Our View -- Thumbs down to outsourced wars (Makato Free Press MN)

[struggle4progress]

Published September 28, 2007 04:26 pm - The heavy use of private security contractors by the U.S. government in Iraq is another sign the military has been stretched too thin.

The Free Press

Thumbs down

To the U.S. government increasingly hiring private “security firms” to essentially perform the duties of the military.

The problems with the increased use of private security forces in Iraq came to light recently when members of the Blackwater security team were accused of killing 10 Iraqis in a Baghdad shootout ...

Americans are justly unsettled by hiring mercenaries to effectively fill the role of the military. It’s another disturbing sign of the problems an understaffed U.S. military faces in a war that has no definable end.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/editorials/local_story_271162634.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. For decades, US diplomats were guarded by the US military...

...but somehow under Bush, that can't be done anymore.

Instead, billions of our tax dollars supposedly have to go to building a private army.

[alofarabia]

2. I'm not aware of security firms

protecting US diplomats. I thought they were protecting the personnel of other companies. But I could be wrong.

[struggle4progress]

4. Contracts to hire so-called "local guards" are not uncommon at US diplomatic missions

Since Iraq has gotten more attention than most places, it's easiest to assay general developments from what occurs there:


Greg Starr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Countermeasures, Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Statement Before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations
Washington, DC
June 13, 2006
2:00 p.m.

... The Department of State Diplomatic Mission in Iraq was reestablished in July 2004 ... Staffing for security programs in Iraq includes Diplomatic Security Special Agents, Marine Security Guards, third-country national local guards, hundreds of U.S. and Coalition troops protecting the International Zone and Regional Embassy Offices, and highly trained contract personal security specialists. The security specialists in this latter category, referred to in the GAO report as Private Security Providers, have been critical to our efforts to create a secure environment for our U.S. mission personnel ... http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rm/67908.htm

[rodeodance]

3. yeah Mankato. Had some friends there once. Nice town-beatiful country.