Number of Private Security Contractors Increases
President Obama railed against the reliance on private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan during his campaign, but new Pentagon statistics reveal their number has steadily grown since he took office, increasing 23 percent in Iraq and 29 percent in Afghanistan in the second quarter of 2009. "Blackwater" author Jeremy Scahill investigates.
President Obama railed against the reliance on private security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan during his campaign, but new Pentagon statistics reveal their number has steadily grown since he took office, increasing 23 percent in Iraq and 29 percent in Afghanistan in the second quarter of 2009. “Blackwater” author Jeremy Scahill investigates.
TRUTHDIG’S JOURNALISM REMAINS CLEARRebel Reports:
A couple of years ago, Blackwater executive Joseph Schmitz seemed to see a silver lining for mercenary companies with the prospect of US forces being withdrawn or reduced in Iraq. “There is a scenario where we could as a government, the United States, could pull back the military footprint,” Schmitz said. “And there would then be more of a need for private contractors to go in.”
When it comes to armed contractors, it seems that Schmitz was right.
The storytellers of chaos tried to manipulate the political and media narrative in 2025, but independent journalism exposed what they tried to hide. When you read Truthdig, you see through the illusion.
Support Independent Journalism.
TD Original
By forging creative and invisible networks that allow them to survive, they are finding a way to be free despite the Taliban bans.
Middle East
While the Taliban have of course objected to handing over the former U.S. base, Russia and China will also have something to say.
Global Voices
Pakistan and Iran are deporting Afghans back to poverty, repression and uncertainty in one of the decade’s largest forced migrations.
Immigration
An Afghan national faces an increasingly opaque path toward the protection he was promised. His situation is chilling but not unique.
Middle East
What did we think nearly 50 years of war and neglect was going to do to the country?
Middle East
What some in Joe Biden's administration appear to see as an opportunity to sideline Hezbollah is really a trap destined for failure.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.