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April 09, 2007
A U.S. Force of 300,000 to 360,000 Supporting the Iraq War?
Writer Don Monkerud adds up the numbers of US troops and contractors in Iraq for tompaine.org:
+ First he takes the high estimate of 120,000 contractors from the Associated Press.
+ Then adds the currently reported total U.S. military in Iraq at 145,000.
+ Plus another 20,000 for President Bush's surge strategy.
THAT ADDS UP TO: 285,000.
THEN THERE'S THE UNCOUNTED: John Pike with globalsecurity.org estimates another 30,000 are "in the theater" providing Operation Iraqi Freedom support. The Army and Marines have another 10,000 to 20,000 in Kuwait, and a nearby Air Force wing bombing group has 5,000. Current naval exercises in the Persian Gulf, which represents a show of force against Iran, include 10,000 U.S. personnel, the carrier groups Eisenhower and the Stennis, and 15 warships.
THOSE ADD UP TO: 65,000.
THE TOTAL SUM? 350,000. This doesn't count the more than 5,000 British combat troops and naval personnel -- down from a high of 40,000 during the initial invasion -- or the remaining troops from the diminished "Coalition of the Willing," such as Armenia, Estonia, Moldavia and Latvia.
FUZZY MATH? It's hard to say given the Pentagon's continuing reluctance to add up the contractors on the battlefield and in support of the US military or disclose actual troop numbers. But John Pike, a frequent consultant to broadcast network news programs, is usually is in the ballpark. Pike's operation, globalsecurity.org, is one of the best resources on all things military.
Monkerud's op/ed in tompaine.org concludes:
Manipulated figures and private military contractors provide the Bush Administration with political cover to escape public scrutiny and keep injuries, deaths and secret operations out of the public eye. A more accurate and honest view of participation in the Iraqi occupation by the government could give Americans more reason to oppose the waste of lives and resources on this ill-conceived, poorly planned, and disastrous venture.
Posted by davidphinney at April 9, 2007 11:42 AM
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