Are we really leaving Iraq?

[dmosh42]

I know all the news is about how the troops will be out of Iraq soon, or are out already. But somewhere I saw a quick brief on the 'Green Zone", and it was mentioned about large amounts of contractors residing or reporting there, which says we're paying the bill. I wondered if anybody knows the story about these contractors, who, I'm sure, are mostly mercenaries. As usual with OUR government, no transparency, and always deception!

[Iggo]

1. The words of the day are Downsized and Privatized.

[i like icke.]

2. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND OF THEM!

150,000! On our dime, and for what? To make the corporations RICHER!

And it's evil, to boot! These bottom-feeders are not bound by military law and we already know some of the satanic deeds they've done!

There is no excuse for this whatsoever. Anyone who defends this bullshit, along with the politicians who allow it, is part of the problem!

[dmallind]

7. Where does that number come from? I see fractions of that....

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/a-look-at-us-presence-in-iraq-after-troops-leave/

"CONTRACTORS, CONTRACTORS, CONTRACTORS

The State Department is expected to have about 5,000 security contractors in Iraq as of January 2012 (they already have about 3,000 in country).

Additionally they will have 4,500 so-called “general life support” contractors, who provide food and medical services, operate the aviation assets, etc.

How does this compare to contractor levels now? It’s actually less.

The Department of Defense currently has about 9,500 security contractors in Iraq and several thousand general life contractors. At its peak in June 2009, DOD had 15,200 security contractors in Iraq."

[i like icke.]

9. I was listening to Bill Press this morning

and his guest mentioned it. I had heard it before, though. I will try to document it, but they probably hide the real numbers.

[onenote]

18. So if you can't substantiate something you simply declare it true anyway

Why bother to even try to document your claim if that's what you believe?

[ParkieDem]

12. Where did you get the 150,000 number?

Everything I've read indicates about a tenth of that number.

[jaxx]

3. The war is over, the troops are leaving.

Like any other country in which we have an embassy there will be many people needed to efficiently see to our interests there. We pay the bills for every embassy, why think we won't for the one in Baghdad?

Really, it isn't a big deal to have supporting people at an embassy.

[i like icke.]

4. 150,000 contractors??? The same amount as the actual military?

How would you like it if 150K foreigners came here like vultures, were able to do whatever they wanted, against us?

[jaxx]

5. Why would you think they can do anything they want?

Iraq has laws, and the US has laws that ensure the embassy will be a diplomatic mission. We aren't against Iraq, the war is over.

[i like icke.]

8. If this doesn't turn your stomach, then what will?

They have KILLED civilians, bud!

[gratuitous]

13. Past contracts for the likes of Blackwater/Xe/Academi had hold harmless provisions

Anything the contractors did in the course of their duties was legally exempted from liability. It led to some very interesting results if you were an Iraqi unlucky enough to cross their path when they were having a bad day. Well, maybe not so much interesting as lethal.

[jaxx]

14. There is a difference between being at war and not being at war.

Things have changed.

[gratuitous]

15. Bwahahaha!

If you say so.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

6. I doubt it. The war was merely regime change for the benefit$$$ of wealthy in the U.S. and Europe

As I am interested in women's issues, I find it heinous that now women in Iraq are worse off than they were under Saddam. Every frikkin' time the U.S. does regime change somewhere, they worsen the situation for people in the country.

Here's an article by Shameran Marugi, president of the Iraqi Women Comittee:

http://www.alarcheef.com/articles/details.asp?articleID=13369&word=

For Iraqi women Life better under Saddam.

[raouldukelives]

10. We killed a LOT of people for that oil

We will not be leaving. Not til every drop is sucked out of the ground and turned into massive profits for the all holy Wall St.
Maybe next time they will think twice before being born in a resource rich area. Of course without peasants our courageous fighting forces wouldn't have anyone to test cutting edge weaponry on.

[ProSense]

11. Only

"Are we really leaving Iraq?"

...if it's to give Bush credit.

There were more than 132,000 contractors in Iraq in 2009. There are about 12,000 remaining.

The war is over.

[NorthCarolina]

16. Sure we are *wink* *wink*

nt

[w8liftinglady]

17. They anticipate the number of contractors will go up

this article cites 35K security contractors alone...which they anticipate will increase as the military leaves



http://www.theworld.org/2011/06/un-contractors-mercenaries-iraq/

[Evasporque]

19. just the flag is....nt

[LiberalAndProud]

20. I count 10,700 including diplomats and representatives.

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/21/left-behind-in-iraq-thousands-of-contractors/

Once the U.S. military presence in Iraq is gone, the embassy in Baghdad, the largest U.S. embassy in the world, will be staffed by approximately 1,700 diplomats and representatives of various cabinet agencies. They will be supported by approximately 5,000 security contractors. There will also be up to 4,000 contractors supporting every service for U.S. personnel in Iraq from food to sanitation and anything else necessary for diplomats to carry out their jobs.

But I left my caps key off, so 150,000 is probably closer to the truth.