SECURITY CONTRACTORS UNDER THREAT IN IRAQ

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Thousands of U.S.-employed private military personnelhave become vulnerable to Sunni insurgency attacks. Industry sources and analysts said private military and securitycontractors, particularly those employed by the Coalition ProvisionalAuthority, have come under attack by Saddam loyalists and Al Qaida-inspiredinsurgents in the Sunni Triangle. They said that unlike the U.S. Army, thesecontractors have been helpless against such insurgency weapons asrocket-propelled grenades, mortars and roadside bombs.