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Mercenary strength reaches high in iraq Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040408-084035-2722r.htm http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040408-084035-2722r.htm Mercenary strength reaches high in Iraq BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 8 (UPI) -- Private security forces, or mercenaries, in Iraq have grown to become what is likely the largest private army in the world, the Washington Post said Thursday. There are about 20,000 private security contractors in Iraq now and that number is expected to grow to 30,000 when the U.S. troop presence is drawn down after the June 30 handover to Iraqi authorities. The presence of so many armed security contractors in a hot combat zone is unprecedented in U.S. history, according to government officials. In the past "we've been careful about where and when we arm civilians who accompany the troops because we don't want to inadvertently turn them into soldiers, even by what we have them wear," said Col. Thomas McShane, an instructor at the Army War College. The U.S. military does not have enough specially trained troops or Iraqi police officers to guard its civilian employees, defense officials said. As a result, the U.S. government has turned increasingly to private firms. Blackwater Security Consulting even provides personal security to U.S. administrator Paul Bremer.

afghan-contractor-jailed 10 iraqi contractors penalized for bribery corruption { April 26 2004 } Allegations security contractors brutalizing iraqi civilians Army gives interrogate contract to company in scandal { August 5 2004 } Army turns to private guards { August 12 2004 } Blackwater assasinated 3 innocent iraqis { November 8 2007 } Blackwater employees kill 8 civilians { September 17 2007 } Blackwater offers private armies for low intensity conflicts { March 29 2006 } Blackwater shoots innocent civilians says congress British private military companies boom Cia spies stampede to private sector { September 11 2001 } Contract workers are wars forgotten { July 31 2004 } Experienced skilled army employees replaced with privatization Fbi cia denies employee afghan freelancer { August 17 2004 } Iraq war company saic hides 8b shadow Line blurred between soldiers and private contractors { May 13 2004 } Mercenary company sues family of slain employees Mercenary strength reaches high in iraq New law to subject civilian contractors to military law { January 15 2007 } Over 100 thousand civilian contractors in iraq { January 7 2007 } Private army blackwater [jpg] Private guards repel attack { April 6 2004 } Private iraqi contractor abandons 7 children in nigeria Private mercenaries outnumber US troops in iraq { July 4 2007 } Private security firm say its fun to shoot some people { April 3 2005 } Secret mercenaries { October 13 2002 } Security firms form alliance { April 8 2004 } Security firms use air blimps over iraq { January 17 2006 } Us contractor uses chilean pinochet commandos for iraq { March 5 2004 } US contractors in iraq allege brutality US intelligence privatized { July 24 2007 } Files Listed: 30

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