Will Obama Expand Afghan War Contractor Force? Gibbs Says He'll Look Into It

[KoKo]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Will Obama Expand Afghan War Contractor Force? Gibbs Says He'll Look Into It
Justin Elliott | December 3, 2009, 1:17PM

Now that we know there are 104,100 private contractors who make the war in Afghanistan possible, TPMDC put the question to Robert Gibbs this morning: will the Obama Administration expand that contractor force, as it sends 30,000 more troops?

Gibbs told our Christina Bellantoni this morning that he isn't sure, but will try to find out.

"Let me try to get some guidance on that," Gibbs said. "I don't know that there was an extensive discussion about that, but let me go back and see."

more at.....


Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/white_house_gibbs_on_afghanistan_war_private_contractors.php#more

[tekisui]

1. Of course!

You can't fight modern wars with our broken military alone. You have to get the big buck contractors in there.

That or start a draft.

[sattahipdeep]

2. War Criminal Obushma

War Criminal Obama is just following what War Criminal Cheney tells him to do.

And some loons expect War Criminal Obushma to “go after” and prosecute War Criminals Cheney and Bush?

One wonders what drugs some people are on.

[Mithreal]

3. How does Gibbs not know this

http://rebelreports.com/post/116277092/obama-has-250-000-contractors-in-iraq-and-afghan

Overall, contractors (armed and unarmed) now make up approximately 50% of the “total force in Centcom AOR .” This means there are a whopping 242,657 contractors working on these two US wars. These statistics come from two reports just released by Gary J. Motsek, the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Program Support): “Contractor Support of U.S. Operations in USCENTCOM AOR, IRAQ, and Afghanistan and “Operational Contract Support, ‘State of the Union.’”

“We expect similar dependence on contractors in future contingency operations,” according to the contractor “State of the Union.” It notes that the deployment size of both military personnel and DoD civilians are “fixed by law,” but points out that the number of contractors is “size unfixed,” meaning there is virtually no limit (other than funds) to the number of contractors that can be deployed in the war zone.

[KoKo]

8. I didn't understand it either. I've wondered how Gibbs seems so clueless in these Pressers.

I think he's a good guy...just like I think Obama's heart is trying to do the best he can...but Gibbs needs to be more on top of the questions in these Pressers. Sometimes I get the feeling that he's not being briefed correctly by his own President. :shrug:

[Mithreal]

9. Maybe. Or could just be evasion. Some topics are too radioactive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. We got a WINNAH

he is essentially a Public Information Officer. Like any good PIO he needs to watch his Ps and Qs and there are some things that should be kept as obtuse as possible.

[corpseratemedia]

4. right mr. gibbs

as if you didn't know...

[bvar22]

5. Contractors....

That is where the REAL Big Time War Profiteers are making the BIG MONEY.

And, of course Obama, pawn of the War Profiteering Corporations, WILL slice off a bigger piece of the pie for the War Profiteers.

[Algorem]

6. sure are some amazing stories coming out today.this system is wrecked.

[fascisthunter]

7. now that our socialized military has been intentional broken

we now pay ten times more for private contractors...

[Mithreal]

10. On the bright side, virtually no accountability