What are your feelings about the increasing number of private contractors involved in U.S. wars?

This is a tricky subject. Mercenaries have been around since the beginning of time. I think at one time the government thought it would be a wise move because it could cut costs. But there have been all sorts of problems with it in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been many cases of criminal misconduct, there have been allegations that these contractors have been grossly overcharging the government, and there have been other forms of general corruption. Some politicians also have a conflict of interest because they may have been financially connected to these corporations at a certain point in time. And besides that, you have all sorts of ethical questions.