What's the fuss about government contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Question

A KBR driver was just killed in Iraq and that is a tragedy. But some people are saying contractors like KBR shouldn't be there anyway. Why not?

Answer 1

Most of these people don't know what they're talking about. The majority of government contractors are not building contractors--they are working there under a government contract. They are training police, cooking/serving food, repairing vehicles, and a myriad other duties needed to free our soldiers to fight. They are great Americans, doing an important job under less than desirable conditions, whether they work for KBR, MPRI, DynaCorp, Blackwater, or one of the other dozen or so companies doing business in support of our troops. God bless America!

Answer 2

Because, especially in Iraq, there is very high unemployment and I am sure many capable drivers who would work for a fraction of what the KBR driver would work for.

KBR (and other private contractors) do not tend to hire local people. I do not know why. Perhaps it is something to do with their annual turnover and keeping their shareholders happy with higher top-line results. And the US government's pockets are deep. The private companies ask for money and the US gives it -no questions asked.

So not only are Iraqi's pissed off, so is the US taxpayer.

In the case of KBR, they were awarded contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan on a no-bid basis; other contractors may have put in lower bids and done a better job.

Also, since KBR is a division of Halliburton (a company which VP Dick Cheney still receives a deferred salary from and has stock options in), there is a whiff of corruption. I can't comment on that, I know KBR and Bechtel from years back, they are both top rank construction and engineering companies in the Middle East.

Answer 3

There was a great Frontline documentary about contractors. Soldiers over there don't like them because they get paid more money and aren't really accountable to anyone. The soldiers can spend months trying to improve their relationship with a particular village, then a contractor with a cowboy mentality goes and destroys any progress that had been made.
Many of the security contractors have horrible credentials, some of them are top notch former special forces, but some of them are former bouncers. You can watch the doc online if you like. I think Frontline is providing some of the best coverage in and about Iraq.

Answer 4

I think it's the lack of oversight either perceived or real and the motivation to satisfy a bottom line rather than get the job done right.

You just know someone is getting rich. And most likely they had some good connections within the US goverment.

Right now I think the point is almost moot in Iraq. Besides the heavily fortified Green Zone, there is no real progress being made by the contractors in rebuilding anything.

Answer 5

My grandson put in three tours with the Air Force as an electrician before being enticed to join a private contractor in Iraq. He's making more money in one year than he could make in four years here in the U.S., why not?

My one complaint is this: We recently had 360 tons, mind you, not dollars but "tons" of money disappear in Iraq. The Government can't even put a dollar sign on it, there's no way to. 360 tons of money gone, while I have to fight to get the government to pay for my prescription drugs. Where is the honesty here. My druggist told me "sorry" the Medicare won't pay for your heart meds this time until you pay your deductible. In the meantime pick-up truck loads of money were seen being given away, duffel bags of currency were simply toss to the people or suddenly disappeared.
Private contractors with their $600.00 dollar toilets, their four hundred dollar hammers. You ask why? look into it a little closer pal. My grandson told us things that the public doesn't really want to know. Buildings being built and, the work so shoddy, it has to be torn down. Toilets that don't flush, windows that don't open, heaters and air- conditioners that won't work.
This is one of my grandsons jobs, to go behind the contractors and redo their work so no one complains, it's double pricing. This is one of the "why nots"

Answer 6

ok they do no longer shelter our militia forces. they only time you notice them is that if there is an considerable diplomat interior the section and you group would desire to circulate to boot. Then the militia protects our group and the Black water workers take care of the diplomat. i comprehend this provided that's what I did for a 300 and sixty 5 days in Afghanistan. the place you notice a three or 4 celebrity obtainable and individuals in vests status around him. they're the two SF or Rangers. Black water is above the regulation in maximum situations. they prefer the militia have there undesirable apples. they're payed a greater robust volume of pay. they might desire to guard Diplomats and definitely everyone seems to be conscious while a Dip is on the city. those adult adult males will combat to the final guy status to guard that Dip. those are adult adult males who've served in our militia usually. they do no longer seem to be as undesirable as one is led to have faith. What I see is definitely everyone seems to be up set relating to the money. I contractor working in a kitchen makes 80,000 taxes loose. it fairly is on usually happening a similar volume as Black water pays their risk-free practices. So possibly we would desire to continually no longer factor the finger so rapid earlier we actually comprehend what they positioned on the line known.

Answer 7

I myself do NOT have any problems with ANY contractors being there. BUT I also don't want to hear ANY moaning about the death or capturing of this contractor when he gets killed or captured. The way I see it, is he is there for the money, He knows the risk, so if and this is if, anything happens, oh well sorry. Truthfully I don't even think reporters should be there. Too much risk.

Answer 8

Because it is still a warzone?

Besides there are too many moral problems with the issuing of rebuilding contracts for those countries, as the majority of the contracts seem to have gone to us companies, and companies that the president, ministers and advisors either own or are major shareholders in. instead these contracts should have been tendered in a formal process, and the final contract should have been given to the most appropriate applicant.

It seems that they have all been given to line the pockets of those in power in the US, to milk these countries of their resources in a time of need.

Not cool!

Answer 9

It's called war profiteering - give your friends the contracts and get a kick back a good way of stealing government money. It's a bit like the arms industry lobbying for war so they can sell weapons.

Answer 10

Because our government is dumping billions into Iraq, a large part of it going to Halliburton, and what's to show for it? What good does it do to build a school when the kids are too scared to attend?