Watchdog: Problems in Afghanistan -Trump Considers Replacing US Forces With Private Contractors

[Jimbo101]

Truth-Out.org

A quarterly report published on Tuesday detailed tumult in Afghanistan, amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's approach to America's longest-running war.

Afghan security forces suffered thousands of casualties in the first few months of this year, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Between January and May, 2,531 were killed and another 4,238 were wounded in action.

Although Afghan forces suffered roughly the same number of casualties in the same time frame in 2016, this year's number involved fewer losses from "planned offensive operations," SIGAR noted. The struggle for control between the Taliban and government forces remains largely unchanged, with 119 national districts contested.

The report comes days after The Wall Street Journal revealed that the White House is considering replacing the 8,500-strong US contingent in Afghanistan with private contractors.

-snip-

That figure does, however, include "ghost" soldiers -- phony servicemembers registered so someone can draw their salary. According to SIGAR, there are 12,703 staffers within the Ministry of Defense, or 7 percent of the body's entire payroll, who are "unaccounted for."

Corruption is also rampant in other regards. Tuesday's report detailed zero progress, in recent months, in efforts to recover the nearly $1 billion that was stolen from Kabul Bank; a theft that led to the institution's collapse, in 2010.

"Some debtors appear to be shielded by their close ties to former and current high-level government officials," SIGAR noted.

[Phoenix61]

1. Hmmm, wonder who would get that contract?

Does Twitler have connections to anyone in that line of work? Seeing as how he likes employing relatives I'm betting it would be De Vos brother.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Yep. Eric Prince has been talking to Trump on the QT and pushing for this.

Good news: Mueller is looking at Prince, too.

[Phoenix61]

13. Well, that is good news nt

[HAB911]

2. What is Blackwater called these days?

Academi

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/04/us/dc-blackwater-murder-conviction-overturned/index.html

[tonyt53]

3. Xe Services.

Maybe trump can get some of those chicken shit cowards that show up at his rallies with guns to go fight for him. Nah, they are cowards just like trump.

[maveric]

9. They're located in San Diego right by the border.

I worked about a 1/4 mile away from their compound.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Understand Boeing now has

Mercenaries for hire. So we let the likes of Eric Prince and the CEO of Boeing run our Military Operations at a 20% mark up to cost. Privatize the Profits and Socialize the expenses and losses.

[TheBlackAdder]

12. A SMALL BUSINESS that earns tens of billions a year, while employing thousands.

.

Less than 100 owners, and they can claim a small business charter. What a tax scam.

Koch Brothers do the same thing.


So, when you hear, think about the small businesses, it's bad for small business...

they aren't talking about your local Ace Hardware or Pizza Parlor.

.

[Girard442]

4. Why not just pay the Taliban to fight against themselves?

I'm sure they'd be happy to send glowing progress reports back to the Trump White House. Besides, they're already on site -- they could way underbid Blackwater.

[temporary311]

5. A private contractor is who you hire to redo your kitchen.

Unless we're gonna go on a crazy remodeling spree, they're mercenaries.

[lunatica]

7. Private contractors are the reason Bush started the war in Afghanistan

It was the mangled bodies of three Americans that were strung up on a bridge that enraged Americans at home. But what the news didn't bother to tell us is that they were not American soldiers or businessmen. They were private mercenaries escorting important Americans who had killed many Afghanis in their breakneck racing through Kabul shooting everyone in site in the marketplaces while so called protecting someone. These mercenaries were caught and killed.

Private contractors are mercenaries for hire.

[maveric]

8. Mercs?

He really wants to create an army of xtian zealots to bring about the new "Crusades".
Waffen SS types.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. Mercs are being used thru out Africa in hush hush wars

over who gets the water/farms/minerals/ palm oil/ etc.
We are there via Africa Com and China/Russia and Brits are there too poking around for a foothold and upper hand.
Happily Trump was dumb enough to openly talk about needing/wanting Afghanistan for minerals.
The wee lil fucker says anything that pops into his head, thankfully.