From Robert: "According to Kateri Carmola (Private Security Contractors and New Wars: Risk, Law, and Ethics):
"In 1975, Vinnell was a struggling company whose lucrative contracts building military installations in Vietnam were coming to an end. It was saved by a lucrative contract with the Saudi Arabian government to train and advise their National Guard, a force of over 125,000, whose duties include protecting the Saudi royal family from internal coups by its own military. Since then, Vinnell, now 51 percent owned by Saudi backers and 49 percent by Northrup-Grumman, has maintained a team of over 1,000 contractors to train, equip, and advise the National Guard (or SANG). According to its website:
"Vinnell Arabia is the market leader in U.S. military doctrine-based training, logistics, and support services within Saudi Arabia. We provide unparalleled training and simulation services for defense, national security and fire/emergency medical response that fit our customer’s requirements perfectly throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have done so for over 32 years.
"Vinnell’s contract with the SANG best represents the “cozy” relationship between a PMSC and another country. Vinnell contractors are hired directly from the military and the Special Forces, and they maintain a recruiting office at the Special Operations Command in Florida. In the past they have worked for the CIA, leading to speculation that they have served as a “front company,” or at least that they cycle intelligence professionals in and out of their business. According to a career military office who has worked in Saudi Arabia overseeing the Vinnell contract, the relationship is a “win–win” one: “the Saudi government deposits $186 million yearly to the US Treasury; and the money is then used to hire Vinnell.”1 The regular US military also works directly with the regular Saudi military, but Vinnell’s relationship with the SANG, whose members are drawn from a specific tribe that remains loyal to the royal family, sustains a direct American tie with the ruling family, as well as makes money for a US company. The close relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia might make a strong partnership between the country’s respective militaries reasonable, but the specific cozy political relationship between the SANG and the Saudi royal family make it necessary to have this particular training done by contractors.2"
According to David J. Dionisi (American Hiroshima: The Reasons Why and A Call to Strengthen America's Democracy):
"In 1992 the company was acquired by BDM. A joint venture with Saudi Arabia, called Vinnell Arabia, was started in 1995. BDM at the time was owned by the Carlyle Group.
[...]
"Senior U.S. former officials who have had leadership postions with Vinnell include former Secretary of State James Baker, former White House budget chief Richard Darman, and former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci. In 1997, Vinnell was acquired by TRW. TRW was acquired in 2002 by Northrop Grumman Corporation.
"In 2003, Vinnell was awarded a $48 million contract to train the nucleus of a new Iraqi Army. The $48 million figure is significant, as Congress receives notification only if a contract is worth more than $50 million.""
"In 1975, Vinnell was a struggling company whose lucrative contracts building military installations in Vietnam were coming to an end. It was saved by a lucrative contract with the Saudi Arabian government to train and advise their National Guard, a force of over 125,000, whose duties include protecting the Saudi royal family from internal coups by its own military. Since then, Vinnell, now 51 percent owned by Saudi backers and 49 percent by Northrup-Grumman, has maintained a team of over 1,000 contractors to train, equip, and advise the National Guard (or SANG). According to its website:
"Vinnell Arabia is the market leader in U.S. military doctrine-based training, logistics, and support services within Saudi Arabia. We provide unparalleled training and simulation services for defense, national security and fire/emergency medical response that fit our customer’s requirements perfectly throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and have done so for over 32 years.
"Vinnell’s contract with the SANG best represents the “cozy” relationship between a PMSC and another country. Vinnell contractors are hired directly from the military and the Special Forces, and they maintain a recruiting office at the Special Operations Command in Florida. In the past they have worked for the CIA, leading to speculation that they have served as a “front company,” or at least that they cycle intelligence professionals in and out of their business. According to a career military office who has worked in Saudi Arabia overseeing the Vinnell contract, the relationship is a “win–win” one: “the Saudi government deposits $186 million yearly to the US Treasury; and the money is then used to hire Vinnell.”1 The regular US military also works directly with the regular Saudi military, but Vinnell’s relationship with the SANG, whose members are drawn from a specific tribe that remains loyal to the royal family, sustains a direct American tie with the ruling family, as well as makes money for a US company. The close relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia might make a strong partnership between the country’s respective militaries reasonable, but the specific cozy political relationship between the SANG and the Saudi royal family make it necessary to have this particular training done by contractors.2"
According to David J. Dionisi (American Hiroshima: The Reasons Why and A Call to Strengthen America's Democracy):
"In 1992 the company was acquired by BDM. A joint venture with Saudi Arabia, called Vinnell Arabia, was started in 1995. BDM at the time was owned by the Carlyle Group.
[...]
"Senior U.S. former officials who have had leadership postions with Vinnell include former Secretary of State James Baker, former White House budget chief Richard Darman, and former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci. In 1997, Vinnell was acquired by TRW. TRW was acquired in 2002 by Northrop Grumman Corporation.
"In 2003, Vinnell was awarded a $48 million contract to train the nucleus of a new Iraqi Army. The $48 million figure is significant, as Congress receives notification only if a contract is worth more than $50 million.""
