Bill Would Ban Security Contractors From War Zones

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

Two congressional lawmakers have announced legislation that would effectively remove military contractors from war zones.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the "Stop Outsourcing Security Act" on Tuesday. If passed, the act would force the United States to phase out its controversial use of private security contractors in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The legislation would restore the responsibility of the American military to train troops and police, guard convoys, repair weapons, administer military prisons, and perform military intelligence," the lawmakers' offices said.

"The bill also would require that all diplomatic security be undertaken by US government personnel," they added.

While the bill is likely to meet stiff opposition from the Pentagon and the defense industry, it's certain to be well received among progressives and peace activists, who have watched with alarm as the use of private contractors in war zones has skyrocketed in recent years.

more: http://rawstory.com/2010/02/bill-ban-contractors-war-zones/

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If passed, this would essentially end the wars. We don't have the troop numbers to fight these wars.

[WhiteTara]

1. before it would end the wars, it would

reinstall the draft. Then all the wars would end.

[90-percent]

2. Contractors in War Zones

That is a perversion simply because the mercs don't seem to be accountable to anyone. Enlisted have to answer for their actions. Mercs can murder with impunity and have many times!

To use approximate figures. An enlisted man makes $20,000 a year. An equivalent merc may make $100,000 a year. When you consider that half the boots on the ground in our two wars are contractors. we are paying 500% more for fully HALF the people serving in our wars, if you count the contractors!

If we get into a major conflict there's going to have to be a draft!

-90% jimmy

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. Not all contractors are mercenaries. n/t

[tekisui]

8. I haven't seen the specific language of the bill, but

the article seems to indicate that the target of the bill would be security contractors. I am not sure that it would include all contractors or just the mercenaries.

[Robb]

9. If just the mercenaries, then it's not a particularly big number.

Hysteria to the contrary, there aren't really very many armed private security personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[tekisui]

10. 22,000 and growing. That is a significant number.

Last month, a report (PDF) from the Congressional Research Service found that one-fifth of the US armed forces in Iraq consists of private contractors, while in Afghanistan that number reached one-third by September of 2009.

The report found that there were some 22,000 "armed private security contractors" in the two war zones, and that the number in Afghanistan is likely to keep growing.

http://rawstory.com/2010/02/bill-ban-contractors-war-zones/

[Robb]

13. 11,162 armed DoD PSC personnel in Iraq and 10,712 in Afghanistan.

...Mostly I was referring to the 250,000 number thrown around so often, which is inaccurate in the extreme. If we break it down, it's a little less alarming even than the 22K number. I'll focus on Afghanistan, since my knowledge of Iraq is inferior:

Here's the link to the DoD report being referenced: http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/PS/p_vault/Contractor_Support_8Dec09.doc

...Congressional concern over the use of personal security contractors (PSCs) in areas of military operations remains high, and Congress may yet legislate that it is an inherently governmental function. There are 11,162 armed DoD PSC personnel in Iraq and 10,712 in Afghanistan. 95% of the DoD PSCs in Afghanistan are Afghans, creating important job and economic opportunities there, and is an element of the COCOM’s Counter Insurgency strategy.
The present role of PSCs is strictly limited to defensive protection of people, assets and property....

Even if all 500 of Afghanistan's non-local PSCs are Blackwater/XE, it's still 500.

Interestingly, the "that the number in Afghanistan is likely to keep growing" quote is pulled from thin air. The report referenced actually says "may" a lot:

...Recent contracting trends indicate that the number of such contractors in
Iraq may decline while the number in Afghanistan may continue to increase...

Considering more than 100,000 US troops expected to be in Afghanistan by June, they're not exactly outnumbered by hired guns. :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

3. If passed.

:rofl: Sounds like oh well. Pass/Fail legislation. We have nothing but fail. They've done away with pass.

[waiting]

4. Sadly, this won't pass.

Not while we are fighting in 2 wars. It should be passed, but I highly doubt that the Congress is willing to accept the repercussions that would follow it's passing. Though there are things that cold be passed that tighten restrictions and rules for these contractors, until we are not in Iraq and Afghanistan. There could be hope in passing a bill like it when we aren't over extended militarily.

[NightWatcher]

5. plus the contractors can PAY OFF a majority of reps (puke and dem) to vote in their interests

a nice symbol, but will never pass

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. Double-edged sword - I don't think it will pass.

This would remove combatant contractors like Blackwater/Xe/etc...

It may also remove technical defense contractors. This would not be good.

There are a number of incredibly complex equipments and systems over there designed by companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L-3, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and other system integration companies. Most people don't realize that ALOT of the contractors are not mecenaries or even armed. Military field techs, even with thier system specific training, often cannot diagnose & service some things in the theater of operations should something go very wrong. When soldiers' lives depend on the proper functioning of such equipment, companies send technical specialists and engineers as contractors to service equipment. This is a downside to having cutting-edge technology in the military... sometimes you have to call customer service.

[1776Forever]

12. Customer service, with a price tag of a billion dollars? I don't agree!

No mercy for mercenaries
Blackwater – er, Xe – has been kicked out of Iraq. Now the other private security contractors should be banned as well
Eric Stoner guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 February 2009

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/feb/13/blackwater-iraq-us-obama

After raking in more than a billion dollars from its contracts in Iraq, Blackwater is finally being forced to leave the country that it has terrorised for so long. But the notorious mercenary firm's departure will likely have more symbolic significance than any real impact on the day-to-day lives of Iraqis.

(more at link)

...............

And I have read that they Xe are going after another Billion $$$ contract in Afghanistan! I hope Grayson is going to tackle that one!

Blackwater Xe May Get 1 Billion Dollar Afghanistan Training Contract.mp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfCZTITbxEE&feature=related

[Winterblues]

11. Sort of depends on what one calls a "War Zone"

Vietnam was a "Conflict" and Korea was a "Police Action". Neither were officially called "War Zones"