Two More Merc Firms Get Big Iraq Contracts

[n2doc]

By Spencer Ackerman May 4, 2011 | 5:01 pm | Categories: Mercs

Two more security firms have won contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to build the State Department a private army in Iraq. The department confirms to Danger Room that longtime Iraq contractor Triple Canopy and newcomer Global Strategies Group will contribute to State’s planned protection force of 5,500 contractors.

In September, the State Department announced that eight security firms would share in a $10 billion contract to guard diplomats. Both Triple Canopy and Global were among those firms, which have the right to bid on so-called “task orders” for protecting specific department operations around the world. One of the first task orders awarded was to SOC, to safeguard the Baghdad embassy, a deal that would net the company up to $973 million over five years.

At the time, that looked like a slap to Triple Canopy, which has provided security forces for the massive compound since 2005, earning itself $438 million in the process. But it turns out Triple Canopy won’t be going anywhere — despite a warning about the firm from State’s own watchdogs.

If State re-ups with Triple Canopy for the full five-year span of the task order, Triple Canopy will earn $1.53 billion.

more

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/two-more-merc-firms-get-big-iraq-contracts/

[tekisui]

1. Overpaid private army so that Obama can claim he got the troops out.

Fucking bullshit.

[Autumn]

2. Slight of hand

that giant sucking sound you hear is our tax dollars being flushed, and we get to have cuts on vital programs to keep it going. So glad Obama ended the war in Iraq.

[mmonk]

3. Cut social security, medicare, education, etc.

There are hired killers to pay.