Mattis rejects proposal to replace US troops in Afghanistan with private contractors
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis shot down a proposal to outsource military personal’s role in Afghanistan to private contractors.
In a rare joint appearance in the Pentagon briefing room 28 August, Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen Joseph Dunford appeared behind the lectern to field questions about US operations around the globe.
When asked about Blackwater founder Erik Prince’s revived push to replace US military personal in Afghanistan with contractors, Mattis countered the bid.
‘When Americans put their nation’s credibility on the line, privatising it is probably not a wise idea,’ Mattis
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Defence Notes
-
US, Canada advance with over-the-horizon radar programmes to close NORAD surveillance gaps
Washington and Ottawa’s Arctic and homeland radar initiatives aim to strengthen early warning against cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and long-range aerospace threats approaching North America.
-
The speed of relevance: how companies can navigate the new era of European defence procurement
European militaries face a rapidly evolving security landscape and defence production must accelerate to meet surging demand for platforms and equipment. Industry needs to adapt to ensure it gets its products into the hands of the end user, Evelyn Rafferty, Senior Director Aerospace and Defence - Europe at Plexus told Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan.
-
Delays, departures and drama cloud UK defence programmes ahead of absent DIP
The UK defence secretary’s departure suggests that the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is unlikely to meet the funding demands of the armed forces, with consequences for procurement and the UK’s standing at a NATO summit weeks away.