U.S. Always Outsourcing, More Contractors Than U.S. Troops in Iraq
| Mon Sep. 24, 2007 2:53 PM PDT
Americans are known for outsourcing everything. So, why not the Iraq war too? Currently, contractors in Iraq number more than 180,000, according to the Associated Press. 137,000 of them are working for the Department of Defense, and thousands more have been separately contracted by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Their number is greater than the 163,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq now.
As journalist Jeremy Scahill writes, "In essence, the Bush administration has created a shadow army that can be used to wage wars unpopular with the American public but extremely profitable for a few unaccountable private companies."
And this "shadow army" is accountable to no one, thanks to the immunity granted by U.S. authorities following the invasion in 2003, which essentially prohibits Iraqi courts from prosecuting contractors. This action prompted politicians on both sides of the aisle to introduce bills which would place U.S. security contractors under U.S. federal criminal codes. But in the meantime, contractors continue to rake in billions of dollars in Iraq and surely, when we withdraw, they'll make bank off that as well.
—Neha Inamdar
Continues Below
Continued From Above
Comments
In most modern American conflicts, less than 6% of the total forces committed are actual combat troops - infantry, armor, artillery, combat medics and engineers, MP's. So if "only" 8,300 are considered security positions, it's about the same relationship as the regular military. And if the proportion of support troops is lower than in previous wars, it's because the private soldiers doing those jobs -- generally at higher pay and cost -- mean more regular military are in the combat roles. To an ex-infantryman, it always seemed unfair that the cooks and clerks made the same money in the rear as we did in the field...this is worse.
Submitted by JT Barrie (not verified) on Thu Sep. 27, 2007 5:30 AM PDT.
That 6% figure is for conventional wars: wars with an identifiable enemy and identifiable front. I don't see that in Iraq - since acts of terrorism can crop up anywhere. Our "war" is more like the one Nazi Germany waged in France and Poland. We don't line up civilians before firing squads - as depicted in war movie propaganda. But then, neither did the Nazis. They retaliated with secret and not so secret detention centers where extraordinary interrogation techniques were used. And they used civilian informants like we do.
Nothing like having 180,000 mercenaries at the beck and call of a draft-dodging president who revels in calling himself "The War President". Nothing like the State Department and Pentagon paying out a TRILLION dollars a year for these goons! Every time something serious is going on in Iraq, the mercenaries take off (along with the so-called Iraqi "soldiers") and leave our soldiers to take care of the action. They are paid approximately $600 a day, and have the best of the armored vehicles and weapons. Why not leave Bush's private (and secretive up until now) army in Iraq and Afghanistan, and bring home our underpaid and over-extended soldiers!!! How long do you think it will be until Blackwater is turned loose to control our country, just as they did in New Orleans after Katrina??? This group was given the authority to operate in 2001, by a so-called "signing statement" by Bush.
The word "contractors" is the polite term used by the media instead of "mercenaries" - knowing how the public would react when told of this uncontrolled private army.
I thought the actual details of this had already been pointed out in this discussion...?
There Are NOT 180,000 'mercenaries' in Iraq, unless you want to stretch the definition of 'mercenary' to include truck drivers and construction crews!
Go to the original article that's linked in this story, click on the bar graph, and you'll find:
ONLY
7,300 Private SECURITY Contractors - 1,000 of whom are Blackwater
45,100 Third Country nationals
and
69,000 IRAQI nationals, working as 'contractors'
many of whom are working at tasks such as transport and road building.
Submitted by Victoria Rum (not verified) on Fri Sep. 28, 2007 3:20 AM PDT.
I support the troops that have gone through military training; where they are specialized in a multitude of situations, such as war.
Contractors training is a secret.
Pray for Peace. God Bless.
Homes For Sale Miami fl
Submitted by jackjames on Wed Mar. 4, 2009 1:58 AM PST.
Hi all... I am new to baynet too.Of course, I quit reading and posting on the some blogs & forums. I won't go into details becuase I am sure most of you know why...
it will take a little time to get use to this interface, but I think I can manage...
I must really welcomes this.It is the pleasant moment when we can spent our time with our heart loving pets.
I am get relaxed and we can honor for that pets and we must remember this help.
Homes For Sale Miami fl
