International Peace Operations Association

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The International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) is a non-governmental trade and lobbying association representing the "peace and stability industry," sometimes referred to as private military companies (PMCs) or derogatorily by critics as mercenaries ignoring the international legal definition as well as the actual role and variety of companies. The IPOA is located in Washington DC, USA, and was founded in April 2001 by Doug Brooks,[1] who currently serves as the association's president. The IPOA currently represents 42 companies[2] which are required to pay dues and submit delegates to various committees within the IPOA. David Hammond, a lawyer who represents many PMCs in court, is the chairman of the general counsel committee.[3] The IPOA also publishes The Journal of International Peace Operations.

According to an article by Corpwatch, the IPOA's aim is to "reposition the industry as for-profit providers of armed men as peace keepers."[4] The association's stated mission is "to promote high operational and ethical standards of firms active in the Peace and Stability Industry; to engage in a constructive dialogue with policy-makers about the growing and positive contribution of these firms to the enhancement of international peace, development, and human security; and to inform the concerned public about the activities and role of the industry."[5] The IPOA's Code of Conduct "seeks to ensure the ethical standards of International Peace Operations Association member companies operating in conflict and post-conflict environments so that they may contribute their valuable services for the benefit of international peace and human security."[6].

Association president Doug Brooks has said that the IPOA was created "because of 'Western-less' peacekeeping...the reality was that the West wasn't going to support humanitarian operations in places they don't give a shit about," like Congo and Darfur. "What would have happened if they had used ArmourGroup in Rwanda?"[2]

On July 3, 2007, when the Washington Post estimated that the number of PMC fatalities had topped 1000, Brooks stated that "There are more applicants than there are jobs...that's been the case from the beginning and it is still true, even though pay has gone down because there is a lot of competition."[7]

Contents

[edit] Controversy

Main article: Blackwater Baghdad shootings

International leaders questioned the IPOA's policy governing illegal acts after a September 16, 2007 incident in which employees of member organization Blackwater USA allegedly murdered 11 Iraqi civilians.[8] On October 5, 2007, the Washington Post reported that the U.S. military has faulted Blackwater for opening fire without provocation and using excessive force in the incident.[9]

Blackwater has also been accused of previously using "aggressive tactics without regard for the well-being of Iraqis," and the Iraqi government had planned to revoke Blackwater's license and bring the perpetrators to justice in Iraq. However, Blackwater was allowed to resume activity after only a brief suspension, under the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order No. 17, stating that private contractors "shall be immune from the Iraqi legal process." As a result, the issue of not holding Blackwater and other private security firms accountable for their actions has created the impression that Iraq's sovereignty is being undermined.[10][11]

On October 9, 2007, IPOA member company Unity Resources Group was involved in an incident in Baghdad in which two Armenian Christian women, both civilians, were shot dead.[12]

According to IPOA president Brooks, criminal action by a member company could result in expulsion from the IPOA, which would be a "commercial kiss of death" from the association. However Peter W. Singer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and prominent industry critic, criticized this policy: "Being kicked out of IPOA is not the proper punishment for a criminal action. It's great that an organization is willing to do that, but it's sort of like kicking O.J. out of the country club." As of 2007, the IPOA has never expelled an association member.[2]

In mid-October of 2007, Blackwater USA announced the company was taking a "hiatus" from membership in IPOA.[13] [14]

[edit] IPOA members

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ International Peace Operations Association - History. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
  2. ^ a b c Blackwater's Man in Washington
  3. ^ Daphne Eviatar (2007-06-20). Private Military Contractors Count On Crowell Partner. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
  4. ^ Phinney, David. From Mercenaries to Peacemakers?: Scandals Confront Military Security Industry. CorpWatch, November 29th, 2005
  5. ^ International Peace Operations Association Mission Statement
  6. ^ International Peace Operations Association Code of Conduct. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
  7. ^ Bernd Debusmann (2007-07-03). In outsourced U.S. wars, contractor deaths top 1,000. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
  8. ^ http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-7856-Iraq-revokes-Blackwater-security-license.html
  9. ^ Blackwater faulted by U.S. military: report
  10. ^ Iraq: Blackwater Incident Could Further Undermine Premier
  11. ^ Blackwater Killings Expose Weaknesses in War Laws
  12. ^ 2 Women Killed in Security Shooting Are Buried in Iraq by Andre E. Kramer and James Glanz, The New York Times, October 11, 2007.
  13. ^ Blackwater Quits Security Association by August Cole, The Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2007.
  14. ^ IPOA Statement Regarding the Membership Status of Blackwater USA

[edit] External links

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