Article

2003-08-05 Iraq

Some Of Armyâs Civilian Contractors Are No-Shows In Iraq

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Posted by Penguin 2003-08-05 1:34:48 PM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This is what happens when you trade logistics for bayonets. For generations the Pentagon was hounded by critics for the high ratio of support to guns. What the critics never acknowledged is that no other armed forces in the world sustained continious operations on the other side of the planet. The Soviets, oft pointed out by those same self styled experts, had a very low ratio. However, Chechnya demonstates that they can't even properly support their own troops in their own borders. And we're headed in that direction now.

It was long ago in the time of Napoleon that civilian contractors were done away with in hauling the artillery pieces as they had a tendency to depart when things became complicated on the battlefield. Taking the artillery with them or abandoning the pieces then and there. This is a lesson unlearned.

Side note - the military insure themselves. Each month a portion of the members pay is deducted and paid into the Serviceman's Group Life Insurance program. The 250K lump sum paid for death, regardless of whether its peacetime, wartime, on duty or off duty, comes from that fund, it does not come from appropriated monies from Congress. Anyone relying solely upon the death benefits paid by the service or the VA will be greatly underwhelmed.

Posted by Don 2003-8-5 4:47:08 PM|| 2003-8-5 4:47:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Dovetailing in with the story, I just saw this on Rooters via Google News:
http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3223492

Seems a KBR Contractor was killed by a land mine...

Posted by Â·com 2003-8-5 6:24:31 PM|| 2003-8-5 6:24:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Any contractor be it civilian or corporate who fails to fullfill or renigs on a contract with the military(most especially in time of war) should be immiedatly terminated,and banned from any future contracts/employment with any government agency(fed.,state,county,city).In addition the should face both criminal and civil action.
These people signed contracts/accepted employement with the government in full knowledge the could be going into harms way.These companys/contractors recieve extremly good pay/benifits packages for thier work they should be forced to fullfill thier obligations in times of peace as well as war.

My brother worked as a driller in South America(at one time within walking distance of the Peurvian Border and the attendant coca fields)every where he went he was accompnied by an armed gaurd.he fullfilled his contractual obligations and so should these people.

Posted by raptor 2003-8-5 6:49:50 PM|| 2003-8-5 6:49:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I'd take it (as with all news from a war) with a grain of salt. How many/what firms/what situations? Attacking KBR is an opportunity to take a shot at Dick Cheney's old firm, Halliburton, and I have a feeling Mr. Rumsfeld would have little patience for civvies contracting services and bugging out in stressful times. Raptor is right: anyone doing so should catch 28 connecting flights on their way home to unemployment

Posted by Frank G 2003-8-5 8:09:55 PM|| 2003-8-5 8:09:55 PM|| Front Page Top

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