Bill would boot security contractors from Mideast

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, speaks with reporters about a bill sponsored by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., left during a Capitol Hill press conference Wednesday. The measure would phase out the use of private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. At right are Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, and former assistant secretary of defense Lawrence Korb.


Bill would boot security contractors from Mideast
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, November 9, 2007


WASHINGTON — A group of Democratic lawmakers wants all contractors working as bodyguards for U.S. diplomats out of Iraq and Afghanistan in the next six months, saying that job is best left to military professionals.

Legislation proposed by the representatives would also phase out the use of all private security contractors by U.S. agencies in combat zones worldwide by 2009, and require more accurate reporting on the number of contractors employed and killed in those conflicts.

“Numerous military officers in the field have said these armed contractors operate like cowboys, using unnecessary and excessive force which results in deadly incidents,” Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., lead sponsor of the bill, told reporters Wednesday.

“We’re saying enough is enough. It’s time to break the Bush administration’s addiction to contractors.”

Defense Department officials would not comment directly on the legislation, but said the use of private contractors for any military mission depends on the size of the available military force, the special skills of the outside specialists and needs of commanders on the ground.

“It can enable us to free up troops for tasks like patrolling or training Iraqi troops, or other important missions on the ground there,” said spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Wright.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50142