By D. Cupples | Between the high costs and the questionable services, the Bush Administration should have considered reducing its reliance on private contractors a few years ago. Today's Washington Post reports:
"The U.S. government disregarded numerous warnings over the past two years about the risks of using Blackwater Worldwide and other private security firms in Iraq, expanding their presence even after a series of shooting incidents showed that the firms were operating with little regulation or oversight, according to government officials, private security firms and documents."
"The warnings were conveyed in letters and memorandums from defense and legal experts and in high-level discussions between U.S. and Iraqi officials. They reflected growing concern about the lack of control over the tens of thousands of private guards in Iraq, the largest private security force ever employed by the United States in wartime.
"Neither the Pentagon nor the State Department took substantive action to regulate private security companies until Blackwater guards opened fire Sept. 16 at a Baghdad traffic circle, killing 17 Iraqi civilians and provoking protests over the role of security contractors in Iraq....
"Last year, the Pentagon estimated that 20,000 hired guns worked in Iraq; the Government Accountability Office estimated 48,000. (Washington Post)
Blackwater guards have been involved in several questionable shootings involving Iraqi civilians since 2006. On Christmas Eve last year, an allegedly drunk Blackwater guard allegedly shot and killed the Iraqi Vice President's security guard during a party.
According to an Iraqi official who contacted the U.S. House Oversight Committee, Blackwater employees tried to take an Iraqi military airplane in 2005. I don't know how many laws are broken when one steals another nation's military equipment.
Even if all the allegations about Blackwater are untrue, there's another consideration: costs to us taxpayers, which any "conservative" Administration official should have looked into by now.
Blackwater's CEO Erik Prince told congressmen that about 10% of its $1 billion in federal contracts was profit. (See hearing video.) That's $100 million we taxpayers transferred to Blackwater.
Blackwater paid its security guards about $600 a day and billed the government $1,200 in some cases. Even if the State Dept. directly hired those same security guards for $600 a day, the taxpayers' costs would drop.
In 2000, Blackwater had less than $1 million in contracts. Now, it has about $1 billion in contracts, and about 90% of its business came from us taxpayers. (See hearing video) Thus, tax dollars paid for Blackwater's amazing growth, including equipment (e.g., weapons) and possibly mark-ups. We taxpayers also paid for Blackwater guards' military or law enforcement training before Blackwater hired them.
In short, not only has our intense reliance on private contractors resulted in questionable services to our government, but it's also costing us taxpayers an unnecessary bundle.
Related BN-Politics Posts:
* Blackwater Faces Civil Suit over Iraqi-Civilian Shootings
* Pattern: Wasted Tax Dollars in Mid-East and at Home
* Blackwater Hearing: Poor Media Coverage
* State Dept.'s Odd & Untimely Reactions to Blackwater Scandals
* Inspector General Blocked Investigations re: Waste and Fraud?
* Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?
* Congress Probes Cost of Intelligence Contractors, Should Probe Others
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