Foreign nationals hired for Iraq (Colombia)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Aug. 01, 2005

COLOMBIA

Foreign nationals hired for Iraq

Private, U.S.-trained soldiers are being recruited in developing countries by American contractors to fill policing jobs in Iraq.

BY SONNI EFRON
Los Angeles Times Service

WASHINGTON - For hire: more than 1,000 U.S.-trained former soldiers and police officers from Colombia. Combat-hardened, experienced in fighting insurgents and ready for duty in Iraq.

This eye-popping advertisement recently appeared on an Iraq jobs website, posted by an American entrepreneur who hopes to supply security forces for U.S. contractors in Iraq and elsewhere.

If hired, the Colombians would join a swelling population of heavily armed private military forces working in Iraq and other global hot spots. They also would join a growing corps of workers from the developing world who are seeking higher wages in dangerous jobs, what some critics say is a troubling result of efforts by the United States to ''outsource'' its operations in Iraq and other countries.
(snip)

Shippy, who formerly worked for DynCorp International, a major U.S. security contractor, said the Colombians were willing to work for $2,500 to $5,000 a month, compared with perhaps $10,000 or more for Americans.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/12272835.htm
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[Spinzonner]

1. I guess the Neocons are now Privatizing the War

Soon they'll be setting up their own armies and just using our resources to pay for the whole enterprise.

[wli]

2. more like getting ready to walk away with private armies

After all, they need such to defend the "gated communities" from actual Americans.

[bribri16]

3. Using everyone who is not them as cannon fodder. n/t