U.S. House Panel Puts Iraq Contractor Abuse Claims ‘On the Record’

[babylonsister]

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2750348&C=america

U.S. House Panel Puts Iraq Contractor Abuse Claims ‘On the Record’
By WILLIAM MATTHEWS


snip//

Scahill told lawmakers that heavy reliance on private contractors has enabled the Bush administration to nearly double the number of U.S. forces in Iraq without the general knowledge of U.S. taxpayers.
More ominous, though, contract workers have been involved in — but not punished for — numerous scandals during the Iraq war, the pair claimed.

These contractors were among the interrogators and translators who tortured prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, Greenwald said.

In one short period, senior military personnel documented 12 instances in which contract workers shot at Iraqi civilians, killing six, Scahill said, but no contractors were charged with crimes.
Contract employees were granted immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law by Paul Bremmer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority that ruled Iraq in 2003 and 2004, Scahill said. And they were not subject to U.S. military law.

Truck drivers working for Halliburton routinely drove empty trucks across Iraq because the company is paid by the number of trips, not by the amount of cargo a truck carries, Greenwald said.
Contractors operated massive “burn pits,” where trucks and other equipment were destroyed so that replacements could be bought, because companies received a portion of the purchase price for each piece of equipment, Greenwald told the subcommittee.

Scahill, who has written a book and articles about use of contractors in the Iraq war, said U.S. special forces troops complained to him that contract security personnel undercut efforts to build trust among Iraqi citizens.

U.S. troops will spend weeks befriending Iraqis, Scahill said, only to have their efforts ruined when armed security forces escorting politicians or convoys barge through communities shooting at people in their way. The Iraqis do not understand the difference between the troops and the contractors. To the Iraqis, “they’re all Americans,” he said.

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:

more...

[misternormal]

1. Can't we call them mercenaries yet??? n/t...

[DrDan]

2. why do you hate 'merica

are you not aware of all the good things going on in Iraq?

and after all - those empty trucks use much less gas than full ones

[iamahaingttta]

3. Stop paying fucking taxes!!!

Stop burning fossil fuels!
Stop using those goddamn credit cards!

I have...