Could Obama not know about the 140,000 Military Contractors (Mercenaries) we are Paying for?

[KoKo]

How Many Private Contractors Are There In Afghanistan? Military Gives Us A Number
Justin Elliott | December 2, 2009, 2:37PM

Private contractors employed by the Defense Department in Afghanistan will continue to outnumber the size of the American troop presence, even after President Obama sends 30,000 more soldiers to fight in the war, according to the military's most recent contractor count.

The latest figure on DOD contractors in the country is a whopping 104,100, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command tells TPM. That number, which is expected to grow, is already greater than the 98,000 U.S. troops that will be in the country after the new deployments.

We told you yesterday about the little-noticed but giant shadow army of contractors that allows the United States to prosecute the war by providing food, transport, construction, security, and other services. Many believe the size of the contracting force presents security and transparency concerns.

And the lack of discussion of the topic -- Obama, for example, didn't mention contractors in his address last night -- warps perceptions of the size of the American commitment in Afghanistan.

Central Command spokesman Lt. Col. Joseph Kloppel sent TPM these numbers, declining to peg them to a specific date, and saying a breakdown of types of contractors is not available:

Third Country Nationals 16,400
Local/Host Nation 78,400
US Citizens 9,300
Total 104,100

As of June, the number of contractors was 73,968, so the new figure is a considerable increase. All of this data should be viewed skeptically; a commission on contracting created by Congress has complained about widely varying contractor counts and lack of good data.

IT GETS WORSE:

Much More at......
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/so_how_many_private_contractors_are_there_in_afgha.php
-----------------

AND THIS:

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

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...

[FrenchieCat]

1. What is a "private" contractor exactly?

Are we just talking about private mercenaries. Do you know?

Is there a difference between the numbers of armed and unarmed Private contractors...
those who build things and deliver supplies, etc....

and the folks who run around with guns and pretend to be in the army and shit?


The Pentagon's surveys reveal that the makeup of armed private security contractors varies considerably between the two war zones. In Iraq, less than 5 percent of the armed civilians are Americans, while less than 8 percent are Iraqi. The remaining 88 percent come from other countries, such as Fiji, Nepal, Chile and Nigeria.

In Afghanistan, the overwhelming majority — some 95 percent — are Afghans.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113389274

[BeFree]

3. Support

Housing, meals, fuel, prostitutes (no way?), butlers for the generals, drivers and guards for generals, diplomats and their prostitutes (no way?), people to wipe the generals asses and make sure their meals are not poisoned, etc.

[msongs]

2. bush and now obama administrations - endless screwing taxpayers w/corporate welfare nt

[KoKo]

5. What I'd like to know is the Pay for MC as opposed to our Army/Marines "Boots on Ground."

When Poppy Bush started to rely on MC's ....was it really a cost savings to our Govt. using our Taxpayer Dollars or a Privatized Boondoggle to help enrich the pockets of folks like Eric Prince, Think Tanks and the various "Retired Military" who had gone into Private Contracting to "make a buck."

If it's more expensive then Congress needs to rethink this Privatization and pay our own Military MORE.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Sounds like Afghans are being given jobs in their country.......

Is that really a bad thing?

And if so, how? :shrug:

[KoKo]

7. How do the folks who replied "ignored" deal with this?

By hitting "Unrecommend" as if it will all go away? :shrug: If you are on this site how is it possible that you don't have open minds to policy discussions? If you are a Dem on this site why are you closed to other Dems opinions when FACTS stare you in the face?

[FrenchieCat]

8. I didn't unrec this thread......

And it's funny that you have me on ignore, although you speak of open mind and policy discussion.

Obviously, that's not the case! :rofl:

(Oh well, you can always read this thread "print only", to read what I say! :rofl: )

[FrenchieCat]

4. Your title is misleading, as it makes it appear that all contractors are

mercenaries, and even the article doesn't make that claim.

The use of "contractors" instead of using Mercenary throughout the article
is being done for a reason.

The number of those armed contractors is still not cool,
but it represents a fraction of what you are attempting to
make it appear.

This makes me feel like I am being manipulated.

Why do you treat folks at DU like they don't know anything? :shrug:

[ClarkUSA]

9. So what? "95% of Private Contractors employed in Afghanistan are Afghans"

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x37387

Why are you against employing Afghanis?

[KoKo]

10. How much money would you pay for your neighbors to "spy on you?" What's it worth it for YOU

to SPY on your NEIGHBORS? Maybe you are good at "Gaming." You can direct Drones to your neighbor's home because you had a tiff with his wife or your kids didn't get along. Maybe your daughter married a guy you didn't like and you hated your inlaws. What if someone offered you money...just to get rid of them.

When you hire Mercenaries in a Tribal Region or even here in America these days (Tribal Region)...what do you get?

[ClarkUSA]

11. Is this your pet conspiracy theory or do you have any proof/source for your claims?

:shrug:

[KoKo]

12. Do you have any "proof/source" for your "Anti-Claims?"

:shrug: