How many average Americans are aware that while troop numbers come down, contractor numbers go up?

Now, in 2010, a drawdown of troops in the barely organized chaos of Iraq marches towards benchmark dates. But with the sharply decreased American media coverage of Iraq, much of the news has focused on random bombings around the country and partial coverage of the recent Iraqi elections. How many average Americans are aware that while troop numbers come down, contractor numbers go up? The number of troops in Iraq is supposed to go down by this August to 50,000 but with contractors the number would be 125,000. Can you imagine that candidate Obama would have campaigned on the promise of having 125,000 personnel in Iraq by the end of summer 2010? How many total U.S. personnel would be left by the end of 2011? Is the number by end of 2011 zero as promised, or 50,000 or more? Who is reporting about special operations in Iraq involving troops that are not Iraqi-based, but merely sweep in, do their work, and sweep out again?

We have won the war and the troops can go home, right? Not really, they are simply being replaced by contractors - many from poor African countries - but that's not what Obama tells you. My country was part of the 'coalition of the willing' that invaded this country on false pretenses. Now it has turned out that this invasion is becoming too costly, we abandon them and increase the number of killing frenzy contractors. Great way to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.


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To me troops are defined by any person paid for by the goverment to fight.

What they say is troop numbers is really just enlisted personel...

Its a con, pure and simple..Troops are troops.....Wheather enlisted for 6 years or paid by the hour,

Did Obama say he would reduce troop numbers or enlisted numbers??