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Petition to Support the "Stop Outsourcing Our Security Act"
  1. Signatures
    79 out of 100
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate (+ 3 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
      • Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT)
      • Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
  2. Created By
    Jake Horowitz
    Brooklyn, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter

Last week, two trailblazers in Congress, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D - IL) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D - VT) introduced the Stop Outsourcing Our Security Act, a bill aimed at rolling back the use of private military contractors in warfare. Almost every week, scandals are emerging over the presence of private military contractors - like Blackwater (now called Xe Services LLC) - in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. Recent news that Blackwater billed the government for prostitution is just the latest in a series of damaging revelations, highlighted by Blackwater's massacre of 17 unarmed Iraqi civilians at Nisour Square in September 2007.

Not only was Blackwater suspected to have participated in the abusive interrogation of detainees at Abu Ghraib, the company also helps to plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and al Qaeda operatives inside Pakistan. The Obama administration has boosted the number of hired guns in Iraq and Afghanistan to unprecedented levels, and the number keeps on growing. Yet, without a system in place to hold these companies accountable to the rule of law, the growing numbers of civilian contractors operating in America's wars abroad continue to operate with nearly free reign, unbound by the U.S. Code of Military Justice or international law.

The effort to hold private military contractors accountable to the law is long overdue. This piece of legislation calls for the U.S. to end its reliance on private security contractors, and it would prohibit the use of private contractors for military, security, law enforcement, intelligence, and armed rescue functions altogether. It would also increase transparency over any remaining contracts by increasing reporting requirements and Congressional oversight.

Recent Signatures

In Support of the Stop Outsourcing Our Security Act

Dear Representative Schakowsky and Senator Bernie Sanders,

I am writing to express my support for your recent action to introduce the Stop Outsourcing Our Security Act in Congress. It is so encouraging to know that you both are taking the lead on trying to pass legislation that phases out private security contractors in war zones and restores much needed accountability and oversight over the civilian contractors that are fighting on behalf of the U.S. government abroad.

As you both well know, America's reliance on private companies in fighting its wars abroad is extremely dangerous. These contractors are responsible for some of the most egregious violations of international law in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq - most notably, the massacre of 17 innocent Iraqi civilians at Nisour Square by Blackwater (now Xe Services) in September 2007. In operating outside of the rule of law, private military contractor have become wildly unpopular amongst the Afghan, Pakistani, and Iraqi people, and now often serve as a primary recruiting tool for extremist groups rather than a boost to American security abroad. The behavior of contractors has damaged the credibility and security of our military and damaged our country’s relationship with other governments.

Despite the fact that Blackwater faces extremely serious charges for war crimes in U.S. courts, the U.S. government continues to use this company in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indeed, the recently released State Department Inspector General’s report praises Blackwater’s work in protecting U.S. diplomats and aid officials and advocates increasing the company’s presence in Afghanistan, without mentioning the myriad incidents in which Blackwater operatives are alleged to have murdered innocent Afghan civilians. As one scandal after another comes to light over the actions of companies like Blackwater, it seems clear that it is time to end the use of contractors altogether.

Without an effective system in place for accountability and oversight, these companies will continue to operate outside of the rule of law unless they are reeled in by Congress. Just as Congress cannot go silent on this very important issue, so too am I writing to voice my support for your important piece of legislation. I join you as a citizen co-sponsor for the Stop Outsourcing Our Security Act, which will send an important message that the privatization of our armed forces cannot continue unchecked.

Thank you for being so courageous and taking the lead on phasing out the use of private contractors for functions that should be reserved for the U.S. military forces and government personnel alone. Please let me know how I can best further assist you in your efforts to get this legislation passed.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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