War Inc on the march to relieve US troops
by Ian Mather, The Scotsman

WITH their laser-targeting assault rifles, wrap-around sunglasses and black uniforms, the men guarding Afghan president Mohammed Karzai look like US special forces.

But in fact they are American mercenaries, working for private contractors. The special forces who used to guard Karzai flew home last autumn after the Bush administration decided to contract out the job of protecting the Afghan leader.

Their presence is just one manifestation of a dramatic trend towards the privatisation of war by the Pentagon.

Full story here.