Private Contractors or the draft?

[madmunchie]

Just wondering. If the U.S. wants to do certain work in Iraq before leaving and there are not enough troops to do this work, then which would you want? having a draft or hiring private contractors.

Of course that is not to say that I am supportive of this war at all and I would love to see us out of this country period.

Without enough troops to do the work, private contractors are brought in and paid exorbitant amounts of money to do the work. Doesn't seem fair or logical. While the troops benefits are cut, the Government has more than enough money to pay people big fat paychecks to do work that soldiers should be able to do.

[FloridaPat]

1. I think we just out to send repubs over there. They want this mess,

they can have it. See how long the invasions go on when the chicken hawks are turned into hawks.

[Poll_Blind]

5. Yeah, it's too bad the draft can't go after Republicans first.

They sure deserve first crack at getting a bullet in the teeth in Downtown Hell.

PB

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. Operation Yellow Elephant would be the answer.

But don't hold your breath.

[raccoon]

3. Start a draft and it'll make our heads spin to see how fast

armchair warrior Bushbots change their tune.

[bowens43]

8. and in the mean time

innocent American children die......no thanks

[pocket]

14. innocent my ass

you've seen what 'our troops' are doing to civilians over there.

[uppityperson]

4. Pay the Iraqis

[justabob]

7. That makes way too much sense nt

:)

[MrModerate]

6. But seriously . . .

There is no civilian substitute for soldiers' specialty: warmaking. However, modern soldiers can be mobilized to do much of what private sector workforces in the "public security" universe might be called upon to do.

So, in answer to your question, it depends on the mission. If the objective is to incinerate insurgents in their houses, you're going to need soldiers (i.e., a draft). If you want to, for example, rebuild (and then guard) power plants, you can do that with contractors.

And nothing says those contractors can't be Iraqi citizens.

[The Whiskey Priest]

9. I will be in the minority....but I would favor the draft

with no deferments....let's everyone get some skin in the game, then maybe we, as nation will think about this misadventures before they happen.

[uppityperson]

10. What "certain work" does the US want to do?

Why do they want to do it? Why the US?
why why why why why why why (sorry, got carried away)

[madmunchie]

12. Thats O.K. this whole war thing is tragic bullshit

I mean, if we have money to hand out big paychecks to private contractors, then why should our soldiers benefits get cut? Why not pay the soldiers better?

Of course the best answer it not to be in Iraq, the 2nd best answer is to pay Iraqi's to build their own country back up

[TahitiNut]

11. Equal Opportunity Draft

:shrug: I strongly prefer a Universal Service Obligation and strongly oppose the 'privatization' of the military and any on-going federal functions of all kinds.

[madmunchie]

13. Me to!

Put everybody in together and then this country might really start showing that they care about bushit wars.

[triguy46]

15. Private contractors pay on the ground guys...

three times what enlisted guys get. Of course, who cares what the cost is?

[dusmcj]

16. drafts fulfill numbers

drafts happen to provide large numbers of troop which can't be provided elsewise (like by volunteering). Depending on how much shit Doobosity succeeds in pulling, there may be a draft. PMCs will never fill a numbers requirement, it'd bankrupt us way faster than we're already doing. It's not an alternative.