A Passing Thought On Our Military for Your Consideration

[ThomWV]

A disturbing thought passed through my mind concerning our military.

A fellow (Anthony Capaccio Bloomberg News) being interviewed on Washington Journal mentioned that the heavy use of contractors for support activities for our troops in Iraq has the advantage of freeing up those same troops for ground pounding duties rather than housekeeping.

What occurred to me was that it may be that the standards of acceptability for new enlistees may have been dropped so low that the Pentagon no longer believes they are capable of being trained to do the more knowledge-oriented tasks. Logistics, communications, intelligence, civil engineering activities, and other sorts of activities that require - how to put it? - smarter people to perform seem to be contracted out frequently.

Could it be that the enlistees we are attracting now days are simply too dumb to do the more intellectually challenging work? I hate to think so, but the news tells us daily that the entry standards are constantly being lowered.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Fewer strings attached to contractors. Less accountability. nt

[bryant69]

2. It doesn't necessarily reflect the capabilities of our troops

It could also reflect the privitization mania of the Bush Conservatives. I mean the Bush Administration's plans to privitize social security do not prove that the Social Security Agency people are unable to do the job.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Ezlivin]

3. If the military was operating as it was in the 60s-70s....

...there would be no way that we could avoid the draft. By privatizing various functions of the military the draft is thus avoided.

But what happens when one of these necessary corporations fails or is unable to meet the military requirements?

[catnhatnh]

6. Absolutely agree....

...In Vietnam the "tooth to tail" ratio was approximately 10%....ie: each solldier actually in combat would mean nine in non-combat support and logistics roles.Even if this could physically be supported by the current US military, Consider the political ramifications of having 1.3-1.4 million troops in Iraq.....

[Hangingon]

4. I think those contractors have been in the pipeline

for probably the last two deades.

[pooja]

5. No, they are just privatizing the work out to contractors....

These contractors hire mercenaries to work... The cost of contracting fees is much higher. More of US money out the door. The reason why you will hear this 'privatize' thing come out of reporters mouths is to make you think it might be a good idea. Take our innocent boys out of the way, hire people without an ethics code, and anything goes... Sadaam might as well have stayed at the head of the thrown.

[Solo_in_MD]

7. Its been a long time coming and its not just in Iraq

Privitization has been the in thing at all levels of government for decades. Checkout A76 for the Federal process.