Spending on Iraq Sets Off Gold Rush (WP)

VolcanoJen

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Wed Oct-08-03 10:17 PM
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Spending on Iraq Sets Off Gold Rush (WP)

Very timely article about the corporate looting going on in Iraq, just as the House takes up the $87 billion request... (emphasis is mine)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A496-2003Oct8.html

Of the $4 billion a month already being spent in Iraq, as much as a third is going to the private contractors who have flooded into the country, said Deborah D. Avant, a political scientist at George Washington University and an expert in the new breed of private military companies. The flow of money will increase greatly if Congress approves Bush's request.

Many of the services being sought -- including police training, crimes-against-humanity investigations and prison-construction expertise -- are highly specialized. Conditions are dangerous. Experts say American taxpayers can expect to pay a hefty premium to contractors in a classic seller's market.

Among the dozens of projects in the proposal is a State Department plan to spend $800 million to build a large training facility for a new Iraqi police force. Management fees alone would run $26 million a month, while 1,500 police trainers would cost $240,000 each per year, or $20,000 each per month. DynCorp of Reston is likely to get the contract.

"All I can say is it's mind-boggling," James Lyons, a former military subcontractor in Bosnia, said of the opportunities for private contractors. "People must be drooling."

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jamesinca

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Wed Oct-08-03 10:30 PM
Response to Original message

1. I wrote Sen. Feinstein about this

She wrote back something about having to keep America strong and not cut and run. I was a little upset about her support of the Bush Administration

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Sub Atomic

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Wed Oct-08-03 10:38 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Unfortunately, Diane's not much more than a DINO

She replied back to me awhile back about homeland security and the mounting costs compared to the benefits that Americans were receiving.

Her reply essentially was that we all need to support the pResident in protecting the homeland, blah blah blah.

I, for one, cannot wait until she's up for re-election. IMO, it's time for someone with a freaking spine.

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MRDU

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Thu Oct-09-03 03:18 AM
Response to Original message

3. Million dollar bulldozers?

"The bulldozers used by soldiers in Iraq range in price from $100,000 to nearly $1 million",

Wow, that's one hell of a dozer, if it breaks down, well ....where's my $9000 dollar hammer?

Read this article! This is outrageous!

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0007

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Thu Oct-09-03 09:25 AM
Response to Reply #3

6. Outrageous it is,

'getting screwed in the name of democracy' and being forced to love it, while we wave flags and sing songs to God. 'Tis amazing how they force this robbery on us and how some folks just love it, 'eh?

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cthrumatrix

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Thu Oct-09-03 04:29 AM
Response to Original message

4. the americans deserve greater "transparency"....

this quote used can be said of this entire administration.

We are being made to be fools in this situation....paying excesses only to line the pockets of people who want to take advantage of the American taxpayer.

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kayell

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Thu Oct-09-03 07:00 AM
Response to Original message

5. This story is over at Yahoo too, where you can rate it

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1802&e=11&u=/washpost/a496_2003oct8

Give it a 5 to keep it high and visible on the ratings page.

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denverbill

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Thu Oct-09-03 09:35 AM
Response to Original message

7. Ahh, the beauty of 'privatization'.

$240,000/year for a single police trainer, plus whatever Dyncorp skims off the top for 'profit', probably another $200K/person.

That sure beats paying $40,000/year for an MP to do the job, huh? But if a soldier does the job, nobody 'profits'. What a bunch of thieves.

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lovedems

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Thu Oct-09-03 09:49 AM
Response to Original message

8. Middle class americans making Bushco.'s friends rich!

This is disgusting! I want to see a list of all the democratic senators who vote to give this misadministration that 87bill. Then I will know who has spines.

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VolcanoJen

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Thu Oct-09-03 01:32 PM
Response to Original message

9. Kick!

;-)

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