US backs Afghan plan to ditch security contractors

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

US backs Afghan plan to ditch security contractors
By HEIDI VOGT (AP) – 15 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. military supports the Afghan government's plan to dissolve private security companies and is tightening oversight of its own armed contractors in the interim, an official said Monday.

~snip~

A presidential spokesman said last week a deadline to abolish private security contractors was imminent. In his inauguration speech in November, Karzai said he wanted to close down both foreign and domestic security contractors within two years.

As in Iraq, the conduct of security contractors in Afghanistan — particularly those working with U.S. forces — has been a source of tension, with complaints that they are poorly regulated and effectively operate outside local law.

"Certainly we understand President Karzai's statements that he is determined to dissolve private security companies. We are committed to partnering with the government in meeting that intent," said Brig. Gen. Margaret Boor, head of a new task force to better regulate and oversee private security operations. The group, called Task Force Spotlight, started work in June.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNFTCCDUQmsI1SV67vO0WCd8EcOwD9HKGTBO0

[Turborama]

1. K&R According to this report, "as of March 2010, there were 112,092 DOD contractors in Afghanistan"

"...as of March 2010, there were 112,092 DOD contractors in Afghanistan, compared to approximately 79,100 uniformed personnel. Contractors made up 59% of DOD’s workforce in Afghanistan. In December 2008, contractors represented 69% of DOD’s workforce in Afghanistan, which apparently represented the highest recorded percentage of contractors used by DOD in any conflict in the history of the United States." http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40764.pdf">Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis (PDF), Congressional Research Service, July 2010



From: http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/securityforces.html#docs3

How much money is that going to save?

[Hubert Flottz]

4. The fuckers can afford to fund this stuff but they can't repair America?

They want to put the retirement age up to 70 so they can afford to accommodate the neoCon's private war machine. Fighting wars take troops and our smart leaders in the distant past knew if you were going to fight wars you had to draft soldiers. This type of covering the political cowards ass in Washington needs to stop. If we're going to war have the balls to start up the draft boards. It's not fair to the taxpayers and it's sure as hell not fair the the troops who wear the uniform and who make a fraction of what those killers for hire make.

These high dollar Scab soldiers, are a product of the GOP/neoCON insanity! Worried about the deficit your ass!

[NYMdaveNYI]

2. the day Blackwater (Xe) is out of business...

will be a good one.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Overcoming a giant step in the wrong direction. Recommending.

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[patrice]

5. K & R

[Turborama]

6. Kick

:kick:

[No Elephants]

7. " is tightening oversight of its own armed contractors in the interim, "

About damned time!

Imprisoning people for profit, warring for profit--what could possibly go wrong?


:sarcasm: