Taliban allies guarding U.S. bases, Senate finds

Private security firms with Pentagon contracts are hiring people with links to insurgents, drug lords, and the Iranian government.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has unanimously adopted a report that found U.S. bases are being exposed to attack thanks to a complete lack of Pentagon oversight of private security firms. In one instance the military didn’t even know the name of the leader of an Afghan group providing security, calling him only “Mr. Pink.” He turned out to be a known Taliban leader. Some Afghans hired by another security company were found to be relaying intelligence information to Iran. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has announced a new task force to investigate the problem and oversee the hiring of security personnel. U.S. forces employ over 23,000 Afghans in private security units.