Contractors represent over half of the U.S. presence in the contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, at times employing more than a quarter-million people. They have performed vital tasks in support of U.S. defence, diplomatic, and development objectives. But the cost has been high. Poor planning, management, and oversight of contracts has led to massive waste and has damaged these objectives. Contracting decisions made during urgent contingencies have often neglected the need to determine whether host-nation governments can or will sustain the many projects and programs that U.S. contracts have established in their countries. This book examines the work of Congresses bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan, created to study waste, fraud, abuse, accountability, and other issues in contingency contracting, and to make recommendations for improvement.

In our walk along this road of life, some of us have encountered some sad experiences along the way. We dont always remember nor do we want to remember those experiences. Some people are very good at repressing those memories. Some of us made promises to the Lord during those sad times. It is so easy for us to forget those promises we made to him whenever we find our life at ease. But he never forgets. He has a way of bringing them back to our remembrance, especially when he wants us to keep those promises we made to him. Looking Beyond My Outward Appearance is just one of the many amazing real life stories in this book. The Young At Heart is not all about age. Its all about the heart.