US President Donald Trump is reportedly showing renewed interest in a proposal by Blackwater founder Erik Prince to privatize the US war in Afghanistan, amid Trump’s growing frustration about the US military strategy in the war-torn country.
The idea envisions replacing troops with so-called private military contractors, or mercenaries, who would work for a special US envoy for the war who would report directly to the president, according to NBC News.
Prince’s idea, which first surfaced last year during Trump’s Afghanistan strategy review, has raised ethical and security concerns among US military officials, key lawmakers in Congress and members of Trump’s national security team.
NEW: Exclusive: President Trump is increasingly venting frustration about US strategy in Afghanistan, and showing renewed interest in a proposal by Blackwater founder Erik Prince to privatize the war, current and former sr. admin. officials tell @NBCNews.