“Winning” the War in Iraq - with corporate mercenaries
According to government estimates, contractors
account for a startling 40% of the total war effort on the American
side.
King George 3rd felt Hessians were model soldiers
According to government estimates, contractors account for a startling 40% of the total war effort on the American side. But now the military is finding that contracting is becoming addictive. In fact, it’s become so dependent on contractors it can’t even fight the war or engage in rebuilding efforts without them. And as allegations of profiteering and abuse by contractors run high, the military seems to be a victim of its own effort to become more efficient.
According to U.S. Central Command…approximately 100,000 contractors and subcontractors–including Iraqis, Americans and other foreigners–are currently assisting U.S. forces in Iraq. By contrast, there are about 138,000 American troops in Iraq, plus an additional 15,000 coalition forces.
No one really knows which companies have won the largest government contracts, how much the deals are worth or whether they are being obtained through a truly competitive bidding process. The Pentagon does not release this information, and congressional leaders have been stonewalled in their efforts to acquire it.
According to Pete Singer, from the Brookings Institute, “It’s never been about monetary savings. It’s been about political savings,” he says about the use of contractors. “If they are killed or captured, the political consequences don’t weigh as much in the media, and they certainly don’t weigh as much on policymakers.”
From the Hessians to Wild Geese, lifers in any modern army have nothing but contempt for mercenaries. The unasked question is — what do you think of the politicians who hire these guys in the first place?
Posted: Mon - February 26, 2007 at 07:13 AM