Iraq's mixed bunch of bodyguards

By Patrick Jackson
BBC News

After at least two high-profile incidents of alleged abductions in Baghdad in the space of a few days, BBC News looks at Iraqi officials' outwardly impressive, but often wholly inadequate, security arrangements.

Bodyguards are routinely killed or wounded in Iraq

"I was not afraid of getting killed, it was being kidnapped that worried me," recalls Leith Kubba, spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister until January of this year.

Mr Kubba's idea of personal security in Iraq was to keep his wits about him, and carry a pistol.

It was just a little Austrian pistol, light and easy to use - he remembers turning down the offer of a German submachine-gun, which would have been much less discreet.

For similar reasons of discretion, he also waived his right to government bodyguards of his own.

"For me, guards were more of a liability," he says.

"My movements might be tracked through my guards. They might be trained to use guns but they might not be clever enough to cover their traces.

"They might be very sincere but I did not know how smart they were about someone tagging along, tagging them and working out my movements."

That "someone" was the allas - the informer.

Jobs for the boys

"The real problem in Iraq is that intelligence is now a commodity, sold in the market by the allas," Mr Kubba says.

For the officials, the main thing is trust, not professionalism Western security analyst Iraq's abduction scourge

It is a problem only too familiar to Western security analysts with experience of post-invasion Iraq.

Heinrich Matthee, of Control Risks Group, says that in Iraq the "state has disappeared or is very fragile" and the security forces are often infiltrated by sectarian militias.

His company, like others in the personal security field, does not comment on the security arrangements for their clients in danger zones like Iraq.

"But it is open knowledge that the performance of Iraqi security forces is hindered," he says, "by lack of equipment, limited training, sectarian loyalties, low pay and intimidation back home for both themselves and their families.

"All of these factors make it easier for someone who wants to execute a kidnap operation."

As for the quality of the protection afforded, there are only so many well-trained Iraqi soldiers or police, Mr Matthee adds, and demand is high.

"A senior official would also use bodyguards as a form of giving jobs to people from his region or his clan or his sectarian group and, of course, that may affect the quality," he says.

Another Western analyst, who prefers not to be named, recently spent a long period in Iraq and found that officials he encountered were invariably protected by members of their own clans.

"For the officials, the main thing is trust, not professionalism," he says.

"Usually they like to make their own arrangements rather than use the security forces whose provenance and loyalties, shall we say, are not always guaranteed."

Bodyguard allowance

Leith Kubba did at times have to venture beyond Baghdad's well-protected "Green Zone", such as when he had to visit the sites of explosions.

It was the Wild West Laith Kubba

He would "borrow" four, at most six, bodyguards from the then Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari along with an armoured car.

When Mr Kubba had to make longer trips - to Mosul in the north for instance - he took a ride with the US Air Force, to be handed over to the local police at the other end.

"It was the Wild West," he says.

According to Iraqi government sources, a senior official such as a deputy minister has the right to 10 bodyguards while the prime minister may have several hundred, providing escorts, and guarding offices and residences.

In addition to their official entitlement, officials may recruit extra bodyguards of their own, but at their own expense.

Legend has it that Iraq's President, Jalal Talabani, had more than 3,000 bodyguards.

Asked to what extent US-led forces protect the local government directly, a spokesman for the Multinational Force Iraq declined to comment.

"We do not speak for the Iraqi government when it comes to their security because it is a sovereign government, and responsible for speaking about that for themselves," said Maj William Willhoite.

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Have you ever had bodyguards you would have felt safer without? Do you feel they are a liability full stop? Or perhaps you think they always get a bad press?

When working in Somalia, my colleagues and I were furnished with local security. Our guards were either drugged and somnolent, or drugged and agressive. One night in particular we were kept outside our accommodation at gunpoint as the guards felt we had been out too late! Personally, and i'm sure I speak for most of my colleagues, I would have much preferred to have taken charge of my own security. As has been said, if you cannot trust your bodygaurds, you are better off without them.
Pedro, Now in North Africa

I often travel to Somalia. As you can imagine, kidnapping and extortion have been a major problem there, but rather than travel with bodyguards as my family constantly suggest, I opt for far low profile method. I typically grow my hair, leave my western attire in the west. I don't drive and I say very little as my accent and vocabulary may give me away. I do carry a weapon, but is well concealed. This has kept me safe so far, but I know the risks. I would much rather have my life in my own hands than some AK weilding distant relative high on Qat!
Liban Ibrahim Osman, London England

Over the past year I traveled extensively in Iraq with the best, most professional security teams I witness throughout my stay. Their key is LOW profile. I've often remarked that if I were facing a situation on the road, I would not trade six (the usual mobile team number) of them for 10-Humvee convoy. I believe they would have taken whatever stand was necessary to get me - their principal - out of the kill zone.
Elaine, Amman Jordan

I worked in Iraq for 2 years as a CP Operative and must admit that i enjoyed every day of it. I was involved in some incidents and one of them was being hit with a shape charge that has killed so many operators in the past and on that occasion i must pay credit to certain members of the team, all the years of training kicked in and the team did the drills as we had been taught and practiced on so many occasions. I would just like to point out that anyone who is considering working in Iraq in the security field give the thought 100% consideration as it is a serious conflict zone with increasingly more experienced insurgents operating in the country with the clear intention of killing as many westerners as possible. I have worked with some top grade and some not so top grade operators and must stress that your life and the VIP/clients life is in the hands of the men around you, so if you are considering working in Iraq make sure it is with people you can trust!!!
john, killyleagh, n.ireland

