U.S. Could Hire Private Guards for Bases in Afghanistan

U.S. Could Hire Private Guards for Bases in Afghanistan - Political News - FOXNews.com

WASHINGTON -- U.S. military authorities in Afghanistan may hire a private contractor to provide around-the-clock security at dozens of bases and protect vehicle convoys moving throughout the country.

The possibility of awarding a security contract comes as the Obama administration is sending thousands of more troops into Afghanistan to quell rising violence fueled by a resurgent Taliban. As the number of American forces grow over the next several months, so too does the demand to guard their outposts.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he wants to cut back on the use of contractors that now provide a wide range services to American troops in war zones, including transportation, communications, food service, construction, and maintenance. As recently as February, however, Gates called the use of private security contractors in certain parts of Afghanistan "vital" to supporting U.S. bases. A contract for the work also creates job opportunities for Afghans, he said.

Danger Will Robinson Danger, What the Hell is up with Sec.Gates he really needs to go and be replaced by someone who has a friggin clue, Do we need another Beirut or going back further maybe Tet 68.

How do you draw these conclusions? Afghans have been employed at bases since 2001.

sam_w said:

How do you draw these conclusions? Afghans have been employed at bases since 2001.

Click to expand...

Not as Security guards unless that has change with-in the past Year.

Scorpion89 said:

Not as Security guards unless that has change with-in the past Year.

Click to expand...

Hate to break the news, but Afghans have been providing security for quite some time. Often they are put at the outer gates, i.e. they are the ones out on front bearing the brunt of suicide attacks. Go look online for just about any attack on any base and you see the death toll is almost always Afghans.

OMG Cheney is just profiting from his cronies at Halliburton, just like Bush with his connections to the Bilderberg group and to....wait, what? Obama's in office?

Oh, well then in that case, this is a perfectly rational and intelligent move. It's a brilliant idea to use private contractors to help cover some of the load to free up our soldiers (our great American patriots) to cover other tasks, so we can get this done sooner and come home quicker. Why would anyone oppose this? Congrats to President Obama on a brave and intelligent decision.



/liberal :2razz:

Re: U.S. Could Hire Private Guards for Bases in Afghanistan........•

•►`That would be a big challenge for all them, dude....!:doh











demande carte de
credit - Carte de credit, credit en ligne.
La notation des maison de credit rejaillit sur le client !

If there are personnel or resource problems then this could be a viable solution, only as long as those private guards are screened in an equivalent fashion to those serving in the U.S. military, and their competence is monitored. Private companies have a tendency to look after their bottom line way more which can lead to slacking and half-done jobs.

Never understood this US policy.. what gives.. hiring outside people to protect your own troops.. are the US troops a bunch of wusses or something and cant defend their own organisation?

Or is it just a way to circumvent laws and deniablity by the US government?

PeteEU said:

Never understood this US policy.. what gives.. hiring outside people to protect your own troops.. are the US troops a bunch of wusses or something and cant defend their own organisation?

Or is it just a way to circumvent laws and deniablity by the US government?

Click to expand...

You really dont have a clue do you. It is to free up US troops to do other missions sets. The US military only has so many troops to go around. Do you really think that the far and away stongest millitary in the world couldnt defend its own bases if it chose to.