US death toll in Iraq war hits 5,100

[WoodPeckr]

This includes US contractors who are there making big bucks but for the most part ignored in US miliary bodybag counts.
This was the Headline Story in todays newspaper....

Private army of contractors carries a heavy load in Iraq

By Dan Herbeck NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 03/30/08 10:08 AM


A stealth private army works alongside America’s troops in Iraq, guarding supply convoys, feeding the uniformed soldiers and rebuilding a shattered country.

And of the estimated 180,000 private contractors who have served in that stealth army, more than 1,100 are dead.

That fact has not gotten much attention during a war that has lasted more than five years and claimed the lives of more than 4,000 U.S. troops. But it’s a personal issue to the family of Jonathon Cote, the former Amherst resident who has been missing since he was abducted in Iraq more than 16 months ago.

And it’s a political issue in Washington, where one security firm stands accused of turning its guns on Iraqi civilians and all such firms are viewed by some as out-of-control hired guns.

“For five years, their behavior and lack of supervision and accountability have often eroded our credibility, endangered U.S. and Iraqi lives and undermined our mission,” Sen. Hillary Rodham Clin...

complete story >

 

[Asterix]

I'm surprised it isn't higher. The para-military forces run by contractors in Iraq have been relatively easy targets since they travel mostly in what are essentially heavily armed SUV's. Wouldn't want to be one of these guys if and when the US army substantially pulls out one day. The contractors will be there for the long haul as long as the oil holds out.

 

[S.C. Joe]

All the death tolls are higher than reported. What to you think happens to the soldiers that have NO family at all,-the ones they find right off the street or from homeless centers- those deaths can go unreported. Then the Iraqis, ha, for every 10 or so who die, 1 gets counted.

Yesterday Earth hour was the big story but there was US war planes dropping more bombs on Iraq. How many more people died in Iraq the past few days

 

[The Lurker]

Well it turns out I know a "contractor", he's a drinking buddy of mine. You're safer to be reg force. It seems the locals really dislike them and target them for extra attentions. They may make alot of cash, but that is back home and they must live on the economy so are at more risk.

The whole area sounds like a real cluster to me. Even if half of his stories are true the whole world, not just the Middle East is populated by the poor, the displaced and fucktards.

 

[S.C. Joe]

That's not true.

How do we or anybody know that ? How Bushie and company are, do you think thats so unlikely, I don't.

Remember NO reporters are allowed on the fighting lines. Theres no pictures being taken, unlike past wars.

 

[WoodPeckr]

The brass at the Pentagon will balk at such a move.

Agreed.
The Pentagon got burned on this issue of false counts during the Nam Debacle and doubt they would let it happen again.

I'm surprised it isn't higher.

It probably is if you factor in those that die from severe injuries weeks/months later or those that commit suicide weeks later or after returning home. The 5,100 is a KIA figure.

 

[y2kmark]

Not so fast...

Nowhere did the article say that all of the people employed by these contractors are Americans. Like most mercenary operations they recruit world wide.

 

[sailorsix]

[“For five years, their behavior and lack of supervision and accountability have often eroded our credibility, endangered U.S. and Iraqi lives and undermined our mission,” Sen. Hillary Rodham Clin...

"So?"

Other than some Democrats who in America cares? And even the Dems will go out and fill their SUV gas tanks to the brim in their ongoing support of the Arab terrorists who rule.