Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apologizes last week for the breach of passport files by private State Department contractors.
Do the Feds rely too heavily on private contractors?
Struggling with a deluge in passport applications, the State Department did what much of the government does to deal with a manpower crunch: It hired more private contractors.
But the practice of outsourcing allowed hired hands to snoop around in presidential candidates' files. And now it's pointing to questions about whether outside contractors should have access to such sensitive information about any citizen.
Should the government use outside contractors to do sensitive work? Is the passport scandal just a flash in the pan, a one-off? How can taxpayers best hold government accountable if private companies are doing public work?
Thoughts
No other option
Submitted on March 26th, 2008 by KansasGirlI echo the sentiment stated below - we really have no other choice without drastically restructuring our military. There are things we can do - a little oversight and accountability wouldn't hurt, certainly - but we simply do not have the manpower or resources to sustain the combat commitments we already have, much less be prepared for the future.
Blackwater an abomination
Submitted on March 26th, 2008 by AnonymousNothing more than a taxpayer security force for the oil interests in Iraq. Ownned by the Bush family and the Carlyal GP.This group was organized to be the forrunner of a larger force that we may fined it necesaary to control withour own armed forces. This is part of George seniors 0ne World agenda.along with Baker and the Saudi Prince. We need to stop it now
Blackwater an abomination
Submitted on March 26th, 2008 by AnonymousNothing more than a taxpayer security force for the oil interests in Iraq. Ownned by the Bush family and the Carlyal GP.This group was organized to be the forrunner of a larger force that we may fined it necesaary to control withour own armed forces. This is part of George seniors 0ne World agenda.along with Baker and the Saudi Prince. We need to stop it now
Blackwater is necessary.
Submitted on March 26th, 2008 by AnonymousUnless we bring back the draft, we fight using mercenaries.
Blackwater a right wing private army
Submitted on March 26th, 2008 by Bull MooseThe Bushies sent Blackwater thugs into New Orleans after Katrina and had them take law abiding citizens guns away,and intimidate American citizens.
If Blackwater is acting as a de facto branch of our military, the Constitution forbids the military from quartering or even entering your home.
Eric Prince is the religious right rich boy whose daddy invented the vanity mirror with a light, then sold the patent for millions so little Eric could play soldier.
Take an armed para military group like Blackwater and throw in Jim Jones style "Christianity" and you have a dangerous theocracy on your hands.