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Exclusive: New document details America’s war machine — and secret mass of contractors in Afghanistan - Salon.com

"On Tuesday, following his surprise Memorial Day visit to Bagram Air Force Base outside Kabul, President Obama announced that the United States plans to keep at least 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2016, further delaying the end of what he calls ‘America’s longest war.’

"But in his remarks at the White House, the president didn’t say that the nearly 10,000 U.S. troops he’s asking to remain in an ‘advisory role’ will be augmented by a huge army of private contractors."