Most folks don't know there are more U.S.-paid private contractors than there are American combat troops in Iraq. New statistics reveal that 1,001 have died in Iraq over the last 4 years (1:180). However this only includes deaths reported to the US labor department and the total might be higher.
Contractors: 180,000
U.S. troops: 160,000
Nationality of Contractors
118,000 Iraqis
43,000 non-U.S. foreigners
21,000 Americans
Top Contractors
Kulak Construction Co., Turkey (supplies construction workers)
Total employees: 30,301
KBR, Houston, TX
Total employees: 15,336
Prime Projects International, Dubai
Total employees: 10,560
L-3 Communications, New York
Total employees: 5,886
Gulf Catering Co., Saudi Arabia
Total employees: 4,002
77 Construction, Irbil, Iraq,
Total employees: 3,219
ECC, Burlingame, CA (focus on reconstruction projects)
Total employees: 2,390
Serka Group, Turkey
Total employees: 2,250
IPBD Ltd., UK
Total employees: 2,164
Daoud & Partners Co., Amman, Jordan
Total employees: 2,092
EOD Technology Inc, Lenoir City, Tenn.
Total employees: 1,913
7 Comments
i can't imagine how anyone would go into iraq for a job...i don't care how much money is being offered...
my brother 'moved' there about a month ago as a private security contractor. it seems like his base gets attacked every other day.
I know it sounds insane but it might be interesting if he did a report from the field. What's going on and reconstruction that is happening?
good point, cameron! all I always get to see from iraq, is tanks, dead bodies, and new ruins, but I'm pretty sure there's a lot of engineering and construction - under hardest conditions! - going on.
mission accomplished! next war, please!
From this article Iraq Contractors Accused in Shootings:
They operate with little or no supervision, accountable only to the firms employing them. And as the country has plummeted toward anarchy and civil war, this private army has been accused of indiscriminately firing at American and Iraqi troops, and of shooting to death an unknown number of Iraqi citizens who got too close to their heavily armed convoys.
Not one has faced charges or prosecution.
There is great confusion among legal experts and military officials about what laws — if any — apply to Americans in this force of at least 48,000.
They operate in a decidedly gray legal area. Unlike soldiers, they are not bound by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Under a special provision secured by American-occupying forces, they are exempt from prosecution by Iraqis for crimes committed there.
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