Mercenaries Far Outnumber Occupation Troops in Afghanistan

Washington, August 22 (RHC)-- Despite the fact that the number of U.S. occupation troops in Afghanistan is reaching an all-time high, they are outnumbered by military contractors -- also known as mercenaries -- working alongside them.

According to a Defense Department census due to be distributed to the U.S. Congress, the number of military contractors in Afghanistan rose to nearly 74,000 by June 30th, far outnumbering the 58,000 U.S. occupation soldiers on the ground at that point. And as the military force in Afghanistan grows further, to a planned 68,000 by the end of the year, the Pentagon expects the ranks of contractors to increase even more.

Reports from occupied Iraq show that military contractors outnumbered U.S. troops there for a period of time in the past. The large mercenary force was accompanied by issues ranging from questionable costs billed to the government to shooting of civilians by armed security guards. A September 2007 shooting incident involving Blackwater mercenaries working for the U.S. State Department, in which 17 Iraqis were killed, forced Washington to cut back on the use of mercenaries in Iraq.