The U.S. District Court in Washington recently dismissed charges against Blackwater guards for a 2007 shooting incident.  The Blackwater guards allegedly opened fire on the streets of Baghdad killing 17 and wounding dozens more, including women and children.  The guards admitted evidence that shows wrongdoing in interviews given immediately after the incident.  The case was dismissed because [...]

The use of private contractors has surged under the Obama administration.  Private military contractors now account for between 22% and 30% of the total U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  Military contractors are often paid 4 to 5 times what the U.S. pays its own military, which dramatically increases the cost of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. [...]