Reply #9: Yeah, exactly [View All]

[leanings]

but even before Iraq contractors were all over the place. So are we willing to see the defense budget go up to replace those contractors with active duty military personnel and to provide the support structure for them?

I'll answer my own question here; I am, to a degree. It's dangerous how much we depend on non-combatant mechanics and food service people and the like in combat zones. Iraq isn't even a real set-piece furball; what happens if we get involved in a conventional war where theater ballistic missiles, long range arty and air attack really blow the shit out of rear areas and supply lines? We'd be seeing dozens of contractors killed every day and they'd be leaving in droves. Iraq is just a taste of what could happen with the setup we have right now.

But that's the choice people have to make; either increase the budget or quit getting so indignant and insulting about contractors.