Stunning Statistics About the War in Afghanistan Every American Should Know

Source: Alternet

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. actually has 189,000 personnel on the ground in Afghanistan right now -- and that number is quickly rising.

A hearing in Sen. Claire McCaskill’s Contract Oversight subcommittee on contracting in Afghanistan has highlighted some important statistics that provide a window into the extent to which the Obama administration has picked up the Bush-era war privatization baton and sprinted with it. Overall, contractors now comprise a whopping 69% of the Department of Defense’s total workforce, “the highest ratio of contractors to military personnel in US history.” That’s not in one war zone -- that’s the Pentagon in its entirety.

In Afghanistan, the Obama administration blows the Bush administration out of the privatized water. According to a memo released by McCaskill’s staff, “From June 2009 to September 2009, there was a 40% increase in Defense Department contractors in Afghanistan. During the same period, the number of armed private security contractors working for the Defense Department in Afghanistan doubled, increasing from approximately 5,000 to more than 10,000.”

At present, there are 104,000 Department of Defense contractors in Afghanistan. According to a report this week from the Congressional Research Service, as a result of the coming surge of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan, there may be up to 56,000 additional contractors deployed. But here is another group of contractors that often goes unmentioned: 3,600 State Department contractors and 14,000 USAID contractors. That means that the current total US force in Afghanistan is approximately 189,000 personnel (68,000 US troops and 121,000 contractors). And remember, that’s right now. And that, according to McCaskill, is a conservative estimate. A year from now, we will likely see more than 220,000 US-funded personnel on the ground in Afghanistan.

The US has spent more than $23 billion on contracts in Afghanistan since 2002. By next year, the number of contractors will have doubled since 2008 when taxpayers funded over $8 billion in Afghanistan-related contracts.

more: http://www.alternet.org/story/144694/

k&r

Daddy Warbucks smiles.

Hard truth.

Draft age and pre-draft age people filled the streets protesting. Parents began thinking that stupid assed war would effect their children, too.


Now, contractors don't cause the draft ruckus, so the star officers can play war, but contractors are many times more expensive than draftees. I foresee the same scenario emerging that did in Vietnam, faced with higher costs the war fighters will use bombs (and cruise missles) extensively, more civilian casualties, and anti-American sentiment will grow. Rather than sending bombers into Cambodia we'll be sending bombers into Pakistan. But this time there will be no Kent State, because there is no conscription.

Notice the trend?

More use of contractors, NGOs, "Commissions" and less Government/legal accountability.

A DEMOCRAT THAT OWNS THIS WAR!!

we are not supposed to bring up these facts..haven't you been told that yet??

or they will un-rec this so no one knows the damn truth!!

Up is down ,..and down is up now..didn't you get the memo??

The economy is rosey..war is good..Immunity for the Telecom spying on us is lovely now..Habeas Corpus is now a bad thing that Obama wants it kept abolished..

pissing on your leg ..and telling you it is raining... is now the democratic norm!

get with the program..or so the paid propagandists will tell you..promptly.

I on the other hand, will Kick and rec your thread..thank you!!

No more tax dollars for mercenaries, pleae.

No more imperial wars, please.

Hopey Changey indeed.