One man stops a $475 million Iraq contract (mercenaries)

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/02/one-man-stops-a-475-million-iraq-contract/

One man stops a $475 million Iraq contract.

“A federal judge yesterday ordered the military to temporarily refrain from awarding the largest security contract in Iraq. The order followed an unusual series of events set off when a U.S. Army veteran filed a protest against the government practice of hiring what he calls mercenaries.”

The contract, worth about $475 million, calls for a private company to provide intelligence services to the U.S. Army and security for the Army Corps of Engineers on reconstruction work in Iraq. The case, which is being heard by the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, puts on trial one of the most controversial and least understood aspects of the Iraq war: the outsourcing of military security to an estimated 20,000 armed contractors who operate with little oversight.

Brian X. Scott, a 53-year-old Colorado man, filed the complaint in early April. He argues that the military’s use of private security contractors is “against America’s core values” and violates an 1893 law that prohibits the government from hiring quasi-military forces.

More here:
http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3041

[hippiechick]

1. yea, it's already on Greatest.

n/t

[babylonsister]

3. So sorry; hadn't seen it. nt

[whistle]

2. But the U.S. Congress is won't do anything to stop funding these bastard mercienaries...bullshit!

[Gregorian]

4. Where the hell are the people who should have been stopping this!

Like I posted in the other thread, this guy is just a regular guy.

From a quick search, it appears he was a write-in on the Colorado 2006 Sec. of State election. And he is an employee of the USGS.

America has a sickness. Nobody is awake. Except a few of us.

[stevedeshazer]

5. Link to Cal04's thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2867588

[Bitwit1234]

6. I suppose the guy should have secret service protection?????

[meow2u3]

7. I heard it on C-SPAN this morning--It's illegal for the Army to hire mercs

That law has been on the books since the 1890's--and no one has legalized the practice of hiring mercs since.

Chalk up another law broken by the Bush administration.

[Blue_Tires]

8. ttt one time nt

[LSK]

9. K&R

[Faux pas]

10. It's time to stop corps from profiting while our

military suffers and goes without the basics to survive. And why should taxspayers be paying for boosh's private army? Brian X. Scott and the judge deserve a medal!

[seemslikeadream]

11. “against America’s core values”

BLOOD MONEY

[file83]

12. Kick for Brian X. Scott!! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Put the law into action - stop the mercs from taking over our military and police!