Holden (Mo Governor) Protests Missouri Guard Unit's Use in Iraq

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

You might have to register for this. if you want, I can email you the whole text...

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/8643641.htm

And now for something completely, different... a scandal in Iraq (suprise, suprise, suprise, as PFC Pyle said)

JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Bob Holden and the leader of the Missouri Army National Guard demanded an investigation Tuesday into reports that guardsmen were assigned to work for a private contractor in Iraq.

In a letter to President Bush, Holden said he was told that soldiers from the 1221st Transportation Company based in Jefferson City were ordered to work as drivers for Kellogg Brown & Root, a civilian contractor that hauls water, food and other supplies in support of U.S. troops. “If this is true, I most strenuously object to this wrongful use of the U.S. Army personnel in this manner,” the letter said.

Holden wrote that using soldiers for duties outside their training put their lives at risk and did not represent the best traditions of the Army. “I can understand the necessity to occasionally use units and soldiers to do other non-traditional kinds of missions to accommodate the short-term dictates of the combat zone,” the governor wrote. “But I cannot understand, nor support, the use of soldiers to provide labor for a civilian contractor.”

[Just Me]

1. ALL the private contracting bile must be put on the table.

I am beyond disgust and anger over the war profiteering in addition to the "mercenaries for hire" evil-doing sh*t.

:argh:

[DustMolecule]

2. Hooray for Gov. Holden speaking up!

He is absolutely correct in this. Will the other govenor's, who's National Guardsmen are being used in an inappropriate manner as this, speak up as well? I hope so, I truly hope so. The time is now.

[deepcover]

3. 3 on a match

so that means we're paying the contractor tax dollars to haul this stuff, and he is using soldiers who we also pay with tax dollars to haul this stuff. if the solders could get someone to haul it for them and stick us with the tab......
TRIFECTA

[FlemingsGhost]

4. God Ble$$ America. It makes so much cents. (n/t)

Dems

[havocmom]

5. also means we are paying the private contractor and they are getting their

labor free. Somebody better go to jail.

Welcome to DU, deepcover. Glad to have you here! :toast:

[havocmom]

6. Time to take Cheney to jail. He is giving his cronies the US Treasury

and for what? He is a traitor and a crook. Congress, Get off your asses and impeach the son of a bitch!

OK, the army used to transport its supplies itself. Now we have private contractors doing it (any bids on those contracts?) which means the Troops are now at the mercy of some contractors for food, fuel and bullets. (Which is the same as being held for ransom).

Then, who do the private contractors have actually doing the driving? THE SAME TROOPS. Gee, that sounds like a good way to spend the Treasury into oblivion. Isn't that the same as just writing the private contractors checks for doing nothing at all? And why are National Guardsmen being conscripted to work for private companies after being forced to give up their day jobs cuz their units got called up?

I'm sorta confused here. Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to keep track of, if the Army just had divisions which moved supplies like it used to do? Why the hell are we paying private contractor middle men if National Guardsmen are the ones doing the work?

And don't US politicians rant and rave about the evil of the Chinese government for using forced prison and slave labor? What is the difference between that and calling up Guard members, denying their families the income from their regular employment and forcing them to work for the profit of Private Contractors who are spared the expense of their own payroll?

AAAARRRRRGGGGGGG! Sam Gompers must be spinning in his grave along with the founding fathers!

[DustMolecule]

7. Excellent posts (such as this)

often aren't responded to, b/c it's DIFFIULT TO RESPOND TO AN EXCELLENT POST. However, you've 'hit the nail on the head'.

Don't take silence as indifference....some posts silence us into agreeement (hope that makes sense).

[Judi Lynn]

8. Whatta post. I agree with DustMolecule. You covered all the angles

beautifully. I made a copy of your remarks, as well, to share with someone else.

It's truly hard to see the whole picture, and you made it easier.

We are going to need some very strong, determined Congressfolks to help set things straight. This is utterly depraved.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. See? This is Rumsfeld's "new leaner, meaner" military of which

he was so proud.
A mile wide and only an inch deep.

My gut hunch is that the civilian contract drivers were refusing to drive, or calling in sick or something, and the supplies had to get going, so someone made a "command decision" which led to this.

The entire transport and maintenance people of the Army have ceased to exist. This Army is not ready to fight sustained combat operations without HUGE logistical support from contractors.

And that is no way to run an army.