Karzai to U.S. taxpayers: no more security contractors

[bigtree]

Sun Aug 22, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged U.S. taxpayers on Sunday to stop paying for outside security contractors in Afghanistan that he said were in contact with "Mafia-like groups" and possibly with insurgents.

"I am appealing to the U.S. taxpayer not to allow their hard-earned money to be wasted on groups that are not only providing lots of inconveniences to the Afghan people but actually are, God knows, in contact with Mafia-like groups and perhaps also funding militants and insurgents and terrorists through those funds," Karzai said.

"Why would an Afghan young man come to the police if he can get a job in a security firm, have a lot of leeway and without any discipline?" Karzai said. "So naturally, our security forces will find it difficult to grow. In order for security forces to grow, these groups must be disbanded."

. . . Karzai said security contractors who protect diplomats and aid workers would be allowed to operate. But he added, "We will definitely not allow them to be on the roads, in the bazaars, in the streets, on the highways, and we will not allow them to provide protection to supply lines. That is the job of the Afghan government and the Afghan police."


read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE67L1BU20100822

[kenny blankenship]

1. There's an ultimatum I can live with.

I'd like to go Hamid one better. All US troops out, starting tomorrow morning.

"...outside security contractors in Afghanistan that he said were in contact with "Mafia-like groups..."

Worried about your family business getting some competition, Hamid?

[LiberalFighter]

2. How does Karzai expect the taxpayers to make this happen?

If he wants it done he needs to get Afghan back under control by the Afghans. Not the USA. Once he does that he can kick all those damn private security people out of Afghan.

[another saigon]

3. because Karzai holds the silly notion

that the USA is a democracy. :eyes:

[flyarm]

5. Maybe Just maybe he thinks we can confront our congress critters when they are home for summer break

and tell them..you either get those thugs out of Afghan and bring them home and stop funding them..or we will bring your ass home in November!
For good!

Maybe, just maybe He thinks we might grow some balls and make some demands on our employees in Washington!

Maybe he thinks we as tax payers can tell our reps..their jobs are in peril in DC unless they stop funding the Mafia types and the Blackwaters, and KBR's ..

Our congress critters are now funding and creating the future Al Queada..just as we funded and created BIn Ladenns AlQueada.

Ya think?

[bigtree]

7. problem is

. . . it's not going to be his own determination of 'control' which motivates the U.S. politicians and generals to draw down the escalated forces. It's going to be a political determination here at home in which our President will declare enough of a 'success' or 'progress' in his political eye to allow them to relinquish their security blanket.

[bvar22]

4. Job security for a "Private Contractor"?

Make sure there is an insurgency.
Make sure there are plenty of IEDs going off.
Make sure American Soldiers are dying.


In a "democracy", public money should NEVER be used to fund:
1)Armed Military Contractors

2)Private Prisons

3)Private "Intelligence/Surveilance" Corporations

4)Private "Homeland Security" Corporations

5)Private Border Security Corporations

6) For Profit Insurance Corporations

In a democracy, ALL of the above are part of the commons.
It is the responsibility of the public to provide oversight and accountability.
When the above are privatized, they are no longer transparent,
and the public can not hold them accountable.

[Poboy]

6. K&R