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September 2, 2009

Study: Contractor Use at Record High in Afghanistan
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The allegations come as a new congressional study shows the US is
relying on contractors in Afghanistan at an unprecedented rate. A
Pentagon census last month revealed contractors account for 56 percent
of the Pentagon’s force in Afghanistan, outnumbering US troops 74,000 to
58,000 by the end of June. The Congressional Research Service, or CRS,
says that figure moves up to 65 percent if averaged over the past two
years. The CRS says 16 percent of contractors in Afghanistan were
performing “security” duties as of March, before President Obama’s
deployment of 21,000 additional troops had begun.



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