quote:

Originally posted by no_regrets:
...who has never served a day in his life and has an axe to grind.

Contractors are an inevitable evolution of warfare. I am a graduate student and I speak to students all the time who do not want to go to war, who are quite honestly afraid to. The author is letting his view of the war get in the way of the facts. Most students see no value in serving. This is completely understandable. Therefore the gap must be filled by someone.

I know quite a few people who are contractors, we served together. The truth is that they were educated in how to make war, not everyone learns to type or fix aircraft. This is a legitimate way to earn a living given tehir skills and if it pays better than their time in the service, why should we deny them the ability to make money. They served honorably. Do not discount their service because they choose to make a living instead of suffering on what little the military pays. The crack about how it is dishonorable to get a job as a contractor could only be made by a man who never served, because those of us who did, do not begrudge anyone who seved honorably.