But "we draw information from a variety
of sources," he said. –Neil King Jr." So are US
contractors lifting stories from ITM, or are the boys at ITM picking up
a few extra bucks working for US contractors, and getting lazy at it?
Either way, this is a clear case of plagiarism.
Iraq The Model
used to be wildly pro-US, but reality has set in. The comments are
still full of the same rabid nut-jobs, but the blog is now trying to
present itself as an alternative news source.
Let's not forget that these ITM boys once travelled to the White House to meet with Bush and Wolfowitz, who frequently cited ITM as a recommended source for US journalists.
More ITM background here for the uninitiated.
So Who Is SOC-SMG?
SOC-SMG Inc., of Minden, Nevada, was awarded a $6,266,287 security contract on Aug. 17, 2005. From the company FAQ: What is SOC-SMG doing in Iraq?
We
are providing security support to US Defense Contractors to recover and
dispose of Captured Enemy Ammunition (CEA) within Iraq. As you have all
probably seen on any of the major news programs the Iraqi Army under
Sadam Hussein has amassed a huge arsenal. The majority of this ordnance
is located in Ammunition Supply Points (ASPs), which are numerous and
located throughout the country. Additionally, there are considerable
caches of ordnance consisting of small amounts located in residential
homes to substantial amounts located in schools, hospitals and other
structures where the Iraqi military believed they would be safe from
coalition air strikes. This is a monumental and extremely important
task that requires professional and effective security. Your job is to
provide security for these sites, the personnel working these sites and
their living compounds. In addition, security will be provided for
convoys and other operations as needed. Employees are basically vets: "recruited
from the ranks of U.S. Government Special Operations Units, U.S.
Government Intelligence Agencies, and the Federal, State and Local Law
Enforcement community." Clients include the DoD and (former, I assume) CPA. Their listed Services do not show anything about compiling intelliegence briefs: it's non-stop 24/7 action for these dudes. Fuck yeah! They only recruit
vets with experience in "Special Operations, preferably in Special
Forces, Navy SEALs, Rangers, or Marine Force Recon Forces." Priority is
given to "those who can deploy from the Continental United States
(CONUS) immediately; within 10 days."
The SMG in "SOC-SMG" stands for their parent company, SF-based Security Management Group LLC.
It's basically just the same group of people. Maybe having a parent
company is a tax dodge, or maybe they just think it impresses people.
These
are basically small-time operators, as far as I can see. One of their
cited clients is a Silicon Valley boss who thanks them for helping with
"hostile terminations". I guess the Iraq War is a dream come true for
people like these...
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