Private contractors outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq
The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in
Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops.
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.
Excepting, of course, the Dodobirds who question nothing the government does.
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.
The total number of private contractors, far higher than previously reported, shows how heavily the Bush administration has relied on corporations to carry out the occupation of Iraq — a mission criticized as being undermanned.
Like Peter Singer of the Brookings Institution said, “This is not the coalition of the willing. It’s the coalition of the billing.”
Excepting, of course, the Dodobirds who question nothing the government does.
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.
The total number of private contractors, far higher than previously reported, shows how heavily the Bush administration has relied on corporations to carry out the occupation of Iraq — a mission criticized as being undermanned.
Like Peter Singer of the Brookings Institution said, “This is not the coalition of the willing. It’s the coalition of the billing.”
Posted: Wed - July 4, 2007 at 02:23 PM