Offshoring the mercs

Jim Hightower, Creators Syndicate - As Obama begins winding down the war in Iraq, he is building up his own war farther east. Like Bush, he will depend on private military contractors. . We're told that it will be a new, expanded, extra-special American adventure in Afghanistan, involving a vigorous surge strategy to "stabilize" this perpetually unstable land. . .

Meanwhile, here's an interesting twist to Obama's contractor surge: the for-hire guards protecting our bases and convoys will not likely be Americans. The Associated Press has reported that of the 3,847 security contractors in Afghanistan, only nine are U.S. firms.

[From UNDERNEWS: OBAMA PLANS SURGE IN MERCENARIES FOR AFGHANISTAN]