Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Obama is no Democrat" [View all]leveymg
(36,418 posts)54. I can see how one might calculate 70% as going to contractors
They make up about that percentage of US-paid personnel in the two countries at this point. http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/05/10/US-Troops-Replaced-by-an-Outsourced-Army-in-Afghanistan.aspx#page1
By DAVID FRANCIS, The Fiscal Times
May 10, 2013
The United States is preparing to withdraw the majority of its troops from Afghanistan next year, ending more than a decade of war that has cost this country hundreds of billion of dollars and 2,126 lives to date.
But the military withdrawal does not mean the United States is out of the country entirely. The country is leaving tens of thousands of contractors behind.
According to the latest contractor census performed by the industry group Professional Overseas Contractors, there are currently 110,404 contractors still working in Afghanistan. Of these, 33,444 are Americans. The rest are either Afghan or from another country.
These workers do everything from serve food to cut hair to provide security. They outnumber U.S. troops by nearly 40,000. For every one American soldier, there are 1.46 contractors.
The vast majority of these contractors are in the private security business, working for the State Department to protect diplomats.
May 10, 2013
The United States is preparing to withdraw the majority of its troops from Afghanistan next year, ending more than a decade of war that has cost this country hundreds of billion of dollars and 2,126 lives to date.
But the military withdrawal does not mean the United States is out of the country entirely. The country is leaving tens of thousands of contractors behind.
According to the latest contractor census performed by the industry group Professional Overseas Contractors, there are currently 110,404 contractors still working in Afghanistan. Of these, 33,444 are Americans. The rest are either Afghan or from another country.
These workers do everything from serve food to cut hair to provide security. They outnumber U.S. troops by nearly 40,000. For every one American soldier, there are 1.46 contractors.
The vast majority of these contractors are in the private security business, working for the State Department to protect diplomats.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
86 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Next time ask for GMO wheat. It's far more rare. Worth a ton on the black market.
Buzz Clik
Jun 2013
#51
Another straw man. Unfortunately, he's about as a good as we deserve, right now.
leveymg
Jun 2013
#8
I do consider myself very gullible. I let myself fall for his campaign lies not once but twice.
MotherPetrie
Jun 2013
#10
really, I've been through the Viet Nam War, Civil Rights, and multiple assassinations and so have a
still_one
Jun 2013
#33
LOL, then philosophically you and I are on the same page on that. I never ignore anyone on DU, and
still_one
Jun 2013
#84
If posters really believe that, why don't they just join the green party and see how far they will
still_one
Jun 2013
#28
Sure, he's a Democrat. So was LBJ who had a few squabbles with the left wing of the party.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Jun 2013
#32
and LBJ had a lot of blood on his hands from Viet Nam, which some seem to conveniently forget, yet
still_one
Jun 2013
#35
far right? I don't know what you are taking, but must be good. Do you know what the far right is?
still_one
Jun 2013
#69
"Obama is no Democrat" Gee, thanks for letting us know. If only we gullible Democrats had known this
bahrbearian
Jun 2013
#41
"Obama is no Democrat" Gee, thanks for letting us know. If only we gullible Democrats had known this
bahrbearian
Jun 2013
#39
He's registered as one and runs as a Democrat. Really, he's a DLCer. It should be a separate
Cleita
Jun 2013
#50
It's all "kabuki theater." ALL of them are on the same side with few differences.
duffyduff
Jun 2013
#64