Dear friend,

POGO just sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding an alarming security situation at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Given the growing threat of violence in Afghanistan, it is absolutely vital that the Embassy and its nearly 1,000 diplomats and employees be protected by an effective security force. However, POGO has been contacted by numerous security guards from ArmorGroup, North America (AGNA)--the private contractor hired to provide security at the Embassy--who provided us with disturbing evidence of contract violations and a pervasive breakdown in guard force discipline and morale.

Despite sworn testimony from the State Department and the contractor that all is well at the Embassy, POGO's investigation revealed and confirmed countless security problems. For instance:

• Some guards are facing 14-hour-day work cycles for as many as eight weeks in a row;
• Supervisors and guards have engaged in near-weekly hazing and humiliation of subordinates, creating a scene straight out of Lord of the Flies; and
• Afghani employees are being drawn into activities forbidden to Muslims.

Based on extensive examination of documents, photos, videos, emails, and interviews with eyewitnesses, we believe the management of the contract is grossly deficient. POGO has issued several recommendations to correct the situation, such as having the Department of Defense provide immediate military supervision of the private security forces.

We'll keep you posted as the situation progresses.

Regards,

Danielle Brian
Executive Director
Project On Government Oversight

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