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"In fiscal year 2006, DOD obligated more than $151 billion on service contracts, a 78 percent real increase since fiscal year 1996. As you know, however, DOD does not always use sound contracting practices when acquiring these services, and the department is operating with a deficit of people with the right skills to support its acquisitions. Consequently, DOD may not have always obtained good value when buying billions of dollars of services at a time when serious budget pressures face the nation. More than $32 billion—or 21 percent—of DOD’s obligations on services in fiscal year 2006 were for professional, administrative, and management support contracts. Overall, according to DOD, the amount obligated on service contracts exceeded the amount the department spent on supplies and equipment, including major weapon systems."
Congress’s willingness to blindly fund military outsourcing, and the mercenary army in particular, should be on the short list of dangerous runaway policies they have supported -- whether enthusiastically or through silence and capitulation – along with the war for oil, torture, the Patriot Act, signing statements, shredding of habeas corpus, and domestic surveillance.
www.fleshandstone.net Kathlyn Stone is a Minnesota-based writer covering science and medicine, health care and related policies. She publishes www.fleshandstone.net, a health and science news site.
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