The Strategy of Outsourcing the War

Re “The Iraq War’s Outsourcing Snafu,” Commentary, March 31: Max Boot has come to the conclusion that outsourcing in Iraq is a mistake. He thinks expanding the armed forces is the answer.

Perhaps he has not noticed that the Army and National Guard are lagging in recruitment goals.

Perhaps he has not noticed that people are not lining up to join the Air Force and see the world!

Perhaps he has not noticed that the Marines are in desperate need of a few good men. Why?

I think people are much more reluctant to sign up for the hell that was created by this neocon administration based on trumped-up evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

It is also hard to take when none of the Bush administration’s Cabinet hawks (other than former Secretary of State Colin Powell) would have ever set an example and gone off to war when they had the opportunity to do so.

I challenge Boot to join. If he goes, I will go with him. We can sign up on the buddy plan.

William Sweeney MD

Annapolis, Md.

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Boot paints an unreasonably negative picture of civilian contractors supporting the U.S. military in Iraq.

Many contractors being criticized are veterans who spent decades in the U.S. military and now bring their vast experience to support the military.

The private sector’s limitless capacity of support services is indispensable for effective military operations, and even a massive expansion of the U.S. Army would not guarantee the variety and volume of skills that are readily available from private firms, nor would it be cost-effective.

While many laws, regulations and oversight mechanisms are already in place, Boot is right to highlight the critical importance of accountability.

Already, the U.S. Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act ensures both national and foreign civilians contracted by the Department of Defense can be tried for felony acts under U.S. federal law.

Furthermore, the International Peace Operations Assn. -- an association of firms in the peace and stability industry -- has been working with governments and humanitarian organizations to improve contractor effectiveness and accountability.

Despite the dangerous and difficult conditions they face in Iraq, contractors are courageously and cost-effectively handling a multitude of support, construction and protective tasks and thus enabling the military to focus on its core mission of stabilizing a fledgling democracy.

Doug Brooks

President,

International Peace

Operations Assn.

Washington