Surge to count contractors as part of security force

"During an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee last month, Army Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the new top commander in Iraq, said he counts the 'thousands of contract security forces' among the assets available to him to supplement the limited number of U.S. and Iraqi troops to be used for dealing with the insurgency.
A former senior Defense Intelligence Agency expert on the Middle East, retired Army Col. W. Patrick Lang, said last week that contracting out intelligence collection and security for Army units and their contractors 'results from actual military forces being too small.' He added: 'I can't remember a subordinate commander considering mercenaries as part of his forces.'
Retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, who once headed the U.S. Central Command and today serves on an advisory board of a defense contractor, said there is a role for private firms taking on security missions. But he warned that problems can arise 'when they take on quasi-military roles.' "

source
Pincus, Walter. (The Washington Post). Security Contracts to Continue in Iraq. February 4, 2007.

posted: tuesday, february 6, 2007, 9:12 AM ET

tags: iraq bush petraeus