Back in World War II the government used the armed forces to... you
know... win the war.  And last time I checked, we actually won it.  But
the Neo-Conservative philosophy calls for more privatization because it
is apparently less Communistic which makes it more competitive and
efficient.  Find out why the privatization of the armed forces is
misguided and let's take a look at some serious abuse by our private
contractors in Iraq.

RCDEM already reported on waste by DynCorp-- a private firm that was paid $1.2 billion to train ZERO IRAQIS.

In related news, private mercenary firm Blackwater may have evaded $31 million in federal taxes.  How?  Well the Harry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform got a hold of an IRS document in which the IRS discovered that Blackwater classified an "employee" in Afghanistan as an "independent contractor."  The difference?  Blackwater would have to pay more taxes on an "employee" such as Medicare and Social Security taxes as opposed to an independent contractor which would be exempt.  The implication here is that Blackwater may have done this several times to the tune of the $31 million.

It's outrageous that a company that gets 90% of its business-- or $1 billion-- from the federal government would try to evade taxes.  But its exactly what can be expected when (1) corruption-friendly Republicans are in power and (2) they hire for-profit businesses to do a military job.  Luckily the pillaging of the Treasury stopped last fall when Americans entrusted the Democrats to watch over the government.  Thank goodness.

This news come on the heels of allegations that Blackwater mercenaries shot and killed over a dozen Iraqis last month without provocation.  Those allegations have provoked fierce debate at home and even led to the arrest of several protesters in D.C. yesterday. 

So much for the efficiency of private paramilitary forces.