By Jim Tankersley
Congress is poised to require the Bush administration to detail its use of private security contractors in Iraq, in the wake of a controversial shooting of Baghdad civilians this month by a private State Department security detail.
The Senate approved an amendment to a Defense Department funding bill last night that would require the administration to disclose the number of contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, which companies they represent, how much they cost and how the government will track the number of the contractors killed or injured. The House version of the bill includes similar provisions.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) sponsored the amendment, which mimics a contractor-disclosure bill he introduced in February.
“There are too many unanswered questions about the role of private security contractors in Iraq and it’s time for answers,” Obama said in a press release. “The American people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent in Iraq and the role that security contractors are playing.”
Contractors have come under increased scrutiny from lawmakers in Iraq and Washington following the shootings this month by Blackwater USA, which left a reported 11 Iraqis dead and wounded a dozen more. On congressional report Thursday criticized Blackwater for focusing more on cost than safety in a 2004 incident that led to four American deaths.
Obama, who is running for president, has pushed the administration for contractor information throughout the year, and he repeated the call today with a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The letter questioned Rice on several contractor-related incidents in Iraq and raised concerns that they could undermine America is its "war of ideas" in the Middle East.
"This recent incident and other incidents have been widely reported in the Muslim world, with negative implications for U.S. efforts," Obama wrote. "The result is that not only are the private contractors being blamed, but so is the U.S. government."
Obama is not alone among Democratic White House hopefuls in sharply criticizing the use of contractors for security functions more traditionally supplied by the U.S. military.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards told a New Hampshire crowd last night that, as president, he would order the contractors out of Iraq and investigate what they had been paid – and for what services.
"Why in the world the United States of America is contracting away the security functions of the country," Edwards said, "I have no idea."
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Comments
"CONDI SPEAKS" I DON'T RECALL, I DON'T RECALL SENATOR, I DON'T RECALL MR. SPEAKER, I DON'T RECALL MADAME SPEAKER"
Well Diplomacy is....well I can't answer that, because I would have to first define what "IS" is Congresswoman.
This is the kind of kindercare that we are attesting to while watching this administration ruin the very fabric of American Freedom as we know it.
WHE WON'T TESTIFY, NO ONE HAS, THIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE ARRESTED THROUGH INHERENT CONTEMPT CHARGES THROUGH THE SENATE.
Just put an end to the daily circumventation of the law of this land.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAYS NO IMPEACHMENT FOR BUSH, WELL, THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. IMPEACH DICK, AND LOCK UP THE REST. BUSH WOULD CRAWL IN THE CORNER OF THE WHITEHOUSE AND SUCK HIS THUMB AND CRY FOR MOMMY DADDY, AND HIS OL BUDDY OSAMA!
Joke!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 28, 2007 12:31 PM
"NO ITS IRAN CONTRA ALL OVER AGAIN"
NEGRONPONTE INCHARGE OF INVESTIGATION! ISN'T HE THE SAME GUY THAT WAS LEADING THE DEATH SQUADS DURING THE REAGON ADMINISTRATION? SO CONDI IS NOW FAWN HALL, back at the state department ensuring shredded documents are not found and the servers they bounced off of have been confiscated and buried in the WALLS OF DUBAI!
SO NOW WE KNOW WHO AL QUEDA ARE! NOW WE KNOW WHO IS ARMING WHO. NOW WE KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY!
BUSH'S MEIN KEMFP 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, AND GOING ON GRADUATE CLASS 2008!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 28, 2007 12:41 PM
You've got to admit Blackwater is a kool name!
Private security contractors pose several problems not the least of which is the confusion felt by the civilian population with regard to who is actually American military personel. Definitely an issue that warrants further scrutiny.
I may be naive but I get a pretty good impression of Secretary Gates. Much more open than his disastrous predecessor Don Rum Punch.
"Secretary Gates also said that one of the key lessons from the Iraq war is that the proper role of private contractors in a war zone needs to be examined more fully. He noted the controversy that has arisen over accusations against Blackwater security contractors in connection with the killing of 11 Iraqis on Sept. 16 in Baghdad. Those contractors were working for the State Department, not the U.S. military, but Geren said it highlighted an issue that needs closer scrutiny.
Geren said the Army has put Jacques Gansler, who was the Pentagon's technology chief from 1997-2001, in charge of an independent commission that is studying the role of private contractors in war. The study is due to be completed at the end of October, he said."
By ROBERT BURNS | AP Military Writer
11:50 PM CDT, September 27, 2007
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-army-growth,1,5231826.story
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 28, 2007 12:48 PM
Impeachments can start with the State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard, who appears to be doing his level best to stonewall investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse associated with Blackwater. One of his staffers told department employees that they have no protection from retaliation and no recourse if they testify before Congress. This is coming from the IG!
Posted by: Tom O | September 28, 2007 1:29 PM
A private military force that only reports on its actions to the President. Think about that for a bit.
If everyone in the US doesn't see a problem with this, we are in VERY big trouble.
If they are preforming military duties for our government, and are not part of some clandestine CIA operation, they should be held to the standards of the US military, at a minimum.
What guarantees are there that this isn't just a rogue force doing whatever they please?
Posted by: dogjudge | September 28, 2007 1:36 PM
roger,
cap key
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 28, 2007 1:55 PM
Big shock, Blackwater is run by an extreme right-winged hack who was a huge donator to Bush. Now, they do whatever they want, shoot at whomever & whatever they want in Iraq, & don't have to answer to anyone.
If you don't think there's something horribly wrong with this precident Bush has embarked on, think about this; Will Iraqi's look at Blackwater & greet them as liberators?
Posted by: RomanB | September 28, 2007 2:16 PM
Being that the State Department has already shut down this investigation, it really doesn't matter what Congress or the American people think. And the Swamp is ...... How many days late on this story? God bless the mess Bush/Cheney call Democracy. Private contractors were given immunity the day the Bush Boys declared them a sovereign nation. Karma is really going to be a bitch for you guys.
Posted by: Mrs. Jesus | September 28, 2007 2:20 PM
I wonder if developing a group of security contractors who operate outside the law is a step towars Fascism?
Posted by: janet | September 28, 2007 2:24 PM
So Obama actually showed up at the senate for work?
He hasn't been doing much of that lately...
Posted by: Bruce | September 28, 2007 2:37 PM
Blackwater, and any private company like them should be illegal. This is a private military, which answers to whom?
Posted by: San Miguel | September 28, 2007 3:03 PM
So Obama actually showed up at the senate for work?
He hasn't been doing much of that lately...
Posted by: Bruce | September 28, 2007 2:37 PM
Neither have you, bruce or you wouldn't be on this board 24/7.
Posted by: Mrs. Jesus | September 28, 2007 8:36 PM