Gates questions combat training by contractors

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) - The military's use of private contractors for combat and security training is coming under scrutiny from the Pentagon chief.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is asking Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen how widespread the outsourcing is and how much it has cost over the past decade.

In a memo released to The Associated Press by Virginia Senator Jim Webb's office, Gates asks if the military fully understands the "implications in terms of quality, responsiveness and sustainability." Gates also asks if "appropriate red lines" have been established to determine what types of security training can be contracted out and what can't.



Read more: http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=8712143

[babylonsister]

1. What took him so long? Maybe that's why Blackwater is changing

their 'mission:


Blackwater moves away from controversial private security contracting.»

Contractor Blackwater Worldwide has announced that it will “shift away from the private security business that brought it unwelcome attention” following a deadly shooting in Baghdad last September. Executives say that the “negative media coverage and intense government scrutiny has made the cost of doing business too high” and complain that Blackwater has “unfairly come to symbolize all Iraq contractors and thus is a flash point for those opposed to the war.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/21/blackwater-moves-away-controversial-private-security-contracting/

[The Wizard]

2. Blackwater

The 21st Century Brownshirts. You remember the Brownshirts, Hitler's private army. If Obama wins the election and Bush doesn't suspend the transition of power with martial law, the new President should order the military to march into Balckwater sites and destroy everything and arrest everyone for engaging in activities against the Constitution.

[jody]

3. Sadly, congress has allowed so much outsourcing of DoD missions that if Blackwater is closed down,

Obama would be forced to use other mercenary contractors in the short term because active duty strength is too low to do DoD's mission.

The net result is mercenaries who worked for Blackwater would then do the same job working for another contractor.

[saigon68]

5. They are Thugs and Bullies

Every now and then, the "Rustic Locals" get even and invite them to a bar-be-cue

[RamboLiberal]

4. Good for him and way past time for Condi to question

the use of Blackwater's mercs for guarding officials of U.S. Government. If need be upgrade and train your own security force who work on the government payroll and are not outside contractors. Always disturbed me that we were outsourcing some of training to Blackwater for the military spec ops and other forces. And I was never comfortable with private security protecting diplomats and military brass.

Also glad to see it's Webb that is driving this. Webb is really impressive as a senator.

[Doctor_J]

6. One of Blackwater's VPs was on NPR a couple weeks ago bragging about it

how they train USN sailors how to fire a gun. WTF?!? Can't the Navy teach them that themselves?

[RamboLiberal]

7. Yeah after the Cole the Navy went to Blackwater to have

sailors trained to protect their ships from terrorists. You'd think a few good Marines could've done that a helluva lot cheaper.