Just learned that the White House is extending contracts to Blackwater and other mercenary units. Meanwhile, Halliburton and KBR are still making money hand over fist doing the jobs that our military is supposed to do - and our soliders continue to suffer for it.

I know this whole concept of privatizing the military started in the mid 90s. Maybe we can't kill this policy immediately, but it's time to start sharpening the knives.

It's time to insist that our military sustain itself once again. For starters, no more private security contractors being deployed on missions that our soldiers are supposed to handle. If the Pentagon needs to solicit advice from retired Special Forces and SEALs, that's fine, but that shouldn't mean allowing mercenaries to play soldier under the US flag without accountability to anyone, especially if their CEO has delusions of holy war or some other damn fool idealistic crusade.

Basic food and drink are another sensitive issue. I know the military relies on the private sector for MREs to nourish soldiers in combat zones, but do you mean to tell me there isn't anyone in the US military who is capable of making a pizza? Why outsource this to corporations in the form of lucrative contracts that you and I have to pony up the money for in taxes?

Then there's armor and weapons for our troops. Private-sector companies like VLTOR, Pinnacle Armor, Propper, Blackhawk, Lewis Machine & Tool, EoTech, Aimpont - God bless 'em for trying to keep our soldiers safe, but there have been too many instances where soldiers received gear not because it's the best for their needs, but rather because of who knows who at the Pentagon or the White House. And again, as a result, our troops have occasionally suffered because of inferior gear.

I could go on, but I think my fellow DUers see where I'm going with all this. We want our military to be strong, but it will be its strongest when it is self-sufficient, when its commanders are able to meet the needs of the enlisted men and women on the front lines without lobbyists, corporate reps, or corrupt politicians tying their hands.

We need to insist on a military that can fend for itself. A national platform plank in 2012 might be a good way to get that message across.

What say you?