Privatizing Stupidity

The U.S. keeps getting into big trouble in Afghanistan, either with its troops or the private contractors it uses to replace the military personnel. The video of drunken and stoned employees of one of those contractors is stunning in the way it shows how outrageous and dangerous the behavior of these guys was, including tossing ammunition into a fire. One of them has subsequently admitted that this wasn't just a one-time thing, but that it happened all the time. In another video shot about three years ago, employees of another private-sector company also engage in reprehensible behavior involving liquor and nudity.

I think this explains why Afghans have so little regard for the American military and the U.S. presence there in general. As one of the former employees who blew the whistle on this pointed out, this behavior by Americans overseas is an example of the arrogance that they are known for.

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