Private contractor security

The latest war funding development comes in a new Contract Oversight subcommittee memo dated December 16, 2009 and released by Senator Claire McCaskill’s staff. In it, alarming information has been made publicly available regarding the US military’s dependence on one of its latest weapons, the private military contractor.

While many of us are led to believe that there are currently 64,000 (approximately) military personnel in Afghanistan, few seem to care that our tax dollars are also supporting an additional 104,000 Defense Department contractors. These contractors comprise over 60% of the Defense Department’s workforce in Afghanistan. These numbers are based on September 30, 2009 data, the latest available.

Also not included in the official number of 64,000, soon to increase by a 30,000 troop surge (more momentarily), are the 3,600 State Department contractors and USAID’s 14,000 contractors. That totals a number near 190,000, a conservative number by McCaskill’s estimates.

Nor do these numbers show the reality that we may have nearly a quarter million personnel in Afghanistan within a year. Provided the situation doesn’t deteriorate any further.

According to the memo, “The Bush Administration relied heavily on private contractors to oversee other contractors on reconstruction contracts in Iraq.” But we're not talking about Iraq anymore, Toto.  

As if the absurdities weren’t absurd enough, barackstar continues with more of the bad-move policies of his predecessor, that being the above mentioned awarding of contracts to contractors in an effort to oversee other job contractors. Our brilliance is out-shined only by our oversight.

Yes, it sounds confusing, but only in America could such a concept be born, and then flourish in foreign countries. Of course,it comes with a price, namely the squandering of US taxpayer dollars. Again.

For those counting, the war in Afghanistan, to date, has cost the American taxpayers almost $230 billion. Yes, billion with a b. That does not include fiscal year 2010 numbers.

The memo further indicates a sever lack of oversight regarding fiscal responsibility. The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) briefed the subcommittee on December 9, 2009 and reported that more than $950 million submitted by Defense Department contractors working in Afghanistan is questionable and unsupported. Of this dollar amount, the memo states “The $950 million is likely to underestimate the total amount of wasteful or undocumented spending in Afghanistan.” Okay then, let’s round it off. Almost one billion dollars of wasted or undocumented money.

But wait. It gets worse. DCAA auditors have reviewed $5.9 billion in contracts. Yes, a review has been conducted on $5.9 billion, out of how many billions? For math fans, the $950 million represents 16% of total audited money. I almost want to repeat that, so that it sinks in. Out of the total amount audited, 16% is gone. Total amount audited does not equate into total amount funded. For those who think we’re nearing a tipping point, you’re right. While most all working class Americans are struggling in ways they’ve never known, we get to read about this sort of nonsense. There's something brewing all right, and it's not tea bags.  It’s all I can do to keep from writing what I really feel, knowing full well the limitations allowed by google. 

It gets even worse. Two of these contractors, Fluor and Dyncorp are at the center of “concerns”. Agility, a partner of Dyncorp, was suspended indefinitely in November 2009 based on a six-count indictment involving violations of the False Claims Act for knowingly overcharging the US - yep, that’s you, fellow taxpayers - for goods and services. Worsening. Although Agility is barred from receiving future contracts, they “will continue to receive taxpayer dollars under its current LOGCAP IV subcontract.” It is truly a generous reward for a six-count indictment. Read the memo.

The brilliance of the barackstar should not be lost in the fact that his popularity continues to plummet. While he’s busy keeping the American populace divided over health care reform, our tax dollars continue being funneled into two black holes known as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Imagine what unemployment would look like in this country were we to bring everyone home now: military personnel, contractors, contractors contracting contractors. It’s too bad the tea baggers are drinking kool-aid.

Still, war stock is a good investment. Anyone heard from Cheney lately?