Tuesday
Feb232010
New Bill Would Limit Role Of Private Military Contractors
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 12:11PM
By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation Tuesday that would limit the work the U.S. does with independent military contractors.
“Our footprint in places like Iraq and Afghanistan is really masked by the heavy dependence of contractors,” said Schakowsky during a morning press conference.
The Stop Outsourcing Security, or “SOS,” bill would stop private security companies from being employed by the government for sensitive issues, such as training the Afghanistan police, which is one of the contracts that Xe services, formerly known as Blackwater, is currently lobbying for. The SOS bill would also require contracts over $5 million to undergo Congressional review.
“When push comes to shove private contractors answer to corporate CEOs, not a uniformed commander,” said Sanders.
In addition, both Schakowsky and Sanders believe that the use of private contractors not only hurts the morale within the armed forces, but could drive Americans away from traditional roles in armed services in pursuit of higher pay.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation Tuesday that would limit the work the U.S. does with independent military contractors.
“Our footprint in places like Iraq and Afghanistan is really masked by the heavy dependence of contractors,” said Schakowsky during a morning press conference.
The Stop Outsourcing Security, or “SOS,” bill would stop private security companies from being employed by the government for sensitive issues, such as training the Afghanistan police, which is one of the contracts that Xe services, formerly known as Blackwater, is currently lobbying for. The SOS bill would also require contracts over $5 million to undergo Congressional review.
“When push comes to shove private contractors answer to corporate CEOs, not a uniformed commander,” said Sanders.
In addition, both Schakowsky and Sanders believe that the use of private contractors not only hurts the morale within the armed forces, but could drive Americans away from traditional roles in armed services in pursuit of higher pay.
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