SEN. BARACK OBAMA: Here’s the problem: we have 140,000 private contractors right there, so unless we want to replace all of or a big chunk of those with US troops, we can’t draw down the contractors faster than we can draw down our troops. So what I want to do is draw—I want them out in the same way that we make sure that we draw out our own combat troops. Alright?

I dislike the privatization of the military. I think it's wasteful and unwise. At the same time, I'm not thrilled with the idea of having large mercenary forces sitting around at home while the rest of the military has its hands full overseas. Drawing them down at the same proportional rate seems prudent to me in every respect.