100,000 US contractors in Iraq, should the military have oversight of these workers?

Question

Duties include "providing security, interrogating prisoners, cooking meals, fixing equipment and constructing bases"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401311.html

Answer 1

i am one and they do. We are inspected at least monthly sometimes more often by at least 1 military officer for each of the services or trades that we provide. the army or marines give us ratings, corrective measures to impliment or satisfactory ratings. don't believe everything that the papers put out. The military watches contractors closely here.

Answer 2

Can't. Supreme Court decision on the subject. Assuming that you mean military justice. They are responsible civilly, but that doesn't mean much. Proving in Federal court in the USA a civilian crime that took place in Iraq is near impossible. But they can be fired for cause.

Reid v. Covert: http://supreme.justia.com/us/354/1/case.html

Answer 3

Anything directly related to military activity (such as prisoner handling) should be under direct military supervision and regulation. (Actually it should be done by the military, but that's another discussion.) Non-military activity such as meal service and construction should be under DoD oversight but not necessarily direct military supervision.

Answer 4

hmmmm other countries have "mercenaries"...
The US has "contractors".....
Interesting.

Answer 5

why not?