In my email daily I receive offers to run, or participate in personal security details. To all you wannabees and unprofessional types I say the money is not worth the risk. You are not going to survive if something occurs nor will your charge, and for VIP's if you have public anonymity, I agree with Mr. Muhammad Asif, you are better off without PPA's they only serve to draw attention to you. A single man on the sidewalk draws little attention, give him 4 or 5 armed westerners and he is history. Blend in.
W. G, Anthem, USA

If need be, I prefer getting plain clothes bodyguards but you have to trust them. In some cases, it is better to stay without bodyguards. In some cases, the bodyguards that you rely on will even betray your own security by exposing you to your assailants. It is better to rely on God for your protection as even the bodyguard cannot protect himself or herself. The presence of bodyguards sometimes attracts the enemy that you are some one that matters in society. The long and short matter of it is to subdue yourself to the Almighty God for your security.
Usman C. Conteh, Freetown, Sierra Leone

I am a public service attorney in Malawi and there are times when I've done highly sensitive cases involving dangerous elements. In 2003 I handled a highly sensitive and political case involving a senior opposition leader and the then Minister of Justice offered me twenty four hour armed bodyguards, an offer I graciously declined. As a single young man enjoying his life, the last thing I needed were gun totting guards sniffing around me. Of course this is not to mean I would decline the same generous offer in future, especially where deemed really necessary.
Pacharo Kayira, Malawian studying in Lund, Sweden

I've have done this type of work for the past 10 years, ok the money is good but your life is at risk. Like any job you always meet people over here whom you are working alongside that you would not let them look after your goldfish let alone protect your client and help preserve the other team members life. There will be work over here for many years to come, so you will get guys here no matter what most don't even do a threat assessment before they come over here all the see is the ££££££ signs and forget about the risks.
Stu, Iraq

I was in Baghdad and Mosul in September and October helping with reconstruction of the infrastructure. I found a vast difference between the UK and US bodyguards. The UK bodyguards where all ex-forces guys and were totally professional, whereas the US guys were young and inexperienced and walked around like John Wayne and were more interested in looking cool than protecting there passengers.
MF, Stockton on Tees, England

I would feel better having American security rather than Afghan who are paid so little and susceptible to outside pressures; given a choice of having only Afghan security of unknown qualifications I would prefer to carry my own sidearm. I feel the heavy security in either scenario makes a target far more conspicuous and your pattern of movements easier to track so it seems you lose either way- what a world we live in .
Rob, NY...now in Kabul

I have had American and British bodyguards, the Americans whilst very good where let down by their brash, bigger, better, in your face attitude. I would always stand out in the crowd because of their appearance and approach to the issue. The Brits where professional, discreet, low profile and got on with the job with the minimal attention being drawn to me.
Steve Pitts, Erbil, Iraq

Even some of the Western bodyguards operating in Iraq are not fully trained in the roles they are carrying out. Indeed many ex US and UK forces are now being recruited under the term "Personal Security Detail". These individuals are not ex special forces with relevant VIP/HRT experience but are often from a non combat arm. They are attracted by very large sums of money and sadly it comes as no great surprise that so many have now been killed in Iraq although normally not reaching the headlines. The security companies with their HQs back in the UK and US are more interested in making big money out of the bodyguard world in Iraq than sending out appropriate operatives. I myself a former military person have been approached by numerous offers to work as a bodyguard in Iraq for big sums of money. Not having served in the special forces I have declined any such offers as it is not only endangering my life but more importantly the VIP!
Anon, UK

I am a trained bodyguard, and it is down to the people beside you in the team if you are going to survive a hit. The Iraqis haven't a clue, along with some UK firms in UK, money is always the issue, you pay for what you get, pay peanuts and you get some doorman, pay top dollar and you get experienced operators.
John, Essex

On those few occasions when I've been with a guard, the greatest risk seems to be from his poor driver. Many of these guys are macho, unprofessional, and genetically enjoy driving too fast over bad roads.
David Gross, Istanbul, Turkey

I am a professionally Trained Close Protection Operative (BodyGuard). I have done this work for the past 19 years with the Military working with the FCO and the Military. I was also responsible for training future CP operatives. All the Military trained CP Operatives who are responsible for the protection of Diplomats and High Ranking Military Officials are well trained in all aspects of Close Protection, including Anti Surveillance drills. The problem with other third world countries is that they do lack the correct training for their so called Body Guards, they believe in numbers rather than quality of person you employ.

If VIPs had people with the correct Skills and Training then fewer highly trained is far better than large non trained people to have around you. There are too many people in civilian life now thinking they are Body Guards after doing a 3 - 4 week course, in the military the training is a continuous course updating on skills and drills, weapon training, Advanced medical training. The civilian Market is now flooded with people who think they know how to be a bodyguard, but to be a CP operative you need to know how to blend into your surroundings and not stick out like a sore thumb, there is High and LOW Profile CP and both require experience and skill to do the job correctly and professionally.

Without doubt Royal Military Police Close Protection Operatives are the highly trained and experienced Bodyguards that can do this work at all levels. They do an outstanding job of protecting Diplomats in High Threat Areas as well as the Senior Military Commanders. If Third World country leaders had people like these looking after them then they wouldn't need 3,000 bodyguards with numbers like that you DO draw attention to yourself, in this environment you need to adopt a low profile approach and attempt to try and not draw attention to yourself, Yes being a Prime Minister or President you will have so much attention drawn towards you BUt how many BGs does Tony Blair have? Having worked with Special Branch who protect him and previous PMs you will see they operate in a more numbers than you expect but because they blend in to their surroundings you do not see them sticking out like sore thumbs. Fewer blended in is better than all sticking out.. Well thats my say anyway. Thank you for your time.
I C, Liphook Hampshire, UK

If you are in a position to trust them 100%, having them is better, if the trust is not 100%, not having bodyguards is more safe
Muhammad Asif, Peshawar, Pakistan