Officials worry Trump may back Erik Prince plan to privatize war in Afghanistan

[herding cats]

Source: NBC

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is increasingly venting frustration to his national security team about the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and showing renewed interest in a proposal by Blackwater founder Erik Prince to privatize the war, current and former senior administration officials said.

Prince's idea, which first surfaced last year during the president's Afghanistan strategy review, envisions replacing troops with private military contractors who would work for a special U.S. envoy for the war who would report directly to the president.

It has raised ethical and security concerns among senior military officials, key lawmakers and members of Trump's national security team. A year after Trump's strategy announcement, his advisers are worried his impatience with the Afghanistan conflict will cause him to seriously consider proposals like Prince's or abruptly order a complete U.S. withdrawal, officials said.

In an interview with NBC News, Prince said he believes Trump advisers who oppose his plan are painting "as rosy a picture as they can" of the situation on the ground, including that "peace is around the corner" with recent U.S. efforts for peace talks with the Taliban. He said he believes Trump's advisers "over-emphasize the fluff and flare of these so-called peace talks."

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna901401?__twitter_impression=true

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. No problem: if the members of the national security team insist on speaking freely, Trump

can simply take away their security clearances and give one to Erik Prince. Mission accomplished.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Who will rescue the mercenaries when things go wrong?

Troops are only one facet of a war. There is all of the logistics and air command and special forces and heavy weapons and specialists, etc.

[barbtries]

8. IIRC

that's what halliburton is for.
cheney's company i believe

[pangaia]

14. YUP !!!!! Nail on head.....

[turbinetree]

3. So taxpayers are going to be funding this item..................

I don't fucking think so...................if this asshole wants to play war in Afghanistan, then he can take his Amway dollars and have at it..........


November 2018 cannot get here fast enough....................vote

[dalton99a]

10. +1. Democrats MUST win back the House.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. THIS!

And then No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a Democratic House (the House of which controls the purse strings) would be the decider.

[turbinetree]

21. Yepper, spot on

and we will be taking back "our" House................


November 2018 cannot get here fast enough................vote

[radical noodle]

4. What could possibly go wrong?

[Freethinker65]

5. Warcrimes for profit, directed by Betsy DeVos's blackwater brother, paid for by taxpayers. MAGA

[DBoon]

6. So Eric Prince wants a cut of Afghanistan's heroin trade/

nt

[democratisphere]

7. Looks like Betsy DeVos' brother needs a job to become even wealthier.

Keeping it all in the family of corruption.

[keithbvadu2]

9. Prince got two of his mercs hung up on a bridge in Fallujah. Four killed.

Prince got two of his mercs hung up on a bridge in Fallujah. Four killed.

Prince's incompetence does not car about his men. Just money to him.

[MarcA]

23. Wasn't that the event that W used to ramp up the war

because "our soldiers"?

[hibbing]

11. Socialize the costs, privatize the profits n/t

[CrispyQ]

12. They are slowly privatizing all aspects of our government

& people are oblivious to it, cuz they've bought the lie that private industry can do it better & cheaper than government. Soon, they will own our government, lock, stock, & barrel.

[Kurt V.]

16. +1

that is the end game.

[Lonestarblue]

13. For-profut schools, for-profit healthcare, for-profit armies.

Add for-profit prisons and for-profit immigrant detainment cages. Capitalism run amuck. Republicans are turning this country into one giant profit center, with the most money going to the most corrupt. I can just see another Iraq debacle with the Prince private army, killing people at will and spending taxpayer dollars to support lavish lifestyles at the top. A private army serving the president is the next step toward the president becoming dictator for life. No accountability, no answers for the press—just the way Trump likes things.

[docgee]

15. They intend this to become his SS.

[Submariner]

18. The Joint Chiefs need to slam the brakes on this foolishness

American mercenaries running rampant through Afghanistan is madness. Didn't we learn our lesson in Iraq?

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. How many DUers knew 140 Afghan forces and 60 civilians died in the fight for Ghazni last week?

I'm just wondering how believable, to the American public, the "peace with the Taliban is around the corner" claim, when the Taliban has just tried to capture a provincial capital, population around 140,000, on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway?

See https://www.democraticunderground.com/113321961

Not that I trust Prince an inch, but he is right to rubbish 'imminent peace' claims.

[HAB911]

20. They will all be required to sign loyalty oaths to Trump

so that when they come home, he has his ready made SS

[keithbvadu2]

22. Oath of Allegiance - Pre and post 1934

Oath of Allegiance - Pre and post 1934
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-fuehrer-oath

(before August 2, 1934)
"I swear by almighty God this sacred oath:
I will at all times loyally and honestly
serve my people and country
and, as a brave soldier,
I will be ready at any time
to stake my life for this oath."

The Fuehrer Oath
(effective August 2, 1934)
"I swear by almighty God this sacred oath:
I will render unconditional obedience
to the Fuehrer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler,
Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht,
and, as a brave soldier,
I will be ready at any time
to stake my life for this oath."

[BillyBobBrilliant]

24. Go ahead and privatize

But, let the Blackwater stockholders pay the expenses, and let the citizens off the hook.

[Lucky Luciano]

25. Heavens to Betsy, if that didn't payoff! Thanks sis! nt

[apnu]

26. Trump will back whomever jerks him off the most.

That's how it goes with that creep. Trump is easy to manipulate.

[Progressive dog]

27. Right after Mexico pays for the wall

Trump will get Afghanistan to pay for Prince's mercenaries. Trump Taj Mahal of Kabul and Trump Mexican Wall Condos are coming, bankruptcy of USA to follow.

[DoctorJoJo]

28. Between Dipsquat DeVoss and Not So Principled, We Could Just Subcontract the USA to AMWAY!

[riversedge]

29. ...Mattis and Pompeo both oppose Prince's plan, officials said.

Minds can change. damn


...Mattis and Pompeo both oppose Prince's plan, officials said. A senior State Department official said there's "not a chance" it will be adopted.

Asked for Bolton's view of Prince's idea, the NSC spokesperson declined to comment.
'I like following my instincts'

The security situation in Afghanistan has worsened in the year since Trump signed off on the current strategy, and there are increased concerns about government stability and corruption in Kabul. The Taliban continues to make gains, while the U.S. has renewed efforts for peace talks with the militant group.

[flotsam]

30. Wow COOL!!!

So we give Prince like 50 billion and get our 717 billion DOD budget back???