Why do we all have to pay to send private armies to Iraq?

Question

These guys get over $1,000 per day, per person. Why should the public be asked to pay for a private army deployed to protect private interests? If occupying Iraq is such a great business proposition, why can't the corporations who benefit pay for the private armies?

Well, the biggest name is Blackwater, but here is a list provided by Condi:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1763.html

Answer 1

They already pay for private armies.
There are approximately 140,000 American mercenaries in Iraq working for "security companies".

Answer 2

Wow so ignorant. First they don't make a thousand dollars a day. Trust me I know. Some specialties might get close such as doctors and engineers and the like. They make 80000-120000 on average in a year. Still good money but not nearly a 1000 a day. Secondly if you think this money is worth getting shot at, blown up, or sitting in 140 degree weather then I suggest you go to their recruiting web site. Otherwise shut up and be thankful that someone is willing to do what you will not.

Answer 3

umm, it may cost $1000 dollars a day per man, but certainly isnt going to that individual contractor. $1000 per day pays for food, accomodations, vehicles, gear, equipment, transport in and out of theater, new/replacement gear and equipment, guns, and a LOT of ammo. Oh, and gas, too.

The average contractor probably makes less than $300 a day, which is about what you'd expect hazard pay to be in the private sector.

I doubt that contractors cost very much more than a regular army unit per man, seeing as a company of infantry or tanks probably consumes about the same amount of fuel, ammo, equipment, gear, etc as a comparable-sized mercenary unit.

In fact, the only downside I can think of about having contractors in Iraq is the fact that they arent integrated into the smaller-unit chain of command, and thus are not always coordinated with friendly units that may be operating in the same area.

Answer 4

The US government doesn't pay for security specialist to protect contractors, the contractors themselves pay for them.

So the Companies are paying for thier own security contractors.

The US government has hired some private security contractors to protect civilian US Citizens working for the US Government in Iraq.

Like Paul Bremmer and the US ambassador.

And when you read that there are 140,000 contractors in Iraq.

Thats not just security contractors, that the truck drivers, cooks, fork lift drivers, construction people, engineers etc.

And a full 60% of the Contractors in Iraq, are Iraqi citizens.

Doesn't sound so bad , now does it?

Answer 5

Why do we pay big money to have guys drive around in cars here with guns, special lights, and bug us with speeding tickets?

Why should we be paying these yahoos here to protect us when we are all reasonably capable of being taught to do it ourselves?

Security/Military contractors are in Iraq for the same reason we have "mercenary" police officers here...

...most people in the US have no stomach to shoulder the responsibility of protecting themselves instead choosing to pay those who are willing and able to do it for us in return for a decent wage and maybe a thrill or two.

As far as corporations paying them, you've got the cart in front of the horse.

Putting corporations into Iraq is an effort to stabilize the region and get them invested in themselves again...

...so as to reduce the threat of terrorism re-exporting itself back here. In order to get it stable enough over there for corporations, there has to be a greater degree of security...

...which is nominally what Blackwater and the rest are there to do.

Answer 6

Name the private Armies?

Answer 7

$1,000 bucks a day
Would you happen to know where I can send my resume? Do I just mail it to one of the mailing addresses on this list or what?

Answer 8

Corporation is part of the American culture.

If you don't like it move in some socialist country and wait for us to come bomb your as*!

See ya!