In Iraq, contractors outnumber troops

Figures illustrate large role private firms play in war effort

By T. Christian Miller

Los Angeles Times

July 4, 2007

The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops, newly released figures show, raising fresh questions about the privatization of the war effort and the government's capacity to carry out military and rebuilding campaigns.

More than 180,000 civilians -- including Americans, foreigners and Iraqis -- are working in Iraq under U.S. contracts, according to State and Defense department figures obtained by the Los Angeles Times. Including the recent troop surge, 160,000 troops and a few thousand civilian government employees are stationed in Iraq.