whoops: pmcs seeking a bottom line better start diversifying

what is it like in iraq? according to Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the U.S. Army chief of staff:

• "I think I would answer that by telling you I don't think we're losing....
• "The challenge … is becoming more complex, and it's going to continue to be.... That's why I'll tell you I think we're closer to the beginning than we are to the end of all this." (Is U.S. Winning? Army Chief Is at a Loss, By Peter Spiegel, Times Staff Writer, July 15, 2006)

not to put too fine a point on it: "Violence in Iraq spinning out of control" (By Robert H. Reid, Associated Press Writer, July 18, 2006)

so it is not too surprising to see those private military contractors (mercenaries) who work so hard to defend our freedoms running for cover:

• Specialist security company ArmorGroup has seen particularly strong growth from its activities in Afghanistan and the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, which is good news for those hoping it would diversify away from reliance on Iraq....
• ArmorGroup provides protective security services such as guarding embassies and oil rigs and training police and security personnel. Naturally its services have been much in demand in Iraq, which led the percentage of business from the region last year to rise as high as 60% of turnover. This also led ArmorGroup to issue a profits warning a year ago when increased insurgent activity in Iraq meant delays to new contracts being signed and also led to increased costs for ArmorGroup. (ArmorGroup firm as Afghanistan helps decrease dependence on Iraq, July 13, 2006)

indeed, fewer of the footsoldiers of the pmcs supposedly fulfilling usa policy are actually usa citizens, as two recent articles on outsourcing by filipinos in iraq make clear:

• July 18, 2006, US outsources war to Filipinos, By Cher S Jimenez
• July 3, 2006, Life in a private army in Iraq, Posted in Malaya, By Ellen Tordesillas

bottom line: it appears that pan-muslim terrorists are not succeeding in iraq. but they have been replaced by shia, sunni, and kurd nationalists and violence is increasing not decreasing there. what is definitely not succeeding is usa policy and the billions thrown at pmcs.