Posted on 08/01/2007 6:07:19 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
Fearing Iraq Pullout, State Boosting Private Chopper Force
August 01, 2007 4:59 PM
Kirit Radia Reports:
Fearing an imminent drawdown of U.S. troops and equipment from Iraq amid escalating violence, the State Department is hiring its own private helicopter squad to ferry its personnel around the country.
Government military contractors Blackwater, DynCorp and Triple Canopy are the only three companies competing for the contract, possibly valued at more than $100 million a year for up to the next five years, sources tell ABC News.
The requirements call for approximately 20 helicopters with maintenance, storage and crew to ensure 24-hour availability.
It represents a recognition that Iraq may remain as dangerous for years to come and that the department cannot depend on the use of military assets in the future.
A senior State Department official, asked to comment on the contract, said, "In accordance with federal law, I cannot discuss any contracts that are in the solicitation process. I can tell you that there are existing contracts for support in Iraq to the State Department that already include such air assets."
The choppers, said to be around 12 medium-capacity and eight light-capacity, would be deployed to three sectors in Iraq. Three helicopters would be sent to the north, three would operate in the south, and the remaining 14 would be stationed in central Iraq.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and some other diplomats already travel around the country via private helicopters because ground transport is considered dangerous.
The new contract would dramatically increase both the number of contracted aircraft available to State Department officials as well as the amount of money the department will spend on these services.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.abcnews.com ...
Foggy Bottom must be back channeling with those surrender monkey dhimmicrats, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.
It sounds like somebody is planning for an evacuation that will eclipse Saigon in 1975.
One thing is for certain, when America's military power and prestige loses, the Democrats win...
I’m guessing the State Dept boys are worried that if there is a pullout, their best buddies in the military may forget to cc them on the withdrawal notice.
Rush has been hammering that point home lately, and rightly so. Good news for America, Iraq and the World is BAD news for Democrats...
They have painted themselves into a corner, and their ONLY way out of it is bad news from Iraq.
That, or in the case of undeniable American and Iraqi success, to try to do one or both of two things: 1.) Pretend the things they said never got said. The media will help them out on that. 2.) Try to co-opt victory, and say their critical (treasonous) stand forced the right course of action.
They will probably do both, I am guessing.
Far as I'm concerned, they shouldn't be able to use them now. But if they must, they should at least have to transfer money to the DoD at the going rate per flight hour. The rate of reimbursement to include fuel, maintenance, and pay for flight and ground crews.
WTH, it’s only $$$—our money to be precise, gubmint has no $$$ of its own, only the $ it has taken from the common man by force!
So, go ahead @$$holes, buy nothing but the very best (I guess that means foreign-made) on our dime...after all, what can we do about it...vote for RP, fat chance!
The above is the closest thing to an official statement in the entire article. Some ABC, aka "lib" headline writer puts a "pullout" spin on the contract and some FREEPERS are buying it? The entirely opposite spin could have been put on it, i.e. "Anticipation of long-term presence in Iraq leads to State Dept. helicopter contract"
Carolyn
Federal Nobility-class Perk-itis.
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