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Here's how many US troops and private contractors have been sent to Afghanistan

Skye Gould,Daniel Brown   

Here's how many US troops and private contractors have been sent to Afghanistan
Defense1 min read

U.S. President Donald Trump announces his strategy for the war in Afghanistan during an address from Fort Myer, Virginia, U.S., August 21, 2017.   REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Thomson Reuters

President Donald Trump announces his strategy for the war in Afghanistan at Fort Myer, Virginia, August 21, 2017.

President Donald Trump said he plans to increase the number of US troops in Afghanistan in a speech Monday night, and continue the longest-running war in American history.

Currently, there are about 9,800 US troops stationed in Afghanistan and more than 26,000 contractors.

The Pentagon defines a defense contractor as "any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, or other legal non-federal entity that enters into a contract directly with the DOD to furnish services, supplies, or construction."

This also includes intelligence analysis, translation and interpretation, as well as private-security contractors - who began taking over roles once held by uniformed soldiers after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The defense industry has also made incredible profits since 2001, including nearly $100 billion in Afghanistan since 2007.

The graphic below compares the number of US troops and defense contractors in Afghanistan over the last decade.

Afghanistan US troops versus contractors

Skye Gould/Business Insider

US defense contractors versus US troops deployed to Afghanistan in last decade.

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