Jean Mc Bride, mother of murdered Belfast teenager Peter Mc Bride, has welcomed the intervention of a number of US Senators who have called for an investigation into the award of a US DoD Iraq contract to a firm led by Tim Spicer, a former Scots Guards officer who was CO in Belfast when her son was murdered. Spicer later claimed that the murder by soldiers under his command was justified, that Peter Mc Bride 'probably' had a weapon which locals disposed of, that he had lured his soldiers into a trap and that Wright and Fisher should never have been prosecuted. Spicer's claims, which caused great hurt to the family, were rejected at trial. Responding today Jean Mc Bride said,
"Peter's anniversary is this coming Saturday and it is comforting to see such high profile support from the US. We are awaiting judgement from the courts in the battle to have Wright and Fisher kicked out of the British Army and its great to see that our family is not alone. Even the US presidential candidate John Kerry, has taken this on board and spoken out against this contract. Surely some day soon justice will be done."
CAPITOL HILL. August 30, 2004 --- Presidential Candidate John Kerry, Senators Teddy Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd and Charles Schumer have lent their support to a campaign launched by the Irish National Caucus to have the U.S Separtment of Defence cancel a contract it, incredibly, gave to Timothy Spicer, former commander of the British Army unit that murdered unarmed and innocent Peter Mc Bride in Northern Ireland in 1992.
The five powerful Senators have written to Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, urging him direct the Inspector General to investigate how the contract came to be awarded. (See their letter at the end).
" I am very grateful to these five Senators", said Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Irish National Caucus, who had written to all of them asking for their support. " They are showing sensitivity to the family of Peter Mc Bride, and a concern for basic human rights and decency.President Bush must do likewise . He must cancel this contract. President Bush must decide if he wants the respect of Irish-Americans or the gratitude of Timothy Spicer for the fat contract. He cannot have both."
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August 25, 2004
Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
Room 3E880
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Dear Secretary Rumsfeld:
We are writing to request you to ask the Inspector General to investigate a $293 million Iraq security contract given troubling concerns that recently have come to light.
The contract, which we understand is the largest yet awarded for security in postwar Iraq, was granted to a British company, Aegis Defense Services Ltd., in May to provide security teams for the Project and Contracting Office, the body responsible for overseeing $18.4 billion in U.S. reconstruction funds for Iraq.
The company is led by Tim Spicer, a former lieutenant colonel in the Scots Guards. The Boston Globe has reported that Mr. Spicer has "a reputation for illicit arms deals in Africa and for commanding a murderous military unit in Northern Ireland." Two soldiers in the unit shot and killed Peter McBride, a Catholic teenager in Belfast in 1992 while under Mr. Spicer's command. The two soldiers were convicted of murder. Even after he retired from the military, Mr. Spicer defended the two soldiers, who shot Mr. McBride in the back. He argued for their release, which occurred in 1998, and the soldiers were inexplicably reinstated in the British Army.
The United States Government requires all contractors to be "responsible bidders". Contractors have to "have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics" (48 CFR 9.104-1(d)). We would like to know whether the government considered human rights abuses - or an individual who vigorously defends them - as part of this record.
Additionally, the United States Government requires consideration of the contractor's "past performance" (48 CFR 15.304(c)(3)). We would like to know whether the contracting team adequately reviewed the contractor's record, identified past human rights abuses or defense of abuses, and whether the contractor received a poor past performance rating on that basis.
We would also like to know the extent to which these factors were evaluated in awarding this contract to Aegis. If they were evaluated, we would like to know the rationale for awarding the contract.
In light of the recent revelations of abuses of detainees in Iraq, it is important that U.S. actions, whether by military personnel or contractors, have respect for the law. It is troubling that the Government would award a contract to an individual with a history of supporting excessive use of force against a civilian population.
Certainly we understand the urgent need to establish a secure environment, but the United States Government is also working to create a democracy in Iraq in which respect for fundamental human rights is guaranteed.
We appreciate your consideration of this request, and we look forward to the results of the Inspector General's review.
Sincerely,
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