Should Blackwater contracts be cancelled & the money used to raise military pay?

[yurbud]

Poll question: Should Blackwater contracts be cancelled & the money used to raise military pay?

I teach writing at community college, and had a conservative Marine student in class last semester who had served in Iraq, and he seemed to hate Blackwater as much as any lefty.

Their presence is seriously demoralizing to our troops.

It occurred to me that we could win even conservative support by coming at eliminating mercenaries from a ''support the troops'' angle.

If we canceled the mercenary contracts and used every penny that had gone to them to raise the pay of our troops, especially those most at risk of being poached by mercenary companies, we would still end up saving money.

How?

Every former special forces, pilot, or other badass who leaves the military early cost a lot to train, and training their replacement will cost a lot. We would prevent that loss by retaining them in the regular military.

Save money, support the troops, look like the good guys on the international stage...that would be tough for even the corrupt politicians who set up the contracts, and get the kickbacks to argue against.

[MindandSoul]

1. Absolutely!

I think paying mercenaries several times more than what we pay our military is WRONG and demeaning to our brave soldiers!
I actually have a young neighbor who went to Afghanistan with a contract agency (not Blackwater) as a COOK and ended up cleaning vegetables for the troops for several months. . .but he was payed $80,000 a year, with a 2 year contract, and a 3 week trip back home after one year. . .all expense paid!

Now, I would say that our soldiers should make AT LEAST as much as the kitchen help!

[Tippy]

2. Why should we be paying for both the regular military and mercenary contractors

If the contractors want to fight so bad let tham join or rejoin the military....

[EFerrari]

3. Remember, candidate Obama told Amy Goodman

that as we have about the same number of contractors as deployed soldiers, there is no getting rid of them without increasing troop strength.

[yurbud]

5. did she ever get an actual interview?

[EFerrari]

6. She had nabbed him on his way out of a speech on the budget.

And I believe the video is up at her site.

ETA: I can't find the clip I'm looking for but here's a segment on the topic re both Obama and Clinton.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/28/jeremy_scahill_despite_anti_war_rhetoric

[yurbud]

8. thanks!

[tkmorris]

7. I have no problem with that

Increase troop numbers and decrease deployments. Did you know that the US has approximately 250,000 military members deployed outside the US that AREN'T in Afghanistan or Iraq? You probably do actually, but most people don't. I think there is plenty of room to decrease deployments in places like Germany, Korea, and Japan and instead use some of those troops to replace these hired mercenaries. Make up whatever difference there is with new recruits. I know the military isn't particularly popular right now but install a few benny programs and increase pay a bit and it's very doable, especially with so few good employment prospects out there.

[lonestarnot]

4. Hell yeah!

[proteus_lives]

9. I have a friend who is a Army reservist with an Iraq tour under his belt.

He hates Blackwater and has said most US soldiers do too.

They hate the merc attitude, the better equipment/pay and the questionable loyalty.