Democrats Criticize Role of Military Contractors

[seemslikeadream]

Thursday, April 15, 2004
By Peter Brownfeld
WASHINGTON — Private military companies operating in Iraq are raising the eyebrows of Democratic lawmakers, who say they are costly, not regulated well enough and are being used to make the Iraq war more palatable to the public.



"There are a lot of questions that need to be answered before we continue to outsource these positions," said Nadeam Elshami, spokesman for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (search), D-Ill.

Critics say these hired guns, who draw salaries two, three or four times higher than soldiers, are used to avoid the politically sensitive implications of having to send more American troops. In Iraq, 15,000 or more armed contractors provide security and thousands of others work as engineers, truck drivers, cooks, etc. The proliferation of these contractors has been highlighted by the recent brutal killing in Fallujah of four men employed by Blackwater U.S.A. (search) as well as the execution Wednesday of an Italian contractor.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., has been a leading critic of the way these contractors are used.

"I think we have to regulate these contractors. We have to know who is there and what they're doing not only for their own protection, but also so our military can coordinate effectively," Reed told Fox News.

more
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,117235,00.html

[xultar]

1. Seems to me the Democrats are gettin' som Balls people!

It's about EFFIN time!

Maybe we've finally learned?

[Kukesa]

2. Tax Free?

I'm a newbie so I may have missed the answer to my question. Please forgive.

In this morning's "Dayton Daily News" I read a story (Associated Press) about Halliburton luring truck drivers to work in Iraq with a promise of earning $120,000 - TAX FREE.

Why tax free?

Newbie Kukesa

[seemslikeadream]

4. There is some discussion here of that

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=488395


and welcome
Newbie Kukesa :hi:

[Kukesa]

6. Now I Know

Thanks for the info, seamslikeadream. Now I have an answer to my question; it was in post 33.

And thanks, too, for the warm welcome.

Kukesa

[wicket]

7. Welcome to DU!!!!

:) :D

[Mountainman]

9. Because the money is not earned in the States

[Amerpie]

3. For Profit War Making

This war, more so than any recently, was designed for profit. These mercenaries fit right into the pattern. Their employers are being payed with our tax dollars. We are financing this crap.

[Just Me]

5. I am and have been in complete agreement with Jack Reed's position.

Since taxpayer money is being used to fund the private military industries, taxpayers should have complete access to everything these companies do,...and I do mean totally open books.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Did you catch the two-part story in Salon about PMFs ??

Links:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/04/15/warriors/print.html

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/04/16/outsourcing_war/print.html

(you'll need a day pass if you're not a regular subscriber)

(snip)
The private military industry is such a new phenomenon that most in Congress remain unaware of it. In turn, the issue is highly susceptible to partisan rancor, mainly because of the identity and political practices of some of the firms. For instance, simply mention the name Halliburton in a congressional hearing and the battle line is already drawn. Unfortunately, this ends rather than begins the inquiry, even though questions about the private military industry cut to the heart of national security and our soldiers' welfare.

In the wake of the shock over Fallujah, this may change. A group of senators led by former West Pointer Jack Reed, D-R.I., has requested that the Pentagon begin the basic accounting task of tallying the number of armed non-Iraqi private military personnel on the ground. They have also requested that the Pentagon begin to adopt written guidelines, with legal justifications, for the rules of engagement the firms must follow, as well as how they will be coordinated with U.S. and sovereign Iraqi forces. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has not yet responded.
(snip)




:nuke: