Sunday, July 08, 2007
This war has been keeping me busy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/06/AR2007070601993.html?nav=rss_print/outlook
This is the kind of stuff that's been keeping me busy. I've been studying the Iraq War from 2 points of view: Defense Contractors, and The Green Zone.
It's only been in the last 9 months or so that any information at all has been available on our commercial brothers-in-arms, our defense contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have finally reached the point where there are more contractors than US military. 180,000 contractors to 150,000 US military. Halliburton has pretty much dropped out of the scene, only KBR, their wholly owned subsidiary is still there. Right now the Brits have taken over in contracts! Interesting how they decided to pull out their troops in Southern Iraq because "Mission Accomplished" and now they are going into full corporate mode. Let's see how that works out. Just fine I am betting. If the UK can get away with it, the time could be ripe for our own military withdrawal.
In the Green Zone -that damn embassy! People keep asking about the largest US Embassy in the world, and that is just so annoying to the Bush Administration. Not only has billions of dollars been sunk into this little oasis, but what an embarrassment it is turning into! Shoddy construction, almost daily insurgent attacks, the architectural plans on the internet, and it still is not finished after 4 years. The State Department is desperately trying to get Americans to work there, it may soon become mandatory for all employees. (one way to get those Young Republicans in the war.) Not sure how that will go over. Might have to increase those contractors.
*It's been so long since I posted that I forgot how to create a link in the title, and Blogspot was taken over by Google, all technical stuff that can be learned or relearned as the case may be. Curious minds have been asking me when I'm going to post again. Took 16 months to create some interest, and this time I hope you will respond to me. Otherwise I am going totally anonymous and that will be fine too. This post was almost delayed because I thought about footnoting all of the above facts. Promise to be a little more informative from now on :)
This is the kind of stuff that's been keeping me busy. I've been studying the Iraq War from 2 points of view: Defense Contractors, and The Green Zone.
It's only been in the last 9 months or so that any information at all has been available on our commercial brothers-in-arms, our defense contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have finally reached the point where there are more contractors than US military. 180,000 contractors to 150,000 US military. Halliburton has pretty much dropped out of the scene, only KBR, their wholly owned subsidiary is still there. Right now the Brits have taken over in contracts! Interesting how they decided to pull out their troops in Southern Iraq because "Mission Accomplished" and now they are going into full corporate mode. Let's see how that works out. Just fine I am betting. If the UK can get away with it, the time could be ripe for our own military withdrawal.
In the Green Zone -that damn embassy! People keep asking about the largest US Embassy in the world, and that is just so annoying to the Bush Administration. Not only has billions of dollars been sunk into this little oasis, but what an embarrassment it is turning into! Shoddy construction, almost daily insurgent attacks, the architectural plans on the internet, and it still is not finished after 4 years. The State Department is desperately trying to get Americans to work there, it may soon become mandatory for all employees. (one way to get those Young Republicans in the war.) Not sure how that will go over. Might have to increase those contractors.
*It's been so long since I posted that I forgot how to create a link in the title, and Blogspot was taken over by Google, all technical stuff that can be learned or relearned as the case may be. Curious minds have been asking me when I'm going to post again. Took 16 months to create some interest, and this time I hope you will respond to me. Otherwise I am going totally anonymous and that will be fine too. This post was almost delayed because I thought about footnoting all of the above facts. Promise to be a little more informative from now on :)
