As many U.S. contractors as troops in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Source: Army Times

As many U.S. contractors as troops in Iraq
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Aug 13, 2008 6:10:13 EDT

The U.S. has about the same number of private contractors in Iraq as uniformed service members, a new congressional report says — a history-making ratio that presents problems in keeping track of all the workers and highlights the difficulties of supporting extended military operations without a larger force.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan analytical arm of Congress, issued a report Monday that provides the first detailed accounting of the number of civilian contractors working in the Iraq theater, often doing jobs that historically have been military responsibilities, such as administration and logistics.

“The extent of DoD’s contracting is particularly evident during prolonged, large-scale operations — like those in Iraq — where there may not be enough military personnel available to provide logistics support,” says the report, “Contractors’ Support of U.S. Operations In Iraq.”

Most of the attention and controversy has centered on the estimated 30,000 people hired by the State Department to provide private security — a mission traditionally the responsibility of U.S. military forces in combat zones.

Read more: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_contractorstroops_iraq_081208w/

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In case the above link does not work: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/08/military_contractorstroops_iraq_081208w/

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I had the impression that there were more contractors than troops...

They are getting paid 10 times what our troops are getting paid to do the jobs that are usually done by the troops. That is where the overwhelming bulk of the $$ we have squandered in Iraq has gone.

[amandabeech]

8. Throwing away borrowed dollars seems to be easier than increasing the number

of soldiers and sailors.

If * drafted enough folks to take over those roles, he'd have tear gas wafteing into the White House, and I don't think that he has the stomach for it.

[ManiacJoe]

9. For a while there probably were more

contractors than troops. However, don't confuse "contractors" with "security contractors". There are about 10K-20K security contractors from multiple agencies according to previous reports. All other contractors are doing maintenance, construction, logistics, transportation, etc.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. How is this 'breaking news'? It's been a known fact for years.

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Profit !" - Republicon Crony War Cry

[OneBlueSky]

4. could you fix that link, please . . . thanx . . . n/t

[OneBlueSky]

5. and what's REALLY disgusting about this is that contractor employees . . .

make many times what a U.S. military person makes . . . and the company still has enough left over to ensure obscene profits for its shareholders . . . yet it's the military personnel who are doing the fighting and coming home either in body bags or with horrific injuries ranging from multiple lost limbs to severe brain damage . . .

it ain't right . . .

[LynnTheDem]

6. It's really too unfortunate that most Americans -especially politicians- don't know history.

So they repeat it. Again and again.

[BanTheGOP]

7. SPECIAL TAX NEEDED

We need to institute a specialized tax to ensure that contractors who go to Iraq pay for the money gained from the ill-gotten GOP-enforced obscene profit center. Hopefully Obama and the dems will push this through in January.