Silence surrounds fates of contractors in Iraq

[spinbaby]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2911419

The military has turned heavily to private contractors to supplement the work of enlisted personnel, freeing military troops for combat. For pay of $80,000 or more, civilians go to Iraq to drive trucks, build bases, deliver mail and serve chow. They live on base, eat in the mess hall, shop at the PX.

And just like soldiers, they are attacked, abducted and sometimes killed.

When a U.S. soldier or Marine is killed in Iraq, the Pentagon provides to the public the individual's name, age and hometown, as well as a brief description of the cause of death.

When it comes to contractor casualties, the Pentagon has left it up to the company to report -- or not.

And the response has been mostly not.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. What... no glory for the mercenaries?

I guess that $80K tax-free is enough...:eyes:

[Yogi]

2. If a person wants to go to Iraq to work for $80,000 a year.......

they know what there getting into (or should). It's hard for me to feel much compassion when they are killed. When I think they went there for the money in the first place. What is sad, is, the poor economy under bush and the far to few jobs that force these people to find work overseas in the first place.

[saigon68]

3. They don't like Barbecues

Especially the kind, where they are the guest of honor.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. Not my problem

Anyone who is greedy enough to sign on -- knows the risks.

There are reports that the dead contractors are just being dumped -- and Iraqis have found the bodies and given them a burial. Story was posted a couple of days ago on DU -- articles or LBN. I've also seen photos (very gross) of dead who were not Iraq -- their bodies were dug up and photographed. The locals didn't know if the bodies were American soldiers or perhaps contractors that were buried in mass graves.

Could be contractors from South Africa or elsewhere.

[0007]

5. Silence always surrounds a shadowy administration while companies

like Haliburton and the Carlyle Group rake in the bucks. Fuck, what's forty dollars an hour for a mindless lackey with a gun and no uniform?

Bet those lackeys' that guard John Negroponte are making about $300,000 a year or more, 'eh?

They tell em its a duck when in truth it is a rabbit

[0007]

6. Silence always surrounds a shadowy administration while companies

like Haliburton and the Carlyle Group rake in the bucks. Fuck, what's forty dollars an hour for a mindless lackey with a gun and no uniform?

Bet those lackeys' that guard John Negroponte are making about $300,000 a year or more, 'eh?

They tell em its a duck when in truth it is a rabbit

[Dover]

7. Heard from an ex-employee of a Haliburton subsidiary that they have lost

a whole bunch of people......I think he said something like 100. This guy was retired but the company was offering him and others a chance to go back. He said that Saudi Arabia was actually more dangerous although things might have shifted in that assessment since we spoke. He said the money was really good and he was afraid he wouldn't otherwise have enough to survive through retirement.

[Magleetis]

8. I think

that going to Iraq could substantially reduce the cost of retirement.

[PATRICK]

9. Solve population and aging crunch

Build retirement homes in Iraq. Rename it "New Florida". Checks keep coming into Governor Jenna Bush. Tax free. Plenty of sunshine, lots of devout, religious family value natives.