State Department blasted over private contractor management

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http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/06/state.department.contracting/
Washington (CNN) -- The State Department came under sharp criticism Monday over how it hires and monitors thousands of private contractors.

A watchdog panel, the Commission on Wartime Contracting, has questioned whether the State Department is prepared to continue its work in Iraq, and protect American diplomats, once the U.S. military withdraws, now set for the end of this year.

"Our concerns remain very much alive," the commission's co-chairman, Christopher Shays, said in his opening statement.

Shays also focused on what he said was State Department refusal to document its rationale for not taking action against contractors officially recommended for suspension or disbarment.

That response approaches the borderline of government negligence," Shays said.