21st Century Hawks: Penny-Pinching Patriots

``Civilian pay constitutes a very small percentage of the overall increase in the DoD's payroll since 9/11. Based upon the latest payroll data and in constant dollars, since 9/11, the DoD's civilian payroll increased by approximately $13 billion, while active duty pay increased by approximately $40 billion and service contracts increased by a whopping $65 billion per year. So, if any of the personnel groups is bloated it's the contractors who, with contracts exceeding $117 billion, rake in almost as much as all DoD civilian and active duty personnel combined. If the newly appointed Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, wants to cut personnel costs he should look first to service contracts.''