Afghanistan deal could net DynCorp over $2.1B

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/122406dnintdyncorp_colombia.3b3cdf08.html


After nearly a decade of experience eradicating illicit-drug crops in Colombia for the State Department, DynCorp has won a new contract that could earn the company more than $2.1 billion over the next 10 years and will include operations in Afghanistan, the world’s biggest producer of opium.

Marc Grossman, a Clinton administration undersecretary of state who helped initiate a $4 billion counter-narcotics effort known as Plan Colombia, said DynCorp’s eradication operation was well worth the taxpayers’ money. He now serves with Gen. Barry McCaffrey on DynCorp’s board of directors. snip

Plan Colombia provided DynCorp with a major boost in revenues but also, for the first time, put its employees directly in the line of guerrilla fire. The company also won a contract to upgrade more than 40 Vietnam-era Huey combat helicopters and install “mini-gun” systems that can spray out 3,000 rounds of ammunition per minute.

Three DynCorp pilots were killed on drug-crop eradication missions over guerrilla-dominated territory in Colombia. Other employees were kidnapped. In early 2001 during a search-and-rescue operation, four American employees of DynCorp participated in a helicopter-borne firefight against Colombia’s oldest and biggest guerrilla group.

[don954]

1. you would think for that type of cash

they could just BUY up all the opium being grown..!

[sandnsea]

2. McCaffrey on their board??

How in the world does someone with a direct financial interest in the continuation of war even remotely qualify as an objective commentator on that same war. Incredible.