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dc_dux · 04-21-2008, 09:16 PM

I may be wrong, but I think we now have more private security companies/personnel serving in Iraq and performing both military and security functions than we do military personnel. Both DoD and State are contracting out more and more functions to these companies.

The greatest danger is that they are not held to the same legal standard...not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice or, in some cases, not even subject to US law for crimes committed in Iraq.

The system is broken.

edit: correction on the numbers of contrators....there about about 130,000+ US contract personnel in Iraq, with about 30,000 havng security functions (ie Blackwater type firms); the rest are performing other functions for DoD and State Dept. (ie Halliburton type firms).

The issue of accountability under law still applies. (article from American Society of International Law)

04-21-2008, 09:16 PM	#250 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	I may be wrong, but I think we now have more private security companies/personnel serving in Iraq and performing both military and security functions than we do military personnel. Both DoD and State are contracting out more and more functions to these companies. The greatest danger is that they are not held to the same legal standard...not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice or, in some cases, not even subject to US law for crimes committed in Iraq. The system is broken. edit: correction on the numbers of contrators....there about about 130,000+ US contract personnel in Iraq, with about 30,000 havng security functions (ie Blackwater type firms); the rest are performing other functions for DoD and State Dept. (ie Halliburton type firms). The issue of accountability under law still applies. (article from American Society of International Law) __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 04-21-2008 at 09:55 PM..