U.S. Plans $3 Billion Mercenary Force for Iraq June 6, 2011 by legitgov ShareThis U.S. Plans $3 Billion Mercenary Force for Iraq --State Department Prepares to Hire 5,100-Strong Security Detail and Take Over Military Hardware for After Army Leaves --State Dept. will rely on mercenaries to carry out range of military-style missions 'not inherently governmental' 07 Jun 2011 The State Department is preparing to spend close to $3 billion to hire a security force to protect diplomats in Iraq after the U.S. pulls its last troops out of the country by year's end. In testimony Monday before the Commission on Wartime Contracting, Patrick Kennedy, undersecretary of state for management, said the department plans to hire a 5,100-strong force to protect diplomatic personnel, guard embassy buildings and operate a fleet of aircraft and armored vehicles. [It's oh-but-another reason to *Seize DC.*]