The Plan to “Privatize” the Afghanistan War Doesn’t Privatize Anything

Any time we hear the term “privatize” coming from the usual suspects in Washington, DC we should immediately be suspicious. When this word is used, there’s usually precious little actual privatization going on.
Thus, we should regard the Trump administration’s proposed plan to “privatize” the war in Afghanistan with extreme amounts of skepticism.
USAToday reports:
The White House is actively considering a bold plan to turn over a big chunk of the U. S. war in Afghanistan to private contractors in an effort to turn the tide in a stalemated war, according to the former head of a security firm pushing the project.
Under the proposal, 5,500 private contractors, primarily former Special Operations troops, would advise Afghan combat forces. The plan also includes a 90-plane private air force that would provide air support in the nearly 16-year-old war against Taliban insurgents, Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater security firm, told USA TODAY.
Anything worthy of the term “privatization” would mean an end to government spending, and getting the American taxpayers off the hook for perpetuating what is obviously a failed war.

This post was published at Ludwig von Mises Institute on August 10, 2017.