I actually did a report on how Mercenaries are a thing of the past ever since the rise of Nationalism while I was in college...

...I guess I was wrong!

The thing that is frightening is that mercenaries are on a 1:1 ratio to actual combat troops right now in Iraq.

The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops, newly released figures show, raising fresh questions about the privatization of the war effort and the government’s capacity to carry out military and rebuilding campaigns.

More than 180,000 civilians - including Americans, foreigners and Iraqis - are working in Iraq under U.S. contracts, according to State and Defense department figures obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

Including the recent troop buildup, 160,000 soldiers and a few thousand civilian government employees are stationed in Iraq. The total number of private contractors, far higher than previously reported, shows how heavily the Bush administration has relied on corporations to carry out the occupation of Iraq - a mission criticized as being undermanned.

- Private Contractors Outnumber US Troops in Iraq

it takes a lot more than an army to occupy a country. the army doesn't have all the necessary personnel and equipment to do that because it would be illegal to do that, so, wait a minute, hang on... what was the question?

Australia has just pulled all of its troops out of Iraq, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that the "war was based on a lie". Not that it was a war in the first place, it was a blatant invasion and illegal occupation.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/war-based-on-a-lie-says-rudd/2008/06/02/1212258741705.html

Interesting stuff. His constant movement from left to right annoys me.

man, he isn't even looking at notes is he? maybe that's why he is all fidgety. Interesting stuff, he doesn't even mess up much - pretty damn good speaker if you as me.

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