Lessee. 170,000 US paid mercenaries in Iraq.
More mercenaries than US troops. A private army willing to work at the bidding of Conservative politicians.
There were 600 Blackwater folks working "security" in the aftermath of Katrina, paid $350 a day plus expenses. Blackwater billed the US government $950 per day each. They were in LA before FEMA.
And the government hassled people over their $2,000 debit cards.
Iraq has changed the US in many, many ways, none of them good.
Arf