Afghan President Begins Disbanding Private Security Firms, Los Angeles Times, 4 October 2010

EXCERPT: "Moving to enforce a pledge that has rattled Afghanistan's foreign community, President Hamid Karzai has begun dissolving the Afghan operations of private security companies, including the firm formerly known as Blackwater, the government announced Sunday. Karzai caught Western officials by surprise in mid-August when he announced a ban on private security firms that would take effect by year's end. The U.S. Embassy at the time expressed support in principle but suggested the timetable was unrealistic. NATO's International Security Assistance Force relies on private contractors to guard bases and supply lines, and many international organizations also use private security firms. With the insurgency increasing its reach across the country, few consider the Afghan police and military ready to step in. The moves aimed at security contractors were the latest show of tension between Karzai and his foreign backers. Western officials have been highly critical of corruption in the Afghan government, and there are indications of widespread fraud in last month's parliamentary elections. Results still have not been released."

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