Among the most stunning decisions taken is the handover of the interrogation of prisoners of war to private firms. Employees from the firms Caci and Titan now reportedly fill such roles as interrogators and translators. The work can be quite lucrative. Titan just won a $172m deal to supply “analytical support” for US military operations; its employees can make over $100,000 a year.
I wish I could say it freaked me out as much as it freaks out Turkana, that private companies operating outside the law are conducting key parts of this war, but a president operating outside the law is running this country, so, you know, priorities. I can only scream so much during the day before I start seeing spots.
But what interests me about this whole mercenary question is, of course, the money. We have military families on food stamps, and we can’t afford decent VA care, much less the exemplary care returning troops deserve. We can’t afford a 200 percent pay increase for every soldier sailor airman and spy serving in this debacle, or so I’m sure somebody would tell me if I had the temerity to ask in the guise of support for the troops. I’m sure it’s just too expensive. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’d be characterized by somebody as “pork.” But this, we can pay for. It never fails to stagger me, you know, the stuff we consider important.
A.