"War" in Iraq DID NOT End- It's an OCCUPATION- More Mercenaries to Go In

[Phillip Walker]

The symbolic end of America's involvement in the war has arrived, but the propaganda rages on.

US to Rely on Contractors in Iraq

The US State Department is to more than double the number of security contractors it employs in Iraq to around 7000, filling a gap left by departing troops, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said the contractors would be deployed to defend five fortified compounds that will be left behind as US combat forces exit Iraq and the US mission switches from a military-led to a civilian-headed operation.

Citing unnamed administration officials, the Times said private security contractors would operate radar to warn of enemy fire, search for roadside bombs, and fly surveillance drones.

...

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/us-to-rely-on-contractors-in-iraq-20100819-12s0k.html

Obama Has 250,000 “Contractors” in Iraq and Afghan Wars, Increases Number of Mercenaries



...

released by the Pentagon, with Barack Obama as commander in chief, there has been a 23% increase in the number of “Private Security Contractors” working for the Department of Defense in Iraq in the second quarter of 2009 and a 29% increase in Afghanistan, which “correlates to the build up of forces” in the country. In Iraq, the Pentagon attributes the increase to better accounting. But, these numbers relate explicitly to DoD security contractors. Companies like Blackwater and its successor Triple Canopy work on State Department contracts and it is unclear if these contractors are included in the over-all statistics. This means, the number of individual “security” contractors could be quite higher, as could the scope of their expansion.

Overall, contractors (armed and unarmed) now make up approximately 50% of the “total force in Centcom AOR .” This means there are a whopping 242,657 contractors working on these two US wars. These statistics come from two reports just released by Gary J. Motsek, the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Program Support): “Contractor Support of U.S. Operations in USCENTCOM AOR, IRAQ, and Afghanistan and “Operational Contract Support, ‘State of the Union.’”

...

http://rebelreports.com/post/116277092/obama-has-250-000-contractors-in-iraq-and-afghan

[Demeter]

1. Shh! You're Messing Up the Meme!

Don't let the Truth get in the way of the victory.

[havocmom]

2. And since the mercs don't fall under our UMC, all manor of evil could be done in our name

Not a good thing and not a withdrawal. Privatized war is worse. How do we have oversight? How do we maintain any control of what is done in our name?

Thanks for posting. Welcome to DU.

[frylock]

3. do you have any idea of how many mercs we have in germany or korea?!!1

:sarcasm:

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. And the cash cow ie tax payer $$$ for war profiteers, rolls on.

What'd say, want to play?

[NightWatcher]

5. quit bashing Obama with your facts.

the war is over, didnt you see msnbc the other day?

[slay]

10. +1

a propaganda piece so extreme even Keith and Rachel questioned it heavily. not quite at the level of the "mission accomplished" banner of Bush, but still, propaganda none the less. we WILL be there for a LONG time. we need a REAL progressive in office who will REALLY end this war profiteering shit. :mad:

[Scurrilous]

6. Adios.

:thumbsup:

[GeorgeGist]

7. Welcome to DU ...

we're desperate for people who see through the duplicity.

[blindpig]

9. Too bad..

this one has been ts'd.

[readmoreoften]

8. Obama Has 250,000 “Contractors” in Iraq and Afghan Wars, Increases Number of Mercenaries

Now that's a headline. Good fucking god.