Private contractors outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq
| By Michael Ditto - Jul 4, 2007 2:57:09 PM PT |
| Also listed in: Stop Blackwater West |
The LA Times reminds us why we need to open a mercenary training camp in San Diego (yes that is snark):
As Steve Benen notes, the contractors are primarily Iraqis. But even if you subtract them from the total, it's still the largest privatization of the military ever.
Here's an idea: Let's just shut down Camp Pendleton and turn the keys over to Blackwater and CACI. I mean who needs soldiers when there's profit to be had?
The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops, newly released figures show, raising fresh questions about the privatization of the war effort and the government's capacity to carry out military and rebuilding campaigns.
More than 180,000 civilians--including Americans, foreigners and Iraqis--are working in Iraq under U.S. contracts, according to State and Defense department figures obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
Including the recent troop buildup, 160,000 soldiers and a few thousand civilian government employees are stationed in Iraq.
As Steve Benen notes, the contractors are primarily Iraqis. But even if you subtract them from the total, it's still the largest privatization of the military ever.
Here's an idea: Let's just shut down Camp Pendleton and turn the keys over to Blackwater and CACI. I mean who needs soldiers when there's profit to be had?
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Everything possible must be done to stop Blackwater from gaining any ground in California.
These are Mercenaries who will be put to use on the populace.