10,000 Columbian/Haliburton Mercs in Iraq?

This from Prensa/Latina: &EN]LINK

US Firms in Iraq Contract Colombian Mercenaries

Bogotá, Dec 13 (Prensa Latina) The US is sponsoring the use of Colombian mercenaries in Iraq to avoid national casualties in the protection of oil pipelines and other security tasks.

An investigation published by El Tiempo online reveals this weekend that the Halliburton oil transnational is using its Latin American branch to contract mercenaries in Iraq. This way, former Colombian police and army members are taken on to protect oil and gas pipelines and private staff in Iraq, as well as reinforce the US troops´ tasks.

The publication assures a former Colombian military -on behalf of the US firm- called 25 recently retired officers and non-commissioned officers from the Colombian Armed Forces to a meeting last December 2 to offer them job in Iraq, due to their fighting experience.

In return for their services, they would be taken on for a year, extendable to six months, with a monthly 7.500 dollar salary. They would also enjoy paid vacations every three months in any European country, with a life insurance of 60,000 dollars, the daily reads.

However, one of the clauses warns they will have to repay up to the last dollar if they decide to leave before the mission -mainly in Baghdad, Mosul, Falluja, and Basra- is finished.

Halliburton´s spokespersons denied the contracts, however, it is estimated that the mercenrary army in Iraq, including military men from Chile, Spain, South Africa, Ireland, and now Colombia, tops 10,000 troops.

If this is true, then what is the channel for finding out about what human rights violations these mercs may or may not commit? What are the international rules for torture in regards to employees of Haliburton and its subsidiaries?

Also, what are National Guard infantry paid per month? Is it this much?



EDIT: Here's the story as cached on Yahoo



[edit on 18-2-2005 by smallpeeps]

Someone at Haliburton should get a medal.

Lets buy 10-20,000 more and send them into Syria and Iran.

There is nothing wrong with using mercs, we used them in the revolutionary war to battle the brits and if we can them now to save lives and help keep the peace, I say go for it!

On the Discovery Channel, I see National Guardsmen who have to lead Americans into battle. Are they getting 7500 USD per month, three months vacation and 60k in death benefits?

I suspect not. They do bleed the same, however.

I'm not sure if this story is true, but shouldn't it be checked?

The ongoing wars are good little earners for the new "private security" outfits. So, Halliburton hires these guys and rolls up their services in it's billing for services to the US Government, which in turn pays from money the tax payers cough up.
Hell, wouldn't it ironic if the tax paid by US services personnel helped pay the mercs loads more then they are getting for being in the same place. They're probably better equipped too