Private co. now provides security for Afghan President

Описание: (9 Dec 2002)
Kabul, Afghanistan - 5 December 2002
1. Long shot of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, wearing formal dress for the Eid el-Fitr ceremony at the end of Ramadan, walking in the presidential compound surrounded by security men
2. Security men around Karzai walking in parade
3. Various shots of security men protecting Karzai as he greets visitors and dignitaries
4. Armed security men standing guard outside mosque, pan to entrance of mosque
5. Armed security man standing in doorway of mosque
6. Various shots of Karzai at prayers in mosque; the Afghan king is seated further right of Karzai
7. Various shots of security men surrounding Karzai as he leaves mosque
8. Various shots of security men keeping journalists back from Karzai, UPSOUND (English) security man ordering journalists: "Get back to the Press Tent now!""
9. Mid shot of security men surrounding Karzai as he enters building, pull out to wide shot

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan - 3 December 2002
10. Mid shot of Colonel Roger King speaking to journalists
11. Close shot King speaking to journalists
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Colonel Roger King, spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan:
"When the initial request came in from the Afghan government to provide security for President Karzai, the Department of Defence was the national entity that was best able to do that. So for the short term we did have soldiers, members of the military, providing security for President Karzai. That was never to be a full-time perpetual job. It was turned over to the State Department and, as I understand it, the State Department has chosen to go with a private contractor to provide that security and that's what's happened."

New York, USA - 6 December 2002
13. Mid shot of journalist Jonathan Tepperman working at computer
14. Cutaway hands on keyboard
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs magazine:
"I think there's no question that he's at more risk today than he (Karzai) was a month ago. The Dyncorp guys may be very good but it's hard for me to believe that they'll be getting as-good intelligence, as-good communications support, or any of the other assets from the military that are essential to keeping Karzai alive."
16. Reverse shot of Tepperman at computer.
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs magazine:
"I think that it sends a negative signal to the rest of the world about Washington's commitment to Karzai, when this extremely delicate mission is farmed-out to private contractors. Washington is saying in so many words that we're no longer interested in doing this job ourselves. And at a time when the United States is trying very hard to maintain this coalition -- this very tenuous coalition -- for war on Iraq, and the rebuilding that would have to follow, to be walking away from our commitment to Afghanistan, as this seems to be an example of, is very dangerous."

FILE: Durani, Afghanistan - 10 November 2002
18. US Special Forces bodyguards escorting Karzai to ceremony to celebrate opening of new road linking Kabul with the far-west of the country
19. Wide shot of Karzai at ceremony
20. Mid shot of US Special Forces bodyguard on stage
21. Mid shot of US Special Forces bodyguards

STORYLINE:

A group of US Special Forces soldiers assigned to protect the life of Afghan President Hamid Karzai have been replaced by armed security men employed by a private American contractor.

About 45 Special Forces troops were deployed as bodyguards to Karzai at the request of the Afghan government in June, and have since helped to foil several attempts on his life.












